"Post-2015 Partnership Platform for Philanthropy" Workshop to Take Place in Bogota
International Effort Engages Philanthropic Sector in Global Development
Bogota, Colombia, and New York, NY, 11 March 2015 – Tomorrow, representatives from government and civil society will convene at an event in Bogota organized by the Post-2015 Partnership Platform for Philanthropy, a project launched last November by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Foundation Center, and a committee of leading foundations guided by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA). The event is the second in a planned series of workshops to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and data and identify opportunities around how philanthropy can engage in the evolving global development landscape.
"I'm greatly encouraged by the Partnership, which will elevate key issues and lift up the voices of those most impacted by Post-2015 decisions," said Darren Walker, president of the Ford Foundation. "These workshops serve a valuable role to illuminate a workable path to disrupt inequality and enhance opportunities at national and global levels."
The Post-2015 Partnership Platform for Philanthropy enables philanthropy to better understand the opportunities for engaging in global development goal processes and helps governments and the UN system understand the value philanthropy can bring in driving greater impact for people. A key objective is to develop country-level platforms that will help inform and identify opportunities for collaboration and information sharing.
"We are convinced that networks and partnerships among different sectors of the society are key to generating social transformations," said Maria Carolina Suarez, executive director of the Association of Corporate and Family Foundations (AFE Colombia). "The Post-2015 Partnership Platform for Philanthropy is the ideal scenario for bringing together different players to work towards a better understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and to enhance a collaborative work to achieve them."
These workshops provide a setting where representatives from philanthropic foundations, international organizations, government, civil society, and other regional and local networks can lay the groundwork for collaboration and engagement in the future. The session in Colombia on March 12 was preceded by a kick-off event in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 21, and will be followed by gatherings in Indonesia, Ghana, and possibly other countries.
"Colombia is working intensively to reduce poverty and inequality and to build peace; all preconditions for any society to thrive," said Fabrizio Hochschild, resident representative, UN resident coordinator, UNDP Colombia. "Effectively addressing the post-conflict challenges and sustainable development requires that we rethink how we can best collaborate with the philanthropic sector to, together, create greater impact. The Post-2015 Development Agenda provides a unique opportunity to build effective alliances with philanthropy to power development."
The Partnership Platform aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which build upon the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post-2015 development agenda. The Partnership Platform is developing a new web portal called SDGfunders.org that will make data on philanthropic investments more accessible and help funders track progress, find partners, and tell their stories.
"Philanthropy can play a meaningful role as a partner to governments and NGOs working toward measurable outcomes in global development," said Bradford K. Smith, president of Foundation Center. "An important aspect of this work will be to gather information on where these collaborations are taking place and share outcomes that will help others doing similar work." Mr. Smith will be facilitating a session in Colombia that will shed light on the opportunities and challenges facing the community with regard to the role of data and knowledge management in effective collaboration.
The Partnership Platform receives guidance and input from leaders of philanthropic foundations comprising a Collaboration Committee, which currently includes the Conrad N. Hilton, Ford, and MasterCard foundations.
Follow the discussion on Twitter: #phil2015
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Cheryl Loe
Communications Project Manager
Foundation Center
(888) 356-0354 ext. 701
communications@foundationcenter.org
Karolina Mzyk
Project Manager, The Post-2015 Platform for Philanthropy
UNDP
(212) 906-6853
karolina.myzk@undp.org
Heather Grady
Vice President
RPA
(415) 343-0838
hgrady@rockpa.org
About the United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. www.undp.org
About Foundation Center
Established in 1956, Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. Foundation Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit Foundation Center's website each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and its network of more than 470 funding information centers located in public libraries, community foundations, and educational institutions nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.
About Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) is a nonprofit organization that currently advises on and manages more than $200 million in annual giving by individuals, families, corporations, and major foundations. Founded in 2002 and continuing the Rockefeller family’s legacy of thoughtful, effective philanthropy, RPA remains at the forefront of philanthropic growth and innovation, with a diverse team led by experienced grantmakers with significant depth of knowledge across the spectrum of issue areas. It has facilitated more than $3 billion in grantmaking to nearly 70 countries. www.rockpa.org
About the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by international business pioneer Conrad N. Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels and left his fortune to help the world's disadvantaged and vulnerable people. The Foundation currently conducts strategic initiatives in six priority areas: providing safe water, ending chronic homelessness, preventing substance abuse, helping children affected by HIV and AIDS, supporting transition-age youth in foster care, and extending Conrad Hilton's support for the work of Catholic Sisters. In addition, following selection by an independent international jury, the Foundation annually awards the $1.5 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize to a nonprofit organization doing extraordinary work to reduce human suffering. From its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants, distributing $100 million in the U.S. and around the world in 2014. The Foundation's current assets are approximately $2.5 billion. For more information, please visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.
About Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than 75 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.fordfoundation.org.
About The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation is an independent, global organization based in Toronto, Canada with over US$9 billion in assets. Through collaboration with partner organizations in 49 countries, it is creating opportunities for all people to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s programs promote financial inclusion and advance youth learning, mostly in Africa. Established in 2006 through the generosity of MasterCard Worldwide when it became a public company, the Foundation is a separate and independent entity. The policies, operations and funding decisions of the Foundation are determined by its own Board of Directors and President and CEO. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org.
About AFE
AFE is an association of 57 corporate and family foundations in Colombia. Its mission is to act as spokesperson for its foundation members and as promoters of the improvement of their social management. AFE encourages the coordination, cooperation, social innovation and sharing of good practices among its members, acting always with transparency in order to achieve greater impact in their interventions and contribute to social equity and sustainable development in Colombia. afecolombia.org
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