Chairman's Letter

Open Letter from Daniel Mejia
Chair of the Board of Directors

Welcome to our website. We hope you find it stimulating and informative. We invite you to come back often, and to get involved in our work.

The Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF) is a dynamic new organization dedicated to helping people in developing countries become more self-reliant. Its approach is to bring together individuals, groups, government authorities, non-governmental organizations, donors and businesses to collaborate and provide funding for innovative programs.

PPAF is at the forefront of a growing family of efforts that focus on the positive role business can play in promoting development. The focus is on pro-poor business opportunities, entrepreneurial capacity-building and investments, and commerce and related activities for sustainable development.

The context - Heads of State worldwide adopted the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and actions against poverty and for global partnerships. The 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development agreed to promote dynamic and well-functioning business sectors in developing countries. Government Ministers at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) pledged to nurture alliances of governments, donors, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector. The UN Secretary-General has urged closer ties between the UN and other institutions including the private sector. In July 2007 the ECOSOC High-Level Segment focused on strengthening partnerships against poverty.

PPAF, a non-profit organization, aims to help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. It puts into action the aims of the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development, which was initiated by the UN Economic and Social Council, with Madagascar and the Dominican Republic as pilot countries. PPAF is also a participant in the UN Global Compact, which promotes business use of internationally agreed-upon principles on labor, human rights, environmental and anti-corruption standards. The ECOSOC recognized PPAF in a resolution adopted at its session in July 2007.

The Foundation is building relations with companies, non-profit organizations, diaspora groups, business associations, universities and colleges, and others. Current PPAF initiatives aim to promote tele-health, information technology, nutrition, agribusiness including fish-farming, ethanol and cocoa production, microfinance, and youth leadership.

We ask for and welcome your participation as a partner against poverty through your involvement and support. We are of the firm belief that public-private alliances, and the work of this Foundation, can indeed make a difference.

“The United Nations can only do its job properly with partners. We will need to forge even closer ties to civil society groups, foundations, academic institutions, the media, labour unions, and the private sector. Each has unique contributions to make.”

-Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General,
Address to UNA-USA Business Council
for the UN,
New York, 10 January 2007

Public-Private Alliance Foundation Tel: 914-478-3450 Fax: 914-478-7859 ppafoundation@gmail.com