Volume 2, No. 2 August 2008 |
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From the Executive Director
You’ll see in this newsletter that PPAF has been busy in both Madagascar and the Dominican Republic, as well as at the UN during the annual session of the Economic and Social Council. We also have an appeal for funding for a health project in Madagascar. Please help if you can.
This newsletter covers PPAF’s activities and events from June to August. For information on April and May activities, see Sustainable Tourism in the Dominican Republic, Greenhouse Development, D.R., and meetings with the singing group Mahaleo. You can also visit our archived news for earlier activities.
PPAF gives many opportunities to become involved. See the article below about volunteering as well as cash and in-kind support. We are also seeking financing, investments and partnerships for specific projects. I would be happy to talk with you about any of these opportunities.
Can you help with a donation? PPAF seeks $3,000 by the end of August to fund a needs assessment that will result in shipment to Madagascar of at least one and likely several containers of medical supplies and equipment (each container holds about $400,000 worth of goods). We have learned that we can piggyback on another mission, due to take place in early September, which is why time is short and we have begun to receive some pledges. So far we've raised about $500 of the $3,000. A fuller project description is available on the PPAF website under Updates.
The situation in health care was brought to our attention by the singing group Mahaleo, which includes 3 doctors. Their very moving DVD is a documentary of their music and songs of the past 30 years. It shows the human needs of the country and the difficult conditions faced by patients seeking care, and the doctors who provide it. To see a portion, click onto “Mahaleo Trailer” on YouTube. PPAF representatives visited one of the Mahaleos (Dr. Raul) in Taomasina in June, while in country on other business. A small group, including a representative of Project C.U.R.E. – which will conduct the needs assessment and provide the goods – met at the UN to develop this during PPAF's "Partners Against Poverty" event on July 16. PPAF is waiting its 501(c)3 non-profit status, but a check may be made to PPAF c/o WAFUNIF [our fiscal sponsor]. Please let us know if you plan to send a check by emailing: ppafoundation@gmail.com. The mailing address is:to
PPAF c/o WAFUNIF
United Nations, Room FF-646 304 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017, USA  |
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August 13, 2008
Amb. Francis Lorenzo, David Stillman, Esperanza Porras-Field, Tom Kadala and Carlos Lithgow, all involved in PPAF’s July 16 Partners Against Poverty event, participated in the August 13 meeting of the US Hispanic Advocacy Association (USHAA), also held at the UN. They were joined by Juan and Maritza Del Toro, who are working with PPAF and Project C.U.R.E. to bring medical supplies to the D.R.
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July 16, 2008
“The United Nations Public-Private Alliance and the Foundation are a good embodiment of an initiative that we believe is sustainable, effective, efficient and attracting good attention and participation of all stakeholders”.
Sergei Kambalov, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
UN Conference Room 6 was filled with 70 representatives from the United Nations, the private sector and civil society on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 for deliberations on “Partners against Poverty – Awareness, Agreements and Actions”. Chaired by Dr. David Stillman, Executive Director of PPAF, and facilitated by the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development (UNPPA), this second annual meeting touched on a wide range of topics related to the Foundation’s areas of focus, including agribusiness; tourism and the environment; women, entrepreneurship, and microfinance; health; and renewable energy. Amb. Francis Lorenzo welcomed participants on behalf of PPAF’s Chair, Daniel Mejia. Ambassadors Zina Andrianarivelo (Madagascar) and Lorenzo (Dominican Republic) then gave introductory remarks. Mr. Sergei Kambalov spoke on behalf of Mr. Nikhil Seth, Director of the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (OESC), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN/DESA).
The meeting brought together a variety of stakeholders to exchange information and ideas on public-private collaboration, to foster the adoption of agreements and to make known practical actions committed or underway. Introductory remarks by senior representatives of several UN agencies were followed by general comments, lively small-group discussions and reports to plenary on the above topics. The meeting concluded with plans for next steps for new and continued partnerships.
The full report, including deliberations of the small groups, is available on the PPAF website, and includes a list of participants. Photos are available on our Flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppaf.
Follow-up to July 16 Partners Against Poverty meeting
A meeting is only worthwhile with good follow-up. Since July 16, PPAF has worked closely with partners in the small-group areas toward next steps.
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June 25-27, 2008
David Stillman and Tom Kadala (Ramon Reyes Darras Agro Industrial (RRDAI)) traveled to the D.R. to meet with a representative of Banco de Brasil, shareholders of RRDAI, other entrepreneurs, the Sugar Producers Cooperative COOPCAN(A, the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) and the microfinance non-profit Esperanza International. The group visited the RRDAI sugar plantation and fuel port and met with sugar cane cutters as well as management. The meetings focused on producing sugar-based ethanol, increasing productivity and profitability, improving workers’ livelihoods, and advancing the idea of establishing an international business and professional association on ethanol (Global Alliance on Ethanol for Development, or GAED).
Stillman also held meetings to advance ongoing work with the Dominican-Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of the Cibao (greenhouse vegetables), the Dominican Fish Farming Association (ADOA), the National Cacao Producers Cooperative (CONACADO) and on microfinance with Esperanza International.   |
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June 2-15, 2008
David Stillman and PPAF board member Scott Wright joined Ambassador Andrianarivelo in Madagascar to attend the Roundtable of Partners to the Madagascar Action Plan (MAP). PPAF met the Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and representatives of UN agencies and companies. The group spoke extensively with the adviser to the President on agribusiness and rural development. A full report on the event is available at Partners Roundtable for the MAP - Madagascar. Photos from the trip are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppaf.
The team also held meetings on development of a microfinance program for small and medium enterprises, growing jatropha for biodiesel, and met with a member of the National Assembly who is the organizer of GasyKalo, a singing group that was scheduled to perform at the opening of the “Madagascar!” exhibit at the Bronx Zoo. They also met with the Malagasy and American heads of the Millennium Challenge Account program. This program builds from early efforts by the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development and Land O’Lakes dairy company. Wright met with the head of the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM), which is responsible for the investment video played at the PPAF July 16 meeting.
The team also met with the entrepreneurs group FIVMPAMA concerning handicrafts export to the US and elsewhere. The group was pleased with their recent sales of bags to a vendor in California.
Stillman and Wright joined the Ambassador to visit Centre Fazako, an orphanage and school that are a model for the surrounding community in Antananarivo. Stillman and Wright also traveled to the port of Toamasina to meet with Raul (Dr. Raosolosolofo Razafindranoa.), a member of the singing group, the Mahaleos, who specializes in family medicine. With him they visited the village of Ambalarondra which includes a rural school, health clinic, community center, water pump, agricultural training and rural road construction supported by Raul with the help of WEKEF in Linz, Austria. A trip to Madagascar is incomplete without seeing lemurs. The team visited Lemur Park outside Antananarivo. This successful business is drawing tourists to the area while also promoting wildlife protection.
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The UN Economic and Social Council has requested that a Report of the Secretary-General be submitted to its substantive session in 2009 on the work of the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development (Resolution E/2007/L.37). In preparation for the report, a database is being created of partnerships in the pilot countries. Samantha Young, PPAF/UNPPA Intern, has developed this since May. Over 80 entries have been added to date of public-private collaboration in the Dominican Republic and Madagascar. To contribute to the database, please see the blank template and sample entry on the "Partners Against Poverty" section of the PPAF website: http://www.ppafoundation.org/news/7-16-08_partnersagainstpoverty.html. |
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Board Members - Welcome to PPAF’s new board members: At its July 22 meeting, Mr. Herbert N. Oringel and Dr. Jorge Suárez-Menéndez were elected to the PPAF board. Herb has been working very closely with us on strategic planning and renewable energy as a volunteer. Jorge attended PPAF’s launch in 2007 and has kept in touch since then.
Interns - Charlotte Ambrozek, a senior at The Masters School, Dobbs Ferry, New York, translated materials ifrom Spanish to English, assisted with the preparation and execution of the “Partners against Poverty” event and updated the PPAF YouTube Channel. Kristyn Kadala, a junior student at The Hackley School, Tarrytown, New York, researched world sugar prices and sustainable tourism in the Dominican Republic, translated documents from Spanish to English, and assisted with note-taking at the “Partners against Poverty” event. Samantha Young, a graduate student at the University of Toronto, Canada, worked with the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development (UNPPA) and PPAF on a database of public-private partnerships, monitored the work of the Economic and Social Council and helped prepare for UNPPA and PPAF events at the UN.
Volunteers - Judy Bowman, a retired professional with 30 years of managerial, risk management and lending experience at Citibank, is working on a project in Madagascar on lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Marie Bresnahan, a public health and education consultant, helped with registration and was a rapporteur at the “Partners against Poverty” event. Hugh Kramer, a seasonal teaching fellow at the Bronx Zoo, a rapporteur at the 16 July event, and is working on a sustainable tourism project for PPAF. |
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PPAF has expanded its Internet presence! Help spread the word about PPAF and show your support on these social networks:
Connect with PPAF supporters on our Facebook group: (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9205968426)
See photos of PPAF events and activities at Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ppaf
Watch videos related to PPAF’s work at our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/ppafoundation |
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PPAF is seeking a few volunteers - do you fit the profile? We need:
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Please consider a gift to help PPAF develop partnerships, especially in Madagascar and the Dominican Republic, to build pro-poor business opportunities. If your company will match your gift, please let us know.
Until we obtain our 501(c)3 status, the World Federation of former UN Internes and Fellows (WAFUNIF) serves as our fiscal sponsor. Our EIN is 71-1016293. Donations to PPAF may be made payable to WAFUNIF and should be earmarked for the Public-Private Alliance Foundation. Donations are welcome in any amount and will be tax-exempt to the extent of the law. Please send your contribution to: PPAF c/o WAFUNIF United Nations, Room FF-646 304 East 45th Street New York, NY 10017 We would be happy to talk with you about contributions to the work of PPAF and for details on electronic deposits. Please call 914-924-0108 or e-mail ppafoundation@gmail.com. Jeanne Betsock Stillman, Editor Samantha Young, Assistant Editor
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