The Role of Private Philanthropists in Addressing Global Challenges

Moderator: Michael Green

Participants: Yohei Sasakawa, Catherine Zennström, Helena Houdová, Sigrid Rausing, Bob Geldof,

 

 

 

Philanthropies have always been a crucial force in addressing global challenges and with the economic crisis, their role will be increasing, introduced the panel Michael Green, author of the book "Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World". He added that “we are starting to see philanthropists to go global” and they are taking on the tasks governments cannot or may not be able to take.

 

This point was developed by Yohei Sasakawa, founder of The Nippon Foundation, who stressed that even though “industrialized countries and international organizations play a major role in addressing poverty, disease and conflict”, “they are often hampered by a bureaucratic mindset that affects what they do”.

 

Yohei Sasakawa warned of the feeling of self-satisfaction and conviction that one’s way of helping is the best, saying that the people receiving the aid have to be listened to. There is also a danger of making people dependent on aid. One way of stimulating activity is by supporting agriculture, which is also the focus of the Sasakawa Global 2000 project in Africa.

 

”There is not magic wand” when it comes to helping noted Catherine Zennström, co-founder and Chair of Zennström Philanthropies, which focuses on human rights and climate change. One has to learn to start “small”, focus and most importantly, develop partnerships with the experts in relevant areas in order to make any help effective. The role of philanthropists is really to be the “catalysts of change”.

 

Similarly Helena Houdová, founder of Sunflower Children Foundation, believes that, “everyone has the power in their hands to make a difference”, but emphasized that we should first become familiar with the conditions people live in and not to expect that everything can be solved from the discussion table. However, technological development, in particular Skype, or the “Kiva” distance micro-loan system, has benefited philanthropy by connecting people on a whole new level.

 

Sigrid Rausing, founder of the Sigrid Rausing Trust, addressed the issues of human rights philanthropy and the often underestimated yet crucial role of NGOs in this area. She talked about the activities of her Trust’s grantees in more detail, mentioning for example the British based Campaigns Against Arms Trade or Bail for Immigration Detainees. She stressed that duplication of efforts should be avoided.

 

Bob Geldof, a musician and political activist discussed the responsibilities of democracies and the complexity of the problem of poverty, particularly in Africa. One can “just do any odd job”, helping doesn’t mean to be involved in large scale philanthropy, but “wealth gives you access”, noted Bob Geldof. However, it has to be realized that in philanthropy, as opposed to charity, politics plays an important role, “large amounts of money is political”. There should not be any boundaries to what one does: “whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it.”