Spotlight on Philanthropy - European zeitgeist 2011

>>Guy LalibertŽ: We know exactly when it's about time of working with people there. It's not only about bringing money and doing projects, it's also about understanding the specific culture, because a lot of times what happens in those international aids, people come, do a project and, you know, they do it with good intention. Unfortunately, they don't take time to analyze not only the geopolitical aspect, but also the cultural aspect. >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah. >>Guy LalibertŽ: And this is where main -- a lot of time things are done wrong. They come, try to implant things, don't take the time to integrate and following up their project after. They leave the country, leave them with equipment, don't give the appropriate information, don't take time to integrate the culture in teaching them and integrating, and this is where we -- We've been working now for, what, together 17 years? >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah, yeah. >>Guy Laliberté: And one of our big things we've done -- and I think this was a very big part of our success of our project -- is doing -- through popular art -- and this is where our core business was at the service of aids, where based on our expertise of entertainment, doing workshops, we integrate the notion of formation, integration of equipment, of explaining to those working with the community through popular art the formation of people. So we went into schools, used those people who do theater in their country, worked with them some program where they could talk to their people about the importance of using the water or taking care of such a thing, such a thing, and it stays much longer because then you integrate a community and you take the time to learn about their culture. Unfortunately -- >>Marc Koska: Are you saying we can't integrate these sort of actions into NGOs, though? Because -- >>Guy Laliberté: Actually, you could. You could. But -- >>Marc Koska: But at the moment, they're not receiving. You know, they are -- >>Guy Laliberté: That's not true. >>Marc Koska: They're so bureaucratic. >>Guy Laliberté: It's not true. >>Marc Koska: Well, certainly on the Geneva level, you know, they are so staid and closed and it's really hard to bash the wall down. >>Guy Laliberté: This is why I was saying, you know, I believe the power is much more in the individual than those -- Yes, the needs of changing some fundamental philosophy at that high level is important, but in the meantime we cannot just wait about them. We have to take action and we have to connect at the horizontal, not always trying to make things work at the vertical, you know? And this is where I think the power of the individual is so important, so crucial in the next future potential of going and creating a new movement. The power of one, for me, is very, very -- potentially there, and, you know, the advocacy could be done, like I said, vertical. Take the hammer and hit. And some people needs to hit on the head. But in the meantime, we need to organize ourselves. >>Barbara Stocking: But I think Guy is absolutely right about the sustainability question. You know, if you're -- it's terribly easy to think that you can go out to someplace and do something. And actually I was in America last week talking about -- and I was actually talking to an admiral who was involved in Katrina and in Haiti and he was saying that one of the real problems in that was he said there were all these SUVs turned up. And so I said, "Well, what's an SUV?" And he said, "A spontaneous uninvited volunteer." [Laughter] >>Barbara Stocking: And he's absolutely right. >>Chrystia Freeland: But isn't that the power of one? Each of those people thought they were doing the power of one. >>Barbara Stocking: But if you don't know what's going on in the circumstance and if you don't know how that's going to be sustained, then you've got a real problem. It's back to that thing you've got to really do the detail knowledge about what's really going on there. You've probably got to have local people who really understand the local situation, understand why the teeth get knocked out. You know, that's the world that we live in now. It is the people of those places themselves to determine what's happening. And if you're going to go in and do anything, you've got to get inside that and be part of that. Which is why most of us are now having -- I mean, our stock in Oxfam is now more than 95% of the countries where we work. That's really important. And even the others are mostly from around the world. They're not OECD expats anymore. That's really critical in understanding what's going on on the ground and listening to people. So you've got to be careful what you're doing, and as I say, if you want something that's sustainable, don't be an SUV. >>Chrystia Freeland: Did you have a comment, Sipho? You wanted to jump in? >>Sipho Moyo: No, not really, but, you know, just, yeah, I do kind of really agree with that. I do think it's important for people to understand what's going on. In terms of, you know, the power of one, I think everyone does have the power, to change, you know, the world, but I have to say that in Africa, it's the power of the youth. You know, yeah, they're really moving. You know, they're shaping things, they're holding government to account, they're fighting corruption. You know, they're -- yeah. >>Chrystia Freeland: Okay. I'm going to ask one more question and then throw it open to questions from you. Please don't disappoint me and this fine panel with the power of your questions. And we'll have about 15 minutes for questions. So Barbara, I just wanted to ask something maybe a little bit skeptical about this power-of-one feeling. When disaster strikes, maybe most of us don't become an SUV, but that's the moment when we maybe think to pick up the phone and make a donation to Oxfam -- >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah. >>Chrystia Freeland: -- and then we forget about it. >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah. >>Chrystia Freeland: How do you sort of balance presumably the desire to take advantage of that giving impulse when there's a disaster against the fact that it doesn't seem like a very effective way to fund philanthropy over the longer term? >>Barbara Stocking: Okay. But don't let's underestimate what's needed to be done at that moment. >>Chrystia Freeland: So it's actually good? We shouldn't downgrade that at all? >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah. Feel good, feel good, feel good. >>Chrystia Freeland: Feel good? >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah, yeah. But feel good about doing it then because usually in these circumstances money really is badly needed. There are moments when it's going overboard too far, but usually not. >>Chrystia Freeland: Disaster strikes, pick up the phone? Don't hesitate, don't intellectualize? >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah. Do it. Yes, but most of us, what we try and do after that is effectively take people on a journey and say, "Look, this is what happens now. You know, your human impulse is fantastic to help. Now you can actually look at some of the underlying reasons why that was happening and see if you can't work on that." Even if it's a simple thing of, you know, we've got, you know, disaster risk reduction now, trying to stop even -- when a -- say an extreme weather event happens, stop it actually affecting people by doing the work in advance. Can we get you on board to help with that stage. And that is enormously satisfying, too. I mean, you know, I think about Bangladesh, for example, where the cyclones come now and almost no people die because actually all the work has been done to get people to understand about the early warning systems, getting people to high ground, and all those things. So I guess my thing is, give -- give when the spirit moves, but then really try and learn and stick with it and really understand -- >>Chrystia Freeland: How hard is it to convert us, those of us who are moved by disaster? >>Barbara Stocking: Pretty hard. >>Chrystia Freeland: Pretty hard? >>Barbara Stocking: Yeah, I think so. >>Chrystia Freeland: What's your conversion rate? >>Barbara Stocking: Oh, I can't remember, actually. But just let's be clear, though, that actually people often come to us first, though, with a humanitarian crisis. There's no doubt about that. Your build-up of people who are supporters often does start -- I don't know what the -- it's quite a small percentage from the -- you know, an individual one, but it will -- but that is the place where a lot of people do start. And let's -- and let's take advantage of that and give more information. And actually, with, you know -- you know, modern technology, social networks now, so many different things can be done now that really show people what matters, what's happening, and can move people on. So let's stick with it. >>Chrystia Freeland: Questions? I have more, but it seems really unfair. Please. >>Sebastien de Halleux: Hi. Sebastien de Halleux. What advice would you give to all those well-meaning people who, at some stage of their life, find themselves with either the economic means or the time to go and try to change the world and who end up SUVs and becoming part of the problem? Isn't there a lack of education at home as to what those people should be doing instead of what they're currently doing? What would be your message to them? >>Chrystia Freeland: I think that's an excellent question. Yes. So what do you do? >>Barbara Stocking: Well, I mean, one of the things is you may be right, maybe we're all of us -- different people -- not getting the message out because there are lots of ways that people can come in and partner in a different way with, you know, other people who are deeply engrossed on the ground. I mean, if I can just give another example of things we're doing, we have an enterprise development program which is trying to get money of about -- say 100,000 pounds to producer organizations who have really got so far but they can't get money through the banking system. It just -- you know, they've got no collateral, et cetera. So we have an investment committee that puts money into those projects. Now, that's just one set of things in Oxfam, but there are loads around. But in that way you can partner both by bringing the funds in, but actually quite often by bringing business skills in as well and really being connected to something. Because I think that's often what people feel. They don't want to just give money, they want a connection. They want to know where their money is going, what it's doing. But I think more and more, certainly Oxfam but many of the other agencies are really trying to find ways that people can really connect and take part in what's happening and learn that way as well. So that's what I would say to do. But Sipho? >>Guy Laliberté: I would -- sorry. I would encourage you to look for organizations that are transparent as well. Because organizations like Kiva, I think, are going to rewrite the book. They really are. You know, you are connecting with the person that you are donating the money to. >>Chrystia Freeland: Can you give us a one-sentence description of Kiva for -- >>Marc Koska: Kiva is like an online donation service where you pick the recipient of your money and then you invest in them and then they pay you back directly, and Kiva like the brokerage in the middle. But it's incredibly transparent, and I think that is going to set a new wave and, you know, obviously you can tell I'm the one who wants to kick out the old systems and bring in the new and that's what I think we should be looking for. More transparency. >>Chrystia Freeland: And how -- but how, Marc, just if I could just add a quick little follow-up there, how do you avoid transparence mistakes? Like remember we were all really excited about micro-finance a few years ago and now the air is going out of that and people are saying, "Well, you know, maybe micro-finance doesn't really work." >>Marc Koska: Well, I think micro-finance does work. It's just got some negative issues that are being raised and talked about. But that doesn't matter. You know, we all make mistakes. We all have to fail. And, you know, at least people who try and are open about it and are willing to put their hand up, they're the ones we should be backing. Not the ones that are closed and, you know, living on huge expense accounts and -- You know, we ask for a meeting to be called in an East African country. It's going to be in three weeks time. And immediately, we get -- and these are all people in the town. Immediately, we get a request saying, "It's a hundred dollars each to turn up." We're like, "These are government ministers. Why do we have to pay them a hundred -- I'm a charity. Why do to pay a hundred dollars for these guys to come in and sit in a room and do their bloody job? That's ridiculous." And then we got a call -- >>Chrystia Freeland: Must be really hard to take a meeting with you, Marc. Are you unpleasant in meeting situations? >>Marc Koska: If need be. [Laughter] >>Marc Koska: And then we got another request saying actually that "We can't confirm the date until we get $6,000," and, you know, that's just ludicrous. So it's -- you know, transparency is the way forward, I think. >>Chrystia Freeland: Okay. Sipho, your advice to a wealthy well-meaning technologist who wants to do good but not be an SUV? [Laughter] >>Sipho Moyo: I think, yes, just, you know, work with established organizations that are already doing the work. But I also want to say people react to what they see, and what they see is transmitted by the media, and I think it's really important for the media to begin to not only go deeper and learn, but also stay engaged and bring the success stories, because, you know, the only time that, you know, Africa really graces the news is when it's on the threshold of a catastrophe or right in the throes of a catastrophe, and I think it's important to begin to bring the success stories because the aids business or the business of benevolence is really broad. You know, you've got the traditional donors -- the bilaterals, the multilaterals, the NGOs, the charities, the volunteers and so on -- but nobody talks about, you know, the philanthropists. Nobody talks about the Africans and the diaspora who are actually visibly sustaining communities, you know, from day to day. So the media needs to bring home these heroic efforts of Africans doing for themselves, because there is increasingly the perception, right or wrong, you know, that Africa is there to be saved by everybody else. But Africa is actually doing a lot. So maybe as a technologist, partner with an upcoming technology company in Africa, you know, and work with them. So there's a lot of options. You know, work with existing organizations. Work through Kiva and so on. But I want to take this opportunity to appeal to the media to say they need to do their part to tell the whole African story, not just part of the African story. >>Chrystia Freeland: Guy, you have some final advice. >>Guy Laliberté: Well, for me, it's about knowing a subject. It's about first getting that emotional engagement and knowing where you want to be involved with. So before you give you money, I guess pick up your subject, learn well about it, and then you will know where to go and where you will not be an SUV. Because once you know your subject, it's the same thing in business. If you know your subject in business, you will be a good businessman. If you go and start a business without knowing where you are putting your money and what you want to do, you will fail. It's the same thing. So learn your subject. Choose your subject. Dig in it, check it out. And then after, you will do the right decision. >>Chrystia Freeland: Okay. Satisfied? >>> Thank you. >>Chrystia Freeland: More questions? Come on. Please. >>> Yeah, hi. Peter. Hi. My question is the following. Say I want to give a few thousand Euros. The way I have been doing it so far is -- Africa, for example, is a beautiful country. I have been going there on holiday a lot -- >>Sipho Moyo: What did you just say? >>> I have been going on holiday numerous times to Africa. It's a beautiful country. >>Sipho Moyo: It's not a country. >>> It's not a country, sorry. But I have been to, like, the countries to Africa. Africa is a continent. If I should choose between donating a couple of thousand Euros to, say, an organization or going there and spending the money, what's the better way? Because spending it, you give it into economy, assuming you are not going to luxurious international hotels, et cetera. But I am trying to spend it with the locals or the small-size business. >>Chrystia Freeland: Okay. Guy, jump in there. >>Guy Laliberté: I think those are two distinctive things, you know. And again, your pleasure is your pleasure, and this is part of generating and living your life. The commitment and philanthropy have to be integrated in your own culture, in your own daily concern. So those are two different distinctive things. I think you should do the two. Keep spending the money in Africa, and put aside money to philanthropy. Because those are two fundamental things. Yes, you will help Africa to generate an economy through tourism. Perfect. But give, also, money because there are people who really are in need of that help. But choose your organization well. This is also very important. >>Barbara Stocking: And that's the issue then about the leverage. One is spending money, as you say. And that's the money that goes out, and if it's 2,000, it's 2,000 and it's gone. What you want to do, if you want to do another 2,000 and put that into some sort of giving, then really think about how that money gets leveraged to make an awful lot more in those countries. Because that's the key. It's not just to spend. It's a leverage for real change. >>Chrystia Freeland: Sipho, wouldn't these young Gambisa Moyo Africans that you were telling us about, wouldn't they actually prefer that we just take lots of expensive holidays in Africa and earn that money rather than get handouts from us? >>Sipho Moyo: No, I think that's wonderful, absolutely. I have nothing against it, but as I said, these young Africans, they are looking for opportunities. They are looking for business opportunities. They are looking for jobs. They are looking for things that -- they are an aspirational generation. >>Chrystia Freeland: They can run hotels? >>Sipho Moyo: They want to move on. They want to get ahead. Let me put it that way. So, yeah, they are looking for opportunities more than anything else. So it's wonderful and you spend your money as you wish. But, you know, the question also -- it's a personal choice, do you want to do something that's really sustainable or do you want just do sort of an injection when you are there? You know. I think it's -- [ Laughter ] [ Video ] >>Sipho Moyo: No pun intended. >>Marc Koska: Safe syringes. >>Sipho Moyo: No pun intended. I think it's a personal choice. >>Chrystia Freeland: You are not going to give us a pass. You are not just going to say if we take lots of holidays in poor countries -- >>Sipho Moyo: I think it's wonderful for tourism because tourism is a very big part of the African economy in most of the countries. So if you inject into the tourism, I think it's absolutely wonderful. As I said, it's a personal choice, and everything makes a difference. >>Guy Laliberté: You know, there is something that, I don't know, I heard that a couple years ago and it really influenced me in trying to give myself guideline in terms of my own philanthropy work or decision we made. One day I heard if every individual who have over and above their three meals a day give 1% of their revenue a year and every company 1% of their profit, not their revenue but their profit, theoretically there would be enough money worldwide to clear all poverty in the world. Not considering the geopolitical aspect and government aspect, but theoretically, in terms of money. So as a first guideline, this is a very simple guideline. 1% of your revenue and 1% of your profit. And this is a very nice way of starting engaging. And I'm not talking about taking that 1% companywise or personalwise to your community, because I think this is a responsibility of a business, to be integrated and putting money in their own local community. And it's not the 1% that you will be affected by the debt of your father because he had cancer. This is not subject. We are talking about fundamental of addressing poverty in the world. That 1% dedicated to that. If every individual start, or every leader of a company start with that, I think we will be in a very, very good shape moneywise. Then we will have to convince the government, hit them well on the head, making sure we make good decision, good partnership with country that are willing to make the effort and are committed also to work together, because, you know, the question of sustainability and longevity of project doesn't come only from the donor side but also from the people receiving and wanting the commitment of sustainability. >>Sipho Moyo: I think I can give a very good example of that, is in the area of health. You know, the global fund and the global alliance for vaccinations and immunizations. You see the African countries making an effort in being engaged because they actually contribute to those multilateral funds. So it's a really great thing. It's one of those unique opportunities. And I think at the turn of the century ten years ago, less than 50,000 people were on *** drugs, ARV medication. Now it's over 4 million because of interventions like the global fund. Same thing vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, and now you have got new ones. They have been really an outstanding success. So some of these sort of urgent areas that require intervention, particularly when it comes to life saving, I think African governments are stepping up and really partnering very well with the partners and the funds involved. >>Guy Laliberté: It's partnership, it's partnership. >>Chrystia Freeland: Can you guys just hang on to allow one final question? Because it's nearly 5:00. Is that okay? So last question. >>Ghassan Hasbani: This is Ghassan Hasbani from the Middle East. Actually, it's a question quite related to what you just started discussing about sustainability and the involvement of governments. Now, I mentioned a lot now about governments in the receiving countries. How about governments in the donor countries? How much of an involvement have you seen over time from governments, either through foreign policy or support of philanthropy coming out of more developed economies into economies in need of development and sustainable development? I would like to hear your views on that particular part, following on from what you just started now. >>Chrystia Freeland: Okay. Quick answers; otherwise, the gong will go down. >>Barbara Stocking: Right. Huge challenge. All those people, all those countries made commitments about aid in 2005 and they don't deliver. I can't imagine anybody -- if I didn't deliver on sort of my stuff, I would be out of work in a minute, but governments seem to be able to make promises that they don't deliver, so it's about time they did. Also, many of us need to keep working on what their foreign policies are and what they are doing because so much of this are much bigger questions. They are questions of world trade and so on that really need changing. That is what is keeping people in poverty as well. So a lot of work to be done. And if you really wanted to be brave in your philanthropy, you would support a lot of campaigning people to change those rules, actually. >>Sipho Moyo: And one is one of those campaign organizations. We are an advocacy organization, and we really hold G8 leaders to account to keep their promises in terms of aids delivery. And it's a struggle, it's ongoing, but I think we need to stay on that message, and that way we will get as close as we can to them actually meeting their commitments. So, yeah. >>Marc Koska: I am skeptical about it. I think it's too political in a way, the way that that money is raised and visibly given. I think just going back one paragraph to what Guy was saying, I think the 1%-1% rule would be extraordinary because it's just a change of heart. It's an attitude that we need to get. It doesn't matter where the money goes. We need to change that ability. And imagine if everyone in the room said, right, I'm going to do it. What a result we would have. And 1% isn't going to make any difference to anyone's lifestyle. >>Chrystia Freeland: I was hoping to have a fire-breathing demonstration at the end, but you get the last word. >>Guy Laliberté: I just want to say one thing. Raise your voice because it's important if you want to influence your government, and follow your money in philanthropy. Be involved. Get involved. Take emotionally an engagement. It's not a sign-check, feel-good thing because that doesn't work. There's no sustainability at that level if you just sign a check. Follow your money. Get involved. >>Chrystia Freeland: Okay. Follow the money, get involved. I think it's a slogan. [ Applause ]