Can private sector save the UN?
John Holmes, the UN's top aid official, will include private companies in his search for contributions in an effort to close an estimated $3.8 billion gap in funding.
But building the relationship between the UN and business still has a long way to go.
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The increasing need for humanitarian aid is a priority today. The involvement of corporates is a good idea however there is a need to evolve a system which is beyond the principle of give-and-take. Some international initiatives (like this) many a times have fallen into this trap and the lesser developed countries become loosers. Corporates driving the market economy from the front may find this a big opportunity to capture base on these countries. Hence a more stringent and transparent mechanism should be established before joining hands with corporates. At the same time countries which are progressing very fast, in particular the BRIC group should increase the size of international funding to UN.
Posted by: Kirti Mishra | Jan 6, 2008 1:59:28 AM
No, the private sector cannot and should not save the UN. The UN was a creation of governments, in fact a club of government leaders and international bureaucrats. If the UN is so useful, let the governments who created and benefit from it finance it.
The private sector have various schemes and avenues to help other less privileged people if they wish too -- humanitarian organizations, international social and civic groups, private foundations, etc.
The UN can survive on existing funding by governments if it will just focus on a few, important functions. When the UN spreads itself too wide and thinly, that's where the funding problem begins. Thanks to its international bureaucrats wanting to play hero far and wide but themselves are exempted from paying income and other taxes.
Posted by: Nonoy Oplas, Philippines | Mar 16, 2008 10:31:58 PM
I think it's about time we stopped seeing the private sector as a source of philanthropic cash -- it has so much more to offer through its core business. We profiled a whole range of announcements on http://www.businessfightspoverty.org that were made as part of the "Business Call to Action" this week. And there are many more companies that are making a huge contribution to the UN's objectives by running successful and responsible businesses.
Posted by: Zahid Torres-Rahman | May 9, 2008 4:49:21 PM