European Perspectives on the

New Challenges for Global Philanthropy

Dr. Wilhelm Krull

Portorož, 1 June 2008

If the World were a Village of just 100 People …

80 would live in bad housing conditions,

50 would suffer from malnutrition,

19 would live on less than $1 per day,

17 would not have access to safe drinking water,

6 would possess 59% of the village‘s wealth,

1 would have a university education.

The UN Millenium Development Goals (2000)

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development.

A Call for Global Partnership (1969)

„I do not wish to seem overdramatic, but I can only conclude from the

information that is available to me as Secretary-General, that the Members

of the United Nations have perhaps ten years left in which to subordinate

their ancient quarrels and launch a global partnership● to curb the arms race,● to improve the human environment,● to defuse the population explosion, and● to supply the required momentum to development efforts.

If such a global partnership is not forged within the next decade, then I very

much fear that the problems I have mentioned will have reached such

staggering proportions that they will be beyond our capacity or control.“

U THANT, 1969

The Limits To Growth (1972)

„The most important business on earth, quite

literally, is the business of planetary planning. This

book is a pioneering effort in that direction.“

NORMAN COUSINS

„If this book doesn‘t blow everybody‘s mind who

can read without moving his lips, then the earth is

kaput.“

ROBERT C. TOWNSEND

Modelling the World

The Impact of Foundations

The example of THE CLUB OF ROME‘S PROJECT ON THE

PREDICAMENT OF MANKIND shows:

Foundations canidentify relevant topics,share the financial risk of innovative projects,stimulate new developments,encourage and facilitate ground-breaking research,create islands of success,trigger spending on important issues by bigger funders.

From Lecture Hall to Global Audience

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

In December 2007 the IPCC

and Al Gore were awarded

the Nobel Peace Prize

"for their efforts to build up and

disseminate greater knowledge

about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the

measures that are needed to counteract such change".

From Minority Issue to Mainstream Concern

„Act together.

Enjoy together.

Join us!“

A German company

advertises beer – and

combines it with the

protection of the rain forest.

Starring Climate Protection

„Some journeys cannot be put

into words. New York. 3 a.m. Blues in C.

Keith Richards and Louis Vuitton are

proud to support The Climate Project.“

Initiating Change – Foundations and Global Challenges

Foundations do not have the financial means to fund projects/

initiatives on a global scale, but they can initiate change through

funding innovative projects which in turn act as role models for

larger projects.

Urgent Environmental Issues: resource management, energy efficiency, public awareness and action.

Advocating Climate Protection – The Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development

The Bellagio Forum for Sustainable Development (BFSD) is an

international network of grant-providing institutions striving to attainenvironmental balance,economic stability, andsocial progress.

The Forum brings together individuals from foundations and businesses to

build trust,dialogue, andeffective partnerships.

Focussing on Climate Protection – Initiatives of European Foundations (I)

Oak Foundation, SwitzerlandFocus: renewable energy and energy efficiency

Means: education, research, policy, and advocacy initiatives in Europe, Canada, and the Northeastern United States

Examples: support for the creation of ClientEarth (the first EU-level non-profit environmental law organisation),leading role in creating the European Climate Foundation (dedicated to developing and implementing climate and energy policies).

Focussing on Climate Protection – Initiatives of European Foundations (II)

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, GermanyFocus: climate protection, energy efficiency, renewable energy

Means: education, funding of research projects/ the development of new technologies

Projects: Eco-knowledge and media-online platform for children,Biodiesel – agriculturally produced,Controlling the origin of timber,Forming alliances – protecting natural heritage,Solar light for developing countries.

Focussing on Climate Protection – Initiatives of European Foundations (III)

Mistra – Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, Sweden

Focus:solving key environmental problems

Means:supporting strategic environmental research with a long-term perspective

Examples:Energy efficient reduction of exhausts from vehicles,Sustainable investment,Climate policy research programme,Climate, impact, and adaptation research programme.

Guidelines for Research Partnerships with Developing Countries: 11 principles (KFPE, 1998)http://www.kfpe.ch/download/Guidelines_e.pdf

1. Decide on the objectives together2. Build up mutual trust3. Share information; develop networks4. Share responsibility5. Create transparency6. Monitor and evaluate the collaboration7. Disseminate the results8. Apply the results9. Share profits equitably10. Increase research capacity11. Build on the achievements

„Knowledge for Tomorrow“ –

the Africa Initiative of the Volkswagen Foundation

ObjectivesEstablish symmetric partnerships in research and technology between

North and South.

Capacity building and sustainable support for researchers / junior

scholars in Sub-Saharan Africa.Foster considerable cooperation between African and German research

centres and universities.Contribute to the development, reinforcement, and extension of

academic networks within Africa (South – South component)Joint setting of research agenda by African and German scholars.

„Knowledge for Tomorrow“ – the Africa Initiative of the Volkswagen Foundation

Initiative prepared in close interaction with African scholars and institutions: Exploratory workshop

Thematic Workshops in order to Review current status of research Define pertinent research issues Explore and develop potential for cooperation

Call for proposals

Two-step process: Pre-Proposal Seed-money available for joint elaboration of full proposal at preparatory

meetings Submission of full proposal.

Process

Current activities of the Africa Initiative

Negotiating Culture

Resources, their Dynamics and Sustainability

Livelihood Management

Violence, its Impact and Coping Strategies

Political, Economicand Social Dynamics

Communicable Diseases

„Knowledge for Tomorrow“ – Resources, their Dynamics and Sustainability

Projects initiated in 2006:Capacity building for the next generation of conservation leaders Modelling of the domestic energy system based on biomass

energy in rural areas in southern Africa - BioModels Challenges and opportunities for nutrient efficient agriculture in

West African cities Agricultural use and vulnerability of small wetlands in East AfricaSustainable restitution/recultivation of artisanal tantalum mining

wasteland in Central Africa - a pilot study Conservation and sustainable use of amphibians in Madagascar.

Foundations for Africa: The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Initiative

The „Neglected Tropical Diseases Initiative“ was recently launched by a

group of European foundations:

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Fondation Mérieux, Nuffield Foundation,

and VolkswagenStiftung.

AIMS: boosting research into a critical, yet largely underfunded domain within

the global health agenda,increasing the impact of this initiative through international cooperation,

andattracting new actors to this field.

Funding Sustainability – Sustainability Funds?

Sustainable Investments

Foundations are committed to maintaining the sustainable earning capacity of the assets placed in their trust.

Through their investment decisions foundations have the potential to influence company behaviour in the direction of a more sustainable development.

● Should the investment policy of a foundation be attuned to its funding policy?

● What is a sustainable investment?

● What are the economic consequences of sustainable investment, and when can they be expected to materialize?