Global Fairness Initiative and The Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation Host Africa Roundtable in NYC

Global Fairness Initiative and The Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation Host Africa Roundtable in NYC

Created: Monday, 06 October 2014 18:00

September 22, 2014 (New York, NY) – The Global Fairness Initiative (GFI) and The Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation held a roundtable in NYC that explored development initiatives and investment strategies for West Africa’s transitions economies. The event, which was held in the New York Athletic Club, featured such participants as the European Union’s Commissioner for Development, the Ambassador of Latvia to the UN and the Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN. The roundtable also included senior representatives from the World Economic Forum, New York University, Humanity United and the impact investing community. Dr. Danilo Türk, GFI Board Chair and former President of Slovenia (2007-2012), served as the moderator for the roundtable.

Participants shared their experiences on development initiatives and building impact investment portfolios in West Africa. Ed Marcum, Vice President of Investments at Humanity United, discussed his experience in helping design the Liberia Philanthropy Secretariat, a cooperation with the Liberian government created in 2009 to coordinate international donors and maximize the impact of their investments. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN, Yoshifumi Okamura, informed the group about his time as Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire and Japan’s investment in Africa through the Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Participants also spoke about the World Economic Forum’s Grow Africa program, the European Commission’s development strategy in West Africa, and GFI’s programs in Guinea Bissau.

The Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation, a Latvian foundation started in 2010 by philanthropist Boris Teterev and his wife Ināra, supported the roundtable. The foundation supports development programs around the world, including work with GFI in Guinea Bissau, Guatemala, Peru and Nepal. More information about GFI programs supported by the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation can be found by viewing Our Programs.

Top Photo: (From left to right) Boris Teterev (Founder of the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation), Hon. Andris Piebalgs (European Union Commissioner for Development), H.E. Yoshifumi Okamura (Deputy Permanent Representative of the Japan to the U.N.) and Ed Marcum (Vice President of Investments at Humanity United) discuss West African development at GFI’s September 22 Roundtable in New York City.

About the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation:

In 2010, Boris and Ināra Teterev established a family charity foundation whose aim is to support distinguished and socially important charitable initiatives. The Teterev family are particularly keen on supporting culture, education, and community development organizations in cities and rural areas of the country. They help groups of people with low income and families at risk. The foundation operates internationally and supports charity projects abroad.

In 2011, the Teterev Family Foundation was awarded Special Annual Prize for benefactions by the State Inspection For Heritage Protection of the Republic of Latvia, UNESCO National Commission Latvia and the association ‘ICOMOS Latvia’. Also in 2011, the Foundation was awarded a diploma for high quality work for the people and significant contribution to promoting volunteer work in Latvia by the Ministry of Education and Science within the framework of the European Year of Volunteering.

GFI President Karen Tramontano confers with Boris Teterev, Founder of the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation, at the joint roundtable held on September 22, 2014 in New York City.