A Discussion on the Future of Public Private Partnerships
at the United Nations
The WDF joined a core of supportive NGOs, working alongside the professional team at United Nations Department of Public Information (now: UN Department of Global Communications), to welcome delegates from hundreds of Global NGOs to the 67th annual UN DPI Conference at UNHQ in New York. Together Finding Global Solutions was a main theme – and the World Development Foundation provided its lead team as volunteers, serving in a variety of capacities.
President MacDonald addressed the delegates several times and at the highest levels, Mr. Sciarratta worked on the planning committee directly under the UN team and Chair Ms. Winnie Byanyima, CEO of Oxfam International. Cristina Fan served on the highly successful Exhibits Committee, which proved to be a highlight of the entire conference.
• H. E. Ambassador Henry MacDonald, President, WDF
5 Speaker Appearances and 2 Workshop Panelist Sessions
• Patrick Sciarratta, Program Director, WDF
Co-Chair, Logistics Sub-Committee and Twice Workshop Panelist
Mr. Sciarratta brought on Invited, Highlighted Workshop leaders Dan Bena (PepsiCo),
Ediola Pashollari (World Assembly of Youth), and Kehkashan Basu (Green Hope Foundation).
A major portion of the official Outcome Document focused on the need to discuss and launch public private partnerships to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in a transparent, corruption-free zone of enterprise and sustainable development for all – a prime tenet of all WDF programming.
In fact, WDF leadership appeared twice during the conference and its extension at Long Island University (on a third additional NGO networking day). WDF sponsored and led workshops to discuss public private partnerships (PPP). Through a mix of opinions, the foundation acted as thought-leader, with a hope to discover answers that move forward the possibility for large-scale development in support of the SDGs.
While some expressed a danger in any relations with large corporations, others saw the basis of SDG #17 (partnerships) alongside the obvious need for SDG #16 (strengthening institutions), in order to ensure PPP viability. Another issue raised is accountability of Member States. The UN Member States ratified this initiative; now: are they living up to its goals or merely asking others to do so? How would Member State success for the SDGs be measured, in relation to PPP?
The audience among several sectors of civil society was standing room only at WDFs workshop during the UN events. At the LIU extension, former, longtime PepsiCo executive Dan Bena presented a wonderful presentation, uploaded to our website, on goals for successful public private partnerships in the future. For reference, the theme and desired outcomes follow.
“Can SDG #16 lead to stronger institutions to view partnerships implied in SDG#17 existing in a way that allows for a shared planet with shared prosperity, where all stakeholders contribute” and benefit equally?”
The World Development Foundation worked with Bruce Knotts, Chair, NGO DPI Executive Committee, to interactively investigate the pros and cons of these large partnerships among Member States, private investors or corporations, and civil society. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) have been discussed in the United Nations as both new and important collaborations and as a distraction devised by companies seeking to control the development agenda. This workshop heard from both sides and few others, too.
The workshop included a panel that will feature differing points of view toward development of new PPPs while also looking at the issue from the UN policy and enlightened investor point of views. The audience will be asked to provide their perspectives and how the UN might better strengthen itself in order to either prepare for or block these collaborations in the future – also how we might educate corporations and investors to understand the ways in which the UN and civil society could suggest PPPs be conducted in the future.
President MacDonald also addressed the entire delegation in the main Conference Hall. Most compelling, however, was Ambassador’s visit onstage as part of the Youth Intergenerational panel, at the Youth Hub in the General Assembly building. He was a much welcomed guest and got to present with the Conference Co-Chair, who expressed her gratitude for WDF support throughout the events.
The World Development Foundation believes that to enable an end to poverty in the world, we must find a way to encourage PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS – in the best ways possible. – H. E. Ambassador Henry Mac Donald, President, WDF, Former PR, Mission of Suriname to the UN