Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development

Everyone interested in learning about the US $9.9 billion in funds pledged at the Haiti Donors Conference, and about tracking their use, will welcome the news that the Government of Haiti and the United Nations Development Program have established a website for such tracking.   The new site, available in French and English,  includes articles, a map of pledges, and a “dashboard” providing analytics.   It also includes the French and English versions of the National Reconstruction and Development Plan.     The website is a “work in progress” which will be updated.

Version francais:  http://www.refondation.ht/index.jsp?&lng=fr 

English version:  http://www.refondation.ht/index.jsp?&lng=en

Woman cooking in an American Relief Committee Camp

The photo above shows life in a displaced persons camp in Haiti.  Many are living with less.  Extradordinary reconstruction is needed. 

The United States and the United Nations (UN), in cooperation with the Government of Haiti, and with the support of Brazil, Canada, the European Union, France, and Spain,  co-hosted the “International Donors’ Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti” at the United Nations in New York on March 31.   Co-Chairs were UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Haiti President René Préval.

PPAF Executive Director David Stillman had the good fortune to speak briefly with President Clinton at the conference about ideas developed during Stillman’s recent trip to Haiti.   PPAF expects to follow up on this in the coming weeks.

The goal of the donors conference was to mobilize international support for the development needs of Haiti in an effort to lay the foundation for the country’s long-term recovery.  The Prime Minister of Haiti  presented the Action Plan for Haiti’s future and explained how international support can assist. Countries, international organizations, and other partners had an opportunity to pledge resources, to discuss coordination in support of Haiti’s long-term recovery and to commit to a sustained effort to support Haiti.

At the conference, the United Nations Members States and International Partners pledged US$ 5.3 billion for the next two years and US$ 9.9 billion in total for the next three years and beyond. 

View here the Closing Press Conference .   The action plan, the meeting agenda and the final communiqué also available on the www.haiticonference.org site.

Haiti:  Building Back Better was the underlying theme of three meetings held at the United Nations on February 24.  UN Webcasts are available for all three — click on the blue titles below.  

David Stillman spoke at the morning session – the Communications Workshop.  A group of PPAF and related colleagues attended, including Scott Wright and Jeanne Betsock Stillman, board members; John L. German, Senior Fellow; Rosario Rodriguez, Associate; and colleagues Rodney Leon and Renan X. Pierre, Haiti Initiative for Building, Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities (HIBISCUS), Alex Krutansky (businessman) and Dr. Leo Slutsky.  Stillman’s remarks can be found at:   39’42″ and Q&A at 1:12′ 53″ and 1: 35′

UN Department of Public Information/NGO Communications Workshop on “NGOs responding to crisis: Meeting new challenges – The case of Haiti“.  1 hr 49 min. Ambassador Jean-Wesley Cazeau, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Mission of Haiti to the UN, gave opening remarks on the situation in Haiti.  Speakers included: Nicholas Reader, Deputy Spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); Patrick McCormick, Senior Emergency Communications Specialist and Deputy Chief of Media Relations at UNICEF HQ; Jocelyn McCalla, Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy of Haiti for the United Nations; David Stillman, Executive Director of the Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF); and Patricia Sacristan, past Chair of the Young Professionals for International Cooperation, United Nations Association of the USA, Southern New York State Division.  The Moderator was Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainté, Information Officer, NGO Relations, UN Department of Public Information.

Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General focused on the Situation in Haiti.  1 hr. 4 min. Anthony Banbury, Acting Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) briefed journalists on the situation in Haiti.

Special Event: “Haiti Re-Building Against All Odds: Fostering Partnerships”.  1 hr. 41 min. Organized by the United Nations Association of Haiti in Collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations.   The event was opened by Harvey Dupiton, new Secretary-General of the United Nations Association of Haiti.   Ambassador Francis Lorenzo, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the UN, co-founder of the UN Association of the Dominican Republic, and Vice-Chair of the PPAF Board, gave welcoming remarks.   Ambassador Leo Merores, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations, gave the keynote address.   Panels included ”Community Level Participation in Education and Health,” “Partnerships in Microfinance and a Diaspora-originated Investment Fund for Haiti” and ”How Can Haiti’s Dynamic Music and Art Culture Boost Development?”

Currently all United Nations Webcasts on Haiti are being grouped at the following site:  http://www.un.org/webcast/haiti.html

PPAF has posted materials on its website (see Events Section) relating to the Bioenergy Sectoral Meetings held at the National Energy Commission of the Dominican Republic from 2 to 4 December 2009.   This includes the Spanish language report approved by the CNE as well as links to the invitation, photos and videos filmed in the D.R. with Dominican TV Revista 110 and by PPAF.

PPAF ha publicado material en su sitio web (Sección Eventos), relativa a las reuniones sectoriales de Bioenergía, celebrada en la Comisión Nacional de Energía de la República Dominicana 2 a 4 diciembre de 2009. Esto incluye el informe en español, aprobado por el CNE, así como enlaces a la invitación, fotos y vídeos.

The meetings brought out the views of representatives from the public sector, the financial community and companies with pilot field experience, and academics and the private sector — over 55 people in total.  

En las reuniones participaron los representantes del sector público, la comunidad financiera y las empresas con la experiencia sobre el terreno, y los académicos y el sector privado – más de 55 personas en total.

In addition to the National Energy Commission (CNE) as host and leader, the Public-Private Alliance Foundation and ResearchPAYS, Inc. benefited from collaboration and sponsorship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RJS Group, S.A., and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP).  The December discussions expanded upon the recommendations reached at the introductory session held in Santo Domingo in early October, where Grupo Vicini, the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) and the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) were sponsors as well.

Además de la Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE), como anfitrión y líder de la Public-Private Alliance Foundation y ResearchPAYS, Inc. beneficiado de la colaboración y el patrocinio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, el Grupo de RJS, SA, y la United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP). Los debates de diciembre ampliaron las recomendaciones formuladas en la sesión preliminar celebrada en Santo Domingo a principios de octubre, donde el Grupo Vicini, la Organización Intergubernamental de Energías Renovables (IREO) y el Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD) fueron los patrocinadores también.

The Public-Private Alliance Foundation is receiving offers of assistance and inquiries from companies and individuals about getting involved in work relating to the immediate crisis in Haiti, as well as longer-term actions.  PPAF is working with several groups on providing generators and warehouse space, as well as longer-range programming.  Feel free to send your ideas and offers of assistance for collaborative work to: ppafoundation@gmail.com

We want to share important sources for learning about what is happening beyond what is reported in the press.

(1)     The Interagency Standing Committee of the United Nations

Only through pooling information from many relief sources can one start to understand what is happening on the ground. The Interagency Standing Committee (IASC) of the United Nations is the main mechanism for interagency coordination of humanitarian assistance, involving key UN and non-UN humanitarian partners. See http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/iasc/

The IASC  is chaired by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Sir John Holmes. The full members are the heads of the UN humanitarian agencies. Standing invitees include Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, World Bank, International Organization for Migration, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Inter-Action, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (represented by World Vision International) and the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (represented by Oxfam).

The Logistics Cluster of the IASC is an excellent source for daily news updates which give information on the logistics situation in Haiti and in the D.R. for Haiti, as well as other extensive information. See the http://www.logcluster.org website.   The World Food Program is the lead agency for the Logistics Cluster.

(2)  The Center for International Disaster Information

The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) encourages Americans to respond appropriately and responsibly to the earthquake in Haiti. Those who wish to best help the victims in Haiti are asked to donate cash as an alternative to in-kind donations such as clothing and canned goods. Cash donations are widely recognized as the most efficient and effective means of relief, a policy supported by CIDI’s funding partner, the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and those in the established international disaster response community.

This extensive site provides guidelines for giving aid, information for individuals, non-profit organizations, corporations and teachers, and links to the federal business opportunity site for “requests for proposals.”

For those who want to volunteer, the CIDI website provides information about the types of volunteers who are needed and accepted by most agencies: usually people with relevant language skills, at least ten years’ experience in disaster relief, with specific skills in medicine, health, communications and logistics, and willing to spend at least three months in country.  Full details are available on the website.  There is a place to register your availability; relief agencies review the database and independently contact potential volunteers.  See http://www.cidi.org

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ambassador Leo Merores, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations, and Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, January 22, 2010.  The topic was: “Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations.” in relation to the Emergency Situation in Haiti.

El Secretario General Ban Ki-moon, Embajador Léo Mérorès, Representante Permanente de Haití ante las Naciones Unidas, y el Embajador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana ante las Naciones Unidas, habló en la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas en Viernes, 22 de enero 2010. El tema fue: “Fortalecimiento de la coordinación de la asistencia humanitaria de emergencia de las Naciones Unidas.” En relación con la situación de emergencia en Haití.

Le Secretaire-General Ban Ki-moon, Ambassadeur Léo Mérorès, Représentant permanent d’Haïti auprès de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, et l’Ambassadeur Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Représentant permanent de la République dominicaine auprès de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, a parlé lors de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies le vendredi 22 Janvier, 2010. Le thème était: «Renforcement de la coordination de l’aide humanitaire d’urgence de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.” Par rapport à la situation d’urgence en Haïti.

Full webcasts of the session are available in two forms:  with all speeches translated into English, and with all speeches in their original languages.

Lleno transmisiones de las sesiones están disponibles en dos formas: con todos los discursos traducidos al Inglés, y con todos los discursos en sus idiomas originales

Webémissions de la session sont disponibles sous deux formes: avec tous les discours traduit en anglais, et avec tous les discours dans leur langue originale

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2010/ga100122am.rm  [ENGLISH]

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2010/ga100122am-orig.rm  [ORIGINAL]

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon – English; Amb. Merores – francais; Amb. Cuello – espanol.

Approximate times:

07:08’ to 21:45’ –         UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon:    

37:44’ to 43:33’ –         Ambassador Leo Merores

01:59 to 02:07’ –         Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo

The role of the Dominican Republic as a staging area for aid to Haiti is  expanding.  [See our posting just below.]

As reported on the website of the Presidencia, on January 18, 2010, in Santo Domingo, with the agreement and assistance of the President of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. René Preval, and at the initiative of the President of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, a meeting was held with representatives from the member countries of the CARICOM; OAS, Canada, Spain, United States, Brazil, the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti, the European Union and the World Bank, to examine the best manner to address this dramatic situation. 

The group has decided to hold a preparatory conference based on several existing sources, including  Millennium Development Goals,  the 2008-2010 National Strategy Document on growth and poverty reduction and the World Bank document best known as Haiti: Options and Opportunities for Growth.  The next step is convening of a working group in Canada on January 25. 

For more information, see: http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/article.aspx?id=11892

PPAF has posted photos from the Bioenergy Sectoral Meetings  held at the National Energy Commission of the Dominican Republic from 2 to 4 December 2009.    Many who participated in the Bioenergy International Debate, held from 7 to 9 October 2009, also joined in the sectoral meetings.    (See earlier blog postings for information.)

The meetings brought out the views of representatives from the public sector, the financial community and companies with pilot field experience, and academics and the private sector — over 55 people in total. 

In addition to the role of the National Energy Commission (CNE) as host and leader, the Public-Private Alliance Foundation and ResearchPAYS, Inc. benefited from collaboration and sponsorship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RJS Group, S.A., and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP).  The December discussions expanded upon the recommendations reached at the introductory session held in Santo Domingo in early October, where Grupo Vicini, the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) and the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) were sponsors as well.

After the sectoral meetings an oral presentation was made to the President of the CNE, Lic. Enrique Ramirez, and his senior staff.  This reviewed and explained the ideas developed in previous days for establishment of a Task Force within Government, and a multi-stakeholder Consortium at national and international levels to facilitate and support innovative pilot projects.  The focus will be to assist CNE in its mandate to encourage the development of renewable energy through the implementation of Dominican Law 57-07.

Thanks to CNE’s photographer for providing the photos.

The Public-Private Alliance Foundation is proud to join the United Nations Department of Public Information (UN/DPI) as an accredited non-governmental organization (NGO).   The DPI Committee on NGOs approved accreditation of PPAF at its December 2009 meeting because of its record and abilities.  

PPAF’s active program of information on UN-related issues and its work with the UN has included:

• Four conferences held at the UN in collaboration with UN offices;
• Collaboration with the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development; the UN Office for Partnerships; the UN Office for Sustainable Development; the UN-INSTRAW (UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, based in the Dominican Republic), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Development Program (UNDP);
• Collaboration with the Missions to the UN of Madagascar, the Dominican Republic and other countries;
• Videos produced in cooperation with Global Connections Television and UNTV and shown on the PPAF YouTube channel;
• A website and blog which provide information related to the UN including the Millennium Development Goals, the UN Global Compact, and the Principles of Responsible Investment; and
• Numerous reports and press releases about PPAF activities and their relation to the United Nations.

From the UN/DPI Website:

What is the relationship between NGOs and UN / DPI?

About 1,600 NGOs with strong information programs on issues of concern to the UN are associated with DPI, giving the UN valuable links to people around the world. DPI helps these NGOs gain access to and disseminate information about the issues in which the United Nations is involved so that the public can better understand the aims and objectives of the world Organization and support its work.

What is an NGO?

 A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organized on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good. Task-oriented and made up of people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizens’ concerns to Governments, monitor policy and programme implementation, and encourage participation of civil society stakeholders at the community level. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights, the environment or health.   

Opening remarks at the October 7-9 Bioenergy International Debate are now posted on PPAF’s YouTube channel. 

 Lic. Enrique Ramirez, President of the National Energy Commission, and Ambassador Federico Cuello, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations spoke at the opening of the session. (These videos in Spanish) .   Other conference videos include David Stillman’s opening remarks (in English), an appearance by Ambassador Federico Cuello, Tom Kadala (President, ResearchPAYS, Inc.) and David Stillman on the Dominican TV program Sabado Agropecuario.   Also available is the excellent 9-minute video on the Bioenergy International Debate (English and Spanish) produced by Frank Minaya y Willmore and Dr. Dana F. Minaya of Samana College Research Center.