International Development Conference » government http://www.idc2006.org Fulfilling the Development Promise: Transforming Ideas into Actions. IDC - International Development Conference. Sponsored by the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:42:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Track V: Business at the Bottom of the Pyramid http://www.idc2006.org/trackV.htm http://www.idc2006.org/trackV.htm#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2006 20:37:00 +0000 admin http://www.idc2006.org/?p=60 Panel I: Fair Trade: Turning the Pyramid Upside Down PANELISTS
  • Rodney North, The Answer Man, Equal Exchange
  • Martha Jimenez, VP for Policy & Development, TransFair USA
  • Michael Hiscox, Professor of Government, Harvard University
  • Simon Cutts, Bulk Foods Category Manager, Wild Oats Markets
Base of the Pyramid fanfare focuses on the business opportunity for multinationals to sell goods and services to the poor in developing countries. Fair Trade turns the pyramid on its head by connecting the poor directly to international buyers – and, in turn, to millions of US consumers – and empowering them to become international businesspeople. In six years, sales of Fair Trade Certified products in the US have channeled more than $67 million in additional, above-market revenue to farmers and farm workers throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia. Fair Trade income funds sustainable local development projects – health systems, scholarships, women’s leadership initiatives, and microfinance programs – in over 50 countries around the developing world, and provides over 1 million farmers with resources to invest in their businesses and their products.

Fair Trade is increasingly recognized as the gold standard of social and environmental certification. It has expanded from its emergence in the specialty coffee market to a growing number of commodities: cocoa, tea, rice, sugar, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and grapes. Consumers can now choose Fair Trade Certified products in Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonalds, supermarket chains, and college cafeterias. Panelists will draw upon their experiences at various stages in the Fair Trade supply chain to examine the following issues:

  • Basics of Fair Trade certification, social and environmental impact on producers
  • Fulfilling Fair Trade’s promise as a development model and an effective alternative to trade sanctions
  • Business risks and rewards in Fair Trade, CSR trends
  • Capacity-building support to Fair Trade producers, challenge of market access and developing supply chains
  • US consumer demand for products labeled Fair Trade and socially responsible
Panel II: Microfinance and Agricultural Business Development Services PANELISTS
  • Claudi Gonzalez, Director, Rural Finance Program, Ohio State University
  • Juan Buchenau, Executive Vice President, Microfinance International Corporation
  • Marco Aldana, Microfinance Technical Advisor, Catholic Relief Services
A majority of the world’s poor live in rural areas where agriculture is the dominant means to earn an income. Since the mandate of microfinance is to reach those areas where previously credit and financial services were unavailable, there is a natural connection between rural agricultural business development and microfinance. The object of this panel is to explore those links and consider in which ways agricultural business development services can support and enhance the impact of microfinance in these areas.
Panel III: Mexico Vision Towards Sustainable Development PANELISTS
  • Dionisio Perez Jacome, Former Director of the Energy Regulatory Agency
  • Dr. Ismael Aguilar-Barajas, Professor, Economics Department at ITESM Monterrey, Coordinates the ITESM investigation, “Economy of the Northern Frontere of Mexico”.
  • Fernando Aportela, Managing Director, Protego Group
  • Andrew Seele, Director, Mexico Project Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars
MODERATOR
  • Alejandro Poire, Robert F. Kennedy Visiting Professor in Latin American Studies, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Mexico is a country in a dynamic process of change. For the first time in 70 years a non PRI party president was elected in 2000. The two presidents prior to the democratic transition had make fast paced efforts to liberalize markets, privatize government holdings, strengthen institutions and enter into free trade agreements with NAFTA, then the European Union, Japan, Israel and South America. Mexico is once again approaching democratic elections and is a country with great challenges to overcome with close to 40% of the population in extreme poverty. The panel unites academics, politicians, and businessmen to share their vision of how Mexico
Panel IV: Private Public Partnerships in Infrastructure towards Development PANELISTS
  • Bernie Sheahan, International Finance Corporation
  • Eugenio Mendoza, Director of Emerging Markets, MBIA
  • Carlos Ugarte, Director, FERROVIAL Chile
  • Fernando Aportela, Director of Public Finance, GRUPO PROTEGO
  • Bernard Carroll, Macquarie Securities
MODERATOR
  • Alan Trager, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Emerging economies have an enormous challenge in providing their economies much needed infrastructure to promote growth. Financing massive transportation, trade port, water and electricity projects is not easy in economies were the market may not provide the returns on investments. The PPP in Infrastructure panel unites the top global and multilateral organizations involved in infrastructure innovation to share their vision of how emerging economies can accomplish infrastructure goals.
]]> http://www.idc2006.org/trackV.htm/feed 0 Track IV: Trade for Development http://www.idc2006.org/trackIV.htm http://www.idc2006.org/trackIV.htm#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2006 20:34:30 +0000 admin http://www.idc2006.org/?p=58 Panel I: Accommodating Developing Countries’ Concerns
Recent trends in trade arrangements have a tendency to curtail the policy options that developing countries can tailor to achieve their objectives of growth, economic development, and social welfare. At the same time, in the past decades we have seen that countries that have achieved high levels of growth and poverty reduction have benefited from a combination of orthodox and heterodox policies, which invariably include integration objectives.

The follow-up question is, what can developing countries do to combine their objectives of integrating into the world trading system, on the one hand, while preserving the policy space they need for economic development, on the other. This panel will identify the needs for policy space that developing countries should defend and safeguard in world trade. In particular, the discussion will be geared towards brainstorming and developing concrete flexibilities that can be engineered into trade agreements to make policy space actionable and effective. These issues will be addressed from the multilateral, regional, and bilateral negotiating scenarios.

PANELISTS
  • Pablo de la Flor, Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade, Peru
  • Arvind Panagariya, Jagdish Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy, International and Public Affairs and Economics, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University
  • Kevin Gallagher, Senior Researcher, Global Development and Environment Institute (GDAE),Tufts University; Director of Graduate Studies and Assistant Professor of International Relations, Boston University
  • Sherry Stephenson, Organization of American States, Trade Specialist
MODERATOR
  • Craig VanGrasstek, Executive Director, Program on Trade and Negotiations, John F. Kennedy School of Government
Track V: Bottom Up Planning ]]> http://www.idc2006.org/trackIV.htm/feed 0 Track III: Health and Growth http://www.idc2006.org/trackIII.htm http://www.idc2006.org/trackIII.htm#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2006 20:32:13 +0000 admin http://www.idc2006.org/?p=55 Panel I: The Eonomic and Social Impact of Infectious Disease in Developing Countries PANELISTS
  • Paul Epstein, Associate Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School.
  • Andrew Spielman, Professor of Tropical Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health
  • Joia Mukhergee, Medical Director of Partners in Health, The World Organization
MODERATOR
  • Barry Bloom, Dean, Harvard School of Public Health
This panel will explore how infectious disease impedes economic growth in developing countries. Panelists will discuss the social and economic impact of HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria on developing countries and prospects for lessening the effects of these pathogens.
Panel II: Sectors & Strategies: Public, Private and NGO Response to the Health Needs of the Developing World PANELISTS
  • Victor Barnes, Director, HIV/AIDS Initiative, Corporate Council on Africa
  • Jeff Sturchio, VP External Affairs, Merck & Co., Inc
MODERATOR
  • Jennifer Prah Ruger, Assistant Professor, Division of Global Health, Yale School of Public Health
In response to Global Health challenges, such as HIV/AIDS the public, private and non-governmental organizations have all responded. The debate lies in which sector has responded in the most effective manner. And can often disjoint aid efforts better work together to provide solutions to the health needs of the developing world. Through a discussion of the various types of initiatives from government agencies such as USAID, private multi-nationals such as Merck, and most recently high level non-governmental initiatives such as the Gates Foundation a comparison will be drawn. Which sector is providing the most innovative response? How can the sectors better work together? Through a discussion of the different sector approaches and better opportunities for them to collaborate together a framework of best practices and successful strategies for future collaboration will emerge.
Panel III: Women and Healthcare: Challenges Facing Healthcare in Developing Nations. PANELISTS
  • Shahira Ahmed, Program on International Health and Human Rights, FXB Center
  • Alicia Yamin, Director of Research and Investigations, Physicians for Human Rights
  • Lisa Messersmith, Director, Vietnam AIDS Public Policy Project, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard university
  • Mindy Jane Roseman, Department of Population and International Health, Harvard School of Public Health
MODERATOR
  • Norma Swenson, Adjunct Lecturer on Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health
The goal of this panel is to discuss and detail challenges faced by healthcare practitioners in the developing world. Panel will cover specific challenge of accessing, and providing all types of healthcare to women: issues include lack of resources, no funding, uncooperative governments, cultural issues, and mental health post conflict.
Panel IV: Strategies to Increase Access and Affordability of Drugs While Maintaining Intellectual Property Rights PANELISTS
  • Thomas Bombelles, Director of Government Relations, Merck & Co., Inc
  • James Love, Consumer Project on Technology
  • Dwight Baker, Senior Director, natural Product Discovery, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc
MODERATOR
  • Rohit Deshpande, Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing, Harvard Business School
One of the most pressing health challenges is making drugs affordable for the developing world, where they are desperately needed. However, without adequate healthcare infrastructure and stable governments that can enforce protection of intellectual property rights how can major pharmaceutical companies make enough profit to sustain drug research and delivery? This panel aims to bring together leaders in various industries and sectors to discuss strategies that can help address this global health concern.
Track IV: Trade for Development Track V: Bottom Up Planning ]]> http://www.idc2006.org/trackIII.htm/feed 0 Track II: Environment, Natural Resources and International Development http://www.idc2006.org/trackII.htm http://www.idc2006.org/trackII.htm#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2006 22:48:41 +0000 admin http://www.idc2006.org/?p=52 Panel I: Improving Access to Modern Energy Services: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities PANELISTS
  • Dominique Lallement, ESMAP Program Manager and Energy Adviser, The World Bank
  • Richard Hansen, Principal, Global Transition Consulting
  • Philip LaRocco, Executive Director, E+Co (Energy through Enterprise
  • Peter Haas, Lead Technician, CEO, Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group, Inc
MODERATOR
  • Ellen Morris, President, Sustainable Energy Solutions
Two billion people, or roughly one third of humanity, still lack access to modern energy services such as heat, light and mechanical power, all of which are integral to economic development. Employing sustainable energy technologies to increase access to these services has proven beneficial to poor, underdeveloped communities by improving livelihoods and generating sources of income. In addition to the significant environmental benefits associated with sustainable energy technologies, cleaner technologies are often the most cost-effective solutions in remote, rural areas. In the case of electricity, for example, conventional grid-extension can be prohibitively expensive. Moreover, studies indicate that poor energy consumers have a high willingness and ability to pay for these technologies given the proper financial mechanisms. If the provision of modern energy services through sustainable energy technology creates a potential win-win solution for the environment, the private sector as well as poor, rural energy consumers, why haven’t more projects succeeded? Which economic, financial and policy barriers exist to successful implementation of profitable rural energy programs? What is the role of government, multi-lateral institutions, and the private sector? What are the important lessons to be learned from past rural energy efforts and how can we make projects more self-sufficient in the future? Lastly, what creative solutions can we employ to improve access to energy services in underdeveloped countries?
Panel II: Is Giving Land Rights to the Poor in Developing countries “Win-Win”? Do Secure Land Rights Help or Hinder Natural Resource Conservation and Economic Growth? PANELISTS
  • Xavier Gine, The World Bank
  • Sriram Raghavan, President, Comat Technologies, Ltd
  • Maryam Niamir-Fuller, Principal Technical Advisor, Land Degradation, UNDP
  • Lakshmi Iyer, Assistant Professor for Business, Government and the International Economy, Harvard Business School
MODERATOR
  • Abhijit Banerjee, Department of Economics, MIT
As a source of economic growth, natural resources are traditionally viewed as assets which can be collected, sold and consumed, and not as assets themselves. Land, a natural resource is an economic asset unto itself. Some posit that lack of formal land markets is a major hindrance to economic development in the developing world. Land markets allow secure identity of land ownership at transparent prices which can be used as collateral for investments and spur entrepreneurial activity. Land Markets also allow for better protection of unsustainable natural resources, and give increased value to protecting those natural resources, through conservation systems such as national parks or reserves. Further land markets can be seen as a way to preserve cultural heritage. Land markets are essential to economic development. Creating such markets, however, can be a long, complex, politically charged process, especially where most land is untitled and where there are conflicting claims. This panel will outline some of the major challenges created by malfunctioning land markets, and offer insights to various projects that are currently being implemented in various countries in the developing world, like India, Peru and Thailand and the challenges that lay ahead.
Panel III: Improving Access to Safe Drinking Water – Role of Public Private Partnership PANELISTS
  • Allain Locussol, Lead Water & Sanitation Specialist, South Asia region, The World Bank
  • Gonzalo Pizarro , Policy Advisor for Water Resources, UN Millennium Project
  • Maude Barlow, Founder, Blue Planet Project
  • Philippe Laval, Chief Operating Officer, Veolia Water North America
MODERATOR
  • Henry Lee, Lecturer in Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Access to safe drinking water is one of the important elements for sustainable development and poverty reduction. Today, nearly 1.1 billion people around the world have no access to safe drinking water. At the world summit on sustainable development held in Johannesburg in 2000, a commitment has been made to halve by 2015 the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water. The magnitude of the access gap and cost to achieve the same is considerable. Even though there is a consensus to achieve the same, the question of “how” is still open to debate. Can Public – Private – Partnership, among other initiatives contribute in achieving this development goal? What has been the experience till date? Are PPPs opposed to the goal of social equity or can they be used to achieve the same? What are the critical success factors in design of an effective Public Private Partnership?
Panel IV: Conflict Resolution through Sharing of Natural Resources: Middle East Negotiations on Water PANELISTS
  • Lawrence Susskind, Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning, MIT
  • Franklin M. Fisher, the Jane Berkowitz Carlton and Dennis William Carlton Professor of Microeconomics, Emeritus, MIT
  • Aly M. Shady, Senior Water Advisor, CIDA
  • David Brooks, Director of Research, Friends of the Earth- Canada
When, if ever, have shared environmental concerns over shared resources brought potentially hostile countries closer together? When have they created a space for peaceful negotiations? How can countries that cooperate and come together to manage shared water resources?
As natural resources become scarcer, are we doomed to a future of war? Are there take home lessons from success stories that can be applied to all natural resource and environmental issues that affect multiple countries?
Track III: Health and Growth Track IV: Trade for Development Track V: Bottom Up Planning ]]> http://www.idc2006.org/trackII.htm/feed 0 Opening Keynote Speaker http://www.idc2006.org/openingkeynotespeaker.htm http://www.idc2006.org/openingkeynotespeaker.htm#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2006 22:12:25 +0000 admin http://www.idc2006.org/?p=31 ZACKIE ACHMAT

HIV/AIDS Activist in South Africa

Zackie_AchmatBorn in Johannesburg, Zackie Achmat was raised in a Muslim community in Cape Town. He started his political life at 14, as one of the leaders of the 1976 anti-apartheid school boycotts. Between 1976 and 1980 he was arrested and detained by the security policy, and tried and imprisoned at some point in each of those years – which prevented him from completing high school.

After his release in 1980 he turned to underground work, revealing a flair for strategizing and tactical application as well as political education. He built a series of NGOs providing educational support to disadvantaged youth, skills training for school leavers and in the health sector. He was active in promoting the ANC at a mass level – from organizing the first open mass ANC funeral in the Western Cape, to publicizing the Freedom Charter in massive meters high murals spray painted onto walls all over Cape Town.

At the same time, Zackie remained critical of the leadership of the ANC, and never compromised his principles for the sake of political position or favor. This characteristic earned him intense loyalty from some, respect from others, often enmity from those in power. Zackie’s political philosophy was based on Marxism. As the events of the early 1990s unfolded he revised his ideas on Marxism and embraced the achievements of the new South African constitution. He realized that the struggle for social justice was going to be much more protracted than the perspective of 1980s suggested. He understood that the “human rights culture” required by the new South African constitution was not something automatic and would have to be fought for.

In the early 1990s he worked for the legal team defending the ANC after the Shell House massacre – a conflict between ANC and Inkhata (in reality the closest thing to an attempt by the right wing to derail the 1994 elections through armed action). Zackie initiated the National Coalition for Gay and Lesbian Equality and, as its director, successfully saw through campaigns to ensure the retention of the clause prohibiting discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the Bill of Rights. He successfully brought several cases to the Constitutional Court that saw the decriminalization of sodomy and the granting of equal status to same sex partners in respect of immigration. These cases are taught in law schools in South Africa today. His political skill in holding together a national gay and lesbian organization and his ability to orientate to the national political agenda were crucial in the success of the NCGLE that was widely acclaimed as a “model” for NGO activism.

HIV/AIDS was never far from Zackie’s agenda – having initiated work in this area through an NGO as early as 1989-90. Zackie did a stint as director of the AIDS Law Project – the leading NGO nationally fighting human rights abuse cases for people with HIV/AIDS. Throughout the 1990s he felt that the struggle against HIV/AIDS was woefully disorganized and directionless. After disclosing his own positive HIV status, he turned in 1998 to do something about it, starting, with a small public demonstration on the steps of St. Georges Cathedral.

In the years since then the Treatment Action Campaign has been built into the most vocal and visible lobby fighting for the rights of HIV positive people to treatment and non-discrimination yet seen in any developing country. The TAC has notched up some real achievements: drastic reductions in the price of drugs such as Phizer’s Diflucan and Glaxo’s AZT, as well placing treatment of HIV and the prevention of mother to child infections on the agenda of government. Zackie has publicly vowed not to take anti-retroviral medication until it is available at an affordable price for everyone. He is currently Chairperson of the TAC.

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