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The Istanbul PPP Week on 7 March 2024 for the first time ever hosted a discussion about the potential of philanthropy to work with PPPs with Liana Varon from WINGS, the global network representing philanthropy support organisations,Jyoti Bisbey from WAPPP, the global association representing PPP Units and professionals and Secil Kinay from Vehbi Koc Foundation, the biggest philanthropic foundation in Turkey. As Chair of the Philanthropy in PPPs Chapter at WAPPP, Max von Abendroth moderated the conversation when the panel explored the catalytic role of philanthropy in PPPs.
During the conference many references have been made to Next Generation PPPs. Its inherent concept of “people first PPPs” contributing explicitly to the achievement of the SDGs, benefitting people and planet, is a strong value proposition of PPPs represented by WAPPP, that links PPP as a business opportunity while contributing to public good.
So it is no surprise that there were regular references made during Istanbul PPP Week to the potential role of philanthropy in PPPs, such as in the Just Energy Transition Partnership projects (JETPs) in South-Africa, Indonesia, Senegal and 16 other countries around the world. Philanthropy is defined as “private resources for public good” and in our discussion we referred to institutionalised philanthropy, namely foundations.
This backdrop served as Max von Abendroth’s opening building on the findings of the recently published joint TPI & WAPPP report titled “Systems Change Activation: Empowering philanthropy’s catalytic role in transformational PPPPs”for COP28.
Secil Kinay presented an ongoing public-private-philanthropy partnership that has been realised in the immediate aftermath of the terrifying earthquake in Turkey in February 2023. Koc Foundation teamed up with companies building temporary large-scale housing for the many people that became homeless overnight. These “Hope Cities” are hosting 25,000 people in 5 cities and Koc foundation estimates to stay involved in running the social services, including medical and educational services, for at least 5 more years. She described the roles of the different partners involved: the private sector brought agility and funding for constructions as well as procurement, construction and field coordination power; the public sector provided land, infrastructure as well as the capacity to run the compound by appointing local authorities; the philanthropy brought human centred design expertise, funding for social and educational programmes to sustain the efforts and rebuild life after the construction of the cities.
Secil confirmed that the power of collaboration as public-private-philanthropy partnership (PPPP) has been very strong in the most destructive natural disaster of the republic’s history. The Hope Cities are a rare example of a rapidly executed, inclusive and community focussed city planning that could be replicated globally by PPPPs in case of acute disasters.
Liana Vanon explained that the philanthropic foundations’ sector is larger and more diverse than people usually acknowledge – in terms of the missions, resources, and expertise of these organisations. According to a recent OECD study foundations globally represent $1.5 trillion in assets. Today we are also witnessing the transformation of foundations and the philanthropic sector. The philanthropy sector is realising that it is essential to build multi stakeholderpartnerships and join forces to address the complex and interconnected challenges we are facing. This requires a shift in the mindset in terms of our ways of working. That’s why an increasing number of foundations are engaging in partnerships amongst themselves and with public and private sectors, as illustrated nicely in the PPPPs Library.
Liana highlighted that in the case of PPPs, contributions of philanthropy can be much more than “just” financial resources. To name a few, philanthropy can bring to the table catalytic funding that can support partnerships with grants, endowments and full use of capital. In addition it can provide more flexible and high risk capital that can be used for piloting and testing. Even more importantly, philanthropy can play a catalyst role in bridging together different organisations, as well as bringing in local knowledge, resources and expertise. “To me what stands out is philanthropy’s enabler role. Philanthropy is an enabler of more financial resources but more importantly it is a force that can bring together different actors, facilitate exchange of local knowledge and expertise, ensure diversity and participation.”, says Liana in her closing statement.
Jyoti Bisbey explained that in the realm of rising needs for financing to achieve the SDGs and 2030 Agenda, climate action and prevailing the aftereffects of pandemic on global economic development, philanthropy is playing a significant role. WAPPP is engaging this emerging class of stakeholder in PPPs as a partner in development.
She stated that philanthropy works at the community level, bringing impact, enhancing cooperation amongst public and local private sector, who are mostly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In a world where 70% of jobs are generated by MSMEs contributing to 40% of GDP in emerging markets, the catalytic role of philanthropy has become essential.
The panellists agreed that the philanthropy sector can take more risks, provide “venture capital” to innovative ideas, drive need-based capital investment, reduce cost of capital among many other benefits.
In the discussion representatives of PPP Units expressed high interest in exploring the nexus of philanthropy and PPPs further. Also the need for use cases for small scale PPPs (up to $50 million) has been raised.
This work will be taken forward by the “Philanthropy in PPPs” Chapter at WAPPP in partnership with The Partnering Initiative, TPI, and a global support network. If you wish to join shaping this innovative space, please do not hesitate to contact Max von Abendroth at max@wappp.org
The Istanbul PPP Week on 7 March 2024 for the first time ever hosted a discussion about the potential of philanthropy to work with PPPs with Liana Varon from WINGS, the global network representing philanthropy support organisations,Jyoti Bisbey from WAPPP, the global association representing PPP Units and professionals and Secil Kinay from Vehbi Koc Foundation, the biggest philanthropic foundation in Turkey. As Chair of the Philanthropy in PPPs Chapter at WAPPP, Max von Abendroth moderated the conversation when the panel explored the catalytic role of philanthropy in PPPs.
During the conference many references have been made to Next Generation PPPs. Its inherent concept of “people first PPPs” contributing explicitly to the achievement of the SDGs, benefitting people and planet, is a strong value proposition of PPPs represented by WAPPP, that links PPP as a business opportunity while contributing to public good.
So it is no surprise that there were regular references made during Istanbul PPP Week to the potential role of philanthropy in PPPs, such as in the Just Energy Transition Partnership projects (JETPs) in South-Africa, Indonesia, Senegal and 16 other countries around the world. Philanthropy is defined as “private resources for public good” and in our discussion we referred to institutionalised philanthropy, namely foundations.
This backdrop served as Max von Abendroth’s opening building on the findings of the recently published joint TPI & WAPPP report titled “Systems Change Activation: Empowering philanthropy’s catalytic role in transformational PPPPs”for COP28.
Secil Kinay presented an ongoing public-private-philanthropy partnership that has been realised in the immediate aftermath of the terrifying earthquake in Turkey in February 2023. Koc Foundation teamed up with companies building temporary large-scale housing for the many people that became homeless overnight. These “Hope Cities” are hosting 25,000 people in 5 cities and Koc foundation estimates to stay involved in running the social services, including medical and educational services, for at least 5 more years. She described the roles of the different partners involved: the private sector brought agility and funding for constructions as well as procurement, construction and field coordination power; the public sector provided land, infrastructure as well as the capacity to run the compound by appointing local authorities; the philanthropy brought human centred design expertise, funding for social and educational programmes to sustain the efforts and rebuild life after the construction of the cities.
Secil confirmed that the power of collaboration as public-private-philanthropy partnership (PPPP) has been very strong in the most destructive natural disaster of the republic’s history. The Hope Cities are a rare example of a rapidly executed, inclusive and community focussed city planning that could be replicated globally by PPPPs in case of acute disasters.
Liana Vanon explained that the philanthropic foundations’ sector is larger and more diverse than people usually acknowledge – in terms of the missions, resources, and expertise of these organisations. According to a recent OECD study foundations globally represent $1.5 trillion in assets. Today we are also witnessing the transformation of foundations and the philanthropic sector. The philanthropy sector is realising that it is essential to build multi stakeholderpartnerships and join forces to address the complex and interconnected challenges we are facing. This requires a shift in the mindset in terms of our ways of working. That’s why an increasing number of foundations are engaging in partnerships amongst themselves and with public and private sectors, as illustrated nicely in the PPPPs Library.
Liana highlighted that in the case of PPPs, contributions of philanthropy can be much more than “just” financial resources. To name a few, philanthropy can bring to the table catalytic funding that can support partnerships with grants, endowments and full use of capital. In addition it can provide more flexible and high risk capital that can be used for piloting and testing. Even more importantly, philanthropy can play a catalyst role in bridging together different organisations, as well as bringing in local knowledge, resources and expertise. “To me what stands out is philanthropy’s enabler role. Philanthropy is an enabler of more financial resources but more importantly it is a force that can bring together different actors, facilitate exchange of local knowledge and expertise, ensure diversity and participation.”, says Liana in her closing statement.
Jyoti Bisbey explained that in the realm of rising needs for financing to achieve the SDGs and 2030 Agenda, climate action and prevailing the aftereffects of pandemic on global economic development, philanthropy is playing a significant role. WAPPP is engaging this emerging class of stakeholder in PPPs as a partner in development.
She stated that philanthropy works at the community level, bringing impact, enhancing cooperation amongst public and local private sector, who are mostly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In a world where 70% of jobs are generated by MSMEs contributing to 40% of GDP in emerging markets, the catalytic role of philanthropy has become essential.
The panellists agreed that the philanthropy sector can take more risks, provide “venture capital” to innovative ideas, drive need-based capital investment, reduce cost of capital among many other benefits.
In the discussion representatives of PPP Units expressed high interest in exploring the nexus of philanthropy and PPPs further. Also the need for use cases for small scale PPPs (up to $50 million) has been raised.
This work will be taken forward by the “Philanthropy in PPPs” Chapter at WAPPP in partnership with The Partnering Initiative, TPI, and a global support network. If you wish to join shaping this innovative space, please do not hesitate to contact Max von Abendroth at max@wappp.org
