News/Reports
GFI Board Member, Richard Nordstrom, Pens Article on GFI and Nonprofit Work for Healthcare Marketer's Exchange
Richard Nordstrom, a member of the Global Fairness Initiative Board of Directors and CEO of NorthStream Global Partners, LLC and Liberate Ideas, Inc. was featured on the most recent cover of Healthcare Marketer's Exchange, a monthly media magazine published for the pharmaceutical industry. Mr. Nordstrom, who is also a member of the national board of Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG), wrote an article about his experience working with GFI and JAG for Healthcare Marketer's Exchange, which is distributed to more 7,500 pharmaceutical media and marketing professionals.
Describing his work with GFI as "truly transformative", Mr. Nordstrom writes that GFI is "innovative in its approach to freeing women from the shackles of unfair trade practices." Read more from Mr. Nordstrom's wonderful article, which is included in full, below.
PM Modi Takes Steps Towards Ensuring Decent Work in India
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to key labour reforms, as the majority of India’s labor laws date back to the British period. In attempts to increase the involvement of India in the global manufacturing business from 15% to 25%, India’s factories will be held to a higher standard, including random factory inspections, and a push for more transparency. As India’s struggling economy begins to recover, PM Modi hopes a revival of the manufacturing business will contribute to the economic growth.
Read more here.
Write up by Chase Claflin, GFI Intern
GFI Signs MoU with Federation of Contractors' Associations of Nepal (FCAN)
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Oct 22: A major step toward providing consumers with bricks that minimize damage to the environment and use no child or bonded labor was taken on Monday with the signing of an agreement between the Federation of Contractors´ Associations of Nepal (FCAN) and Global Fairness Initiative (GFI), an INGO, as part of a joint program with Brick Clean Group Nepal (BCN).
The current boom in construction has focused global attention on the country´s brick kilns, where bricks are often made by child laborers in risky conditions that pollute the environment. But some kilns are making changes.
The GFI is assisting kiln entrepreneurs in enabling their products to be certified as Better Bricks, part of a business-friendly, consumer-oriented program led by BCN. Now contractors across the country have also joined the movement to encourage the use of bricks made in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. The agreement was signed by FCAN President Jay Ram Lamichhane on behalf of the nationwide organization, according to a press statement issued by GFI.
“This is a milestone. It´s exciting to see the business community taking the initiative even before formulation of policies by the government,” said GFI Country Director Homraj Acharya.
“It's a great example of partnership between the business and nonprofit sectors to achieve common goals. We believe that Nepal´s consumers, if given the choice, would rather have clean bricks free of any trace of child labor or forced labor.”
Learn more about GFI's Better Brick Nepal program.
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.
Photo Credit: Maris Mednis/MRS Grupa
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.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2014
Robert B. Zoellick, Karl-Johan Persson and Nani Zulminarni
To Receive Global Fairness Award on November 24th
Event to Celebrate International Impact and Leadership in Grassroots Efforts
(Washington, DC)--- The Global Fairness Initiative (GFI) annual awards dinner on November 24th will honor three outstanding individuals who have made a significant difference in the world. The honorees are: Robert B. Zoellick, former President of the World Bank Group (2007-2012); Karl-Johan Persson, President and CEO of H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB, and Ms. Nani Zulminarni, Founder of Perempuan Kepala Keluarga (PEKKA), Indonesia. Emmy winning local news anchor Andrea Roane will MC the event. The event will also feature a musical performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love.
The Fairness Award was created five years ago to recognize the role of collaborative leadership in removing the barriers to economic and social opportunity for poor and marginalized communities around the world.
WHO:Karen Tramontano founded the Global Fairness Initiative along with the leadership of President Bill Clinton as the first Board Chair. The organization was formed to promote a more equitable, sustainable approach to economic development for the world’s working poor by advancing fair wages, equal access to markets, and balanced public policy to generate opportunity and end the cycle of poverty. GFI has steadily built a track record of success through innovative programs to reduce poverty, enfranchise informal communities, and advance human rights and livelihoods.
WHAT: GFI's 2014 Annual Fairness Award will honor Mr. Robert B. Zoellick, former President of the World Bank Group (2007-2012); Mr. Karl-Johan Persson, President and CEO of H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB, and Ms. Nani Zulminarni, Founder of Perempuan Kepala Keluarga (PEKKA), Indonesia. Andrea Roane, WUSA 9 Anchor will be the 2014 Fairness Award Mistress of Ceremonies. The event will also feature a musical performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love.
WHEN: Monday, November 24th, 2014
6:00 to 7:30pm Honoree Reception
7:30 to 9:30pm Awards Ceremony
WHERE:
The Historic Howard Theatre
620 T Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
About the Fairness Awards
The Fairness Awards started in 2010. More than 2,000 invited guests including members of the Cabinet and Congressional leaders, Ambassadors and media personalities gathered at the Kennedy Center Opera House to honor Ela Ramesh Bhatt, Founder of the Self Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA) with Hillary R. Clinton, 67th United States Secretary of State, presenting the first Fairness Award. Each year the Global Fairness Initiative selects honorees from the grasstops who have enabled and supported marginalized communities and from the grassroots who have led communities in building a stronger voice and finding a place in the global community. By honoring these outstanding individuals, GFI hopes to inspire a new generation of leaders to dedicate themselves to economic justice, fairness, and equality. For more information visit: http://www.fairnessaward.org/
About the 2014 Fairness Award Honorees and Special Guests
2014 Grasstops Honoree Robert B. Zoellick is the Chairman of Goldman Sachs’ International Advisors. He serves on the boards of Temasek, Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, and Laureate International Universities, as well as on the international advisory board of Rolls Royce. Zoellick is also a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He is a member of the board of the Congressionally-created National Endowment for Democracy and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Mr. Zoellick was the President of the World Bank Group from 2007-2012. He served in President George W. Bush's cabinet as U.S. Trade Representative from 2001 to 2005 and as Deputy Secretary of State from 2005 to 2006. From 1985 to 1993, Zoellick worked at the Treasury and State departments in various capacities, including as Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury and Under Secretary of State, as well as briefly in the White House as Deputy Chief of Staff. He was the lead U.S. negotiator in the 2 + 4 process for Germany’s unification, serving under Secretary James A. Baker III. The German Government awarded Zoellick the Knight Commanders Cross for his work on unification. The Mexican and Chilean Governments presented him their highest honors for non-citizens the Aztec Eagle and the Order of Merit, respectively. Zoellick holds a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, a master's degree in public policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and a bachelor's degree (Phi Beta Kappa) from Swarthmore College.
2014 Grasstops Honoree Karl-Johan Persson is President and Chief Executive Officer of H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB, one of the largest fashion retailers in the world. Prior to taking over as CEO in 2009, Mr. Persson held an operational role within H&M from 2005, including working as head of expansion, business development, new business and COS. Since 2000 Karl-Johan Persson has been a member of the boards of H&M’s subsidiaries in Denmark, Germany, US and the UK. From 2006 to 2009 he was also a member of the Board of H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB. Under Mr. Persson’s leadership, his most recent accomplishments include launching H&M’s first product made with recycled fibers from H&M’s garment collecting initiative and H&M’s Fair Living Wage roadmap, marking an important contribution towards fair living wages in the textile industry. Mr. Persson is a member of the board of the H&M Conscious Foundation and his current external board assignments are the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in the UK and the GoodCause foundation. Mr. Persson is a graduate of the European Business School in London where he earned his degree in Business Administration.
2014 Grassroots Honoree Nani Zulminarni has been working on women empowerment at the grass root level since 1987, when her career began as a field worker and community organizer at The Center for Women’s Resources Development (PPSW). In 1995, she was appointed as the director of PPSW and currently sits on their advisory board. In 2001, with the support of PPSW and as part of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Ms. Zulminarni created PEKKA, which organizes poor women heads of households in post conflict areas with the goal of economic empowerment and leadership development of the grass-roots women. Currently PEKKA works in 19 Provinces of Indonesia, facilitating the growth of more than 1,200 organizations. PEKKA delivers a wide set of services such as village-level capacity building trainings, savings and loan schemes, and education, but economic empowerment is the pillar of the organization.
Ms. Zulminarni is also the founder of ASPPUK; a National Network of NGOs working on Women in Economic issues, and served as the chairperson of the executive committee from 1995-2001. She was elected executive council member of The Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE) for two terms (2000-2008). She is currently chairing the executive committee of SEAPCP (South East Asia popular Communication Program) and is the regional advisor of JASS-SEA. Ms. Zulminarni has also recently become a member of the International Advisory Group of MUSAWAH and a member of ALIMAT; a following initiative of MUSAWAH in Indonesia. In 2007, she was the recipient of the ASHOKA Fellowship and in August 2010, she received the Saparinah Sadli Award. At the beginning of this year, Ms. Zulminarni also received the Lotus Leadership Award from The Asia Foundation and Lotus Circle.
2014 Mistress of Ceremonies Andrea Roane joined WUSA 9 in August of 1981 as the Sunday evening and 6:30 a.m. weekday anchor. Andrea is best known to viewers for her passionate reporting on breast health issues and promoting the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer. In 2006, Andrea was named one of Washingtonian Magazine’s “Washingtonians of the Year” for her continued work on breast cancer awareness. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Andrea earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Education and a Master of Arts degree in Drama and Communications from Louisiana State University in New Orleans, now the University of New Orleans.
Featured Performance by Darlene Love
Rolling Stone has proclaimed Darlene Love to be “one of the greatest singers of all time.” When 20 Feet from Stardom won the Oscar at the 2014 Academy Awards for Best Documentary it was legendary singer Darlene Love who ‘stole the show with her soulful approach to the acceptance speech’. Darlene Love featured prominently in the Award-Winning Documentary –a riveting film about back-up singers and their crucial vocals performed with world-famous musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones, and legions more.
Darlene Love began her career in the 1960’s and eventually became a background singer as part of Phil Spector’s ‘wall of sound’ hit factory for various artists such as Marvin Gaye, Same Cooke, and Elvis Presley. In addition to her singing career, she has had roles in films including Lethal Weapon, Hairspray, and Grease. She continues to captivate audiences world-wide with her warmth, gracious stage presence and sensational performances.
Currently, Darlene Love is busy in the studio recording songs written for her by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Stevie Van Zandt and more.
Darlene Love is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and was introduced by Bette Midler. The two sang a duet and are now working on another project together. It’s no wonder The New York Times raves: ‘Darlene Love’s thunderbolt voice is as embedded in the history of rock and roll as Eric Clapton’s guitar or Bob Dylan’s lyrics.’”
About The Global Fairness Initiative (GFI)
The GFI approach includes:
Engaging multiple players – workers, employers, private enterprise and government – to find economic solutions and create economic opportunity.
Partnering with community based organizations to have the greatest impact and leave behind lasting results and institutions.
Leveraging international networks of respected experts, political and social luminaries, trade and finance stakeholders, and business leaders to maximize the inputs and impacts of GFI initiatives.
Please contact Elleni Almandrez, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR Amy Weiss, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., to request an interview with the 2014 honorees and Karen Tramontano, President of the Global Fairness Initiative. The award ceremony is open to all press. Media must RSVP to secure attendance.
Contact:
Elleni Almandrez, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 202-492-6622
Amy Weiss, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 202-203-0448
| File | Description | File size |
|---|---|---|
 2014 FINAL GFI Awards Media Advisory 9.30.14 .doc | 44 kB |
