Latest News

2024: Make Science Work for Human Rights

Jul 4, 2024

Make Science Work for Human Rights
Christoph Stückelberger

During the Human Rights Council in Geneva, I co-moderated a side event at the UN in Geneva on Science for Human Rights: How can AI, Biotech and other technologies contribute to Human Rights such as the right to food, education, health, support of persons with disabilities etc. And how can Science and technology hinder and reduce the violation of Human Rights?

The panel was co-organised by the Geneva Agape Foundation (where I am President) and CNIE, the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, based in Beijing, with Ma Jingjing (Associate Researcher) as Co-moderator of the event. The six panelists contributed legal, technological, business-related and ethical balanced inputs on the topic: a representative from the permanent mission of China to the UN in Geneva, Dr. Wallace Cheng from Globethics Foundation, Dr. Wu Wenyang from China university of Political Science and Law, Dr. Ali Al-Assam from News Social Cooperative and Li Shoujun from Tianjin Federation of Industries and Commerce.

2023: Human Priorities for CSO’s and Their Role in UN

Jul 4, 2024

Human Priorities for CSO’s and Their Role in UN

UN Human Rights Council side event, Geneva, 7 March 2023

Organised by Geneva Agape Foundation, China NGO Network for International Exchange, China Foundation for Peace and Development, China Foundation for Rural Development and Peaceland Foundation, a parallel event to the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council.

CNIE-GAF 230307 PDF

Exploring Potential Cooperation

China Delegation, Geneva 21 March 2023

Geneva Agape Foundation with delegations from Minzu University Beijing and the China Ethnic Minorities’ Association for External Exchange.

2022: Climate Change as Challenge for the Right to Food and Water

Jul 4, 2024

Climate Change as Challenge for the Right to Food and Water

When: Sep 12, 2022 (Europe/Zurich / UTC200)
Where: Webinar

UN Human Rights Council Side Event

Organised by China NGO Network for International Exchange CNIE, Geneva Agape Foundation GAF and China Association for NGO Cooperation CANGO

2022 Conference

Jan 21, 2022

Words to Actions. 5th International Faith-based
Investment Conference
January 21 (Friday) Geneva & Online

Downloads

Programme

Speakers

Topic

From Words to Actions.

From top-down to bottom-up initiatives.

From single/unilateral to synchronised/multilateral strategic partnerships and programs.

This 2022 January Conference on Faith-based investment conference aims to initiate a shift in what has been a fast-growing movement, that of faiths and of their role and actions in investments aligned with their values.

As a matter fact, faiths started to practice impact investing long before the concept existed itself. This is true either we see this from the perspective of sacred texts advising on the use of money, which goes back to thousands of years, or more recently, with the practice in the last fifty years of the negative screening strategies allowing to exclude investments in harmful industries and sectors of activity. In other words, faiths are pioneers when it comes to see in investments much more than a simple, neutral financial operation. This is because faiths have always seen human being as part of an assemble greater than him, yet, responsible and accountable of it. During this 2022 edition, the Geneva Conference is opening an Agora, a hub, where diverse actors from international institutions and governments to faiths organizations and investment world key players come together to think syncretical about joint investment-related solutions to address the wounds of the world expressed in the SGDs, in various Climate focused initiatives, in social impact enterprises.

Philantropy Training Program

Jul 3, 2021

The new webinar series specialising on “Ethics Philanthropy” will take place twice per month on thursday morning from 9-11am Swiss time.

When
Aug 05, 2021 from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM (Europe/Zurich / UTC200)
All dates
Aug 05, 2021 from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Aug 19, 2021 from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Sep 02, 2021 from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Sep 16, 2021 from 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Contact Name
Dr. Nicoleta Acatrinei
Contact Phone
+41 79 721 66 99

2021 Conference Materials: Asia Focus

Mar 6, 2021

Conference Materials: Asia Focus

1) Welcome: Walk the Talk: Expectations for 2021. Plenary. Video is available

  • Christoph Stückelberger, Executive Director Geneva Agape Foundation GAF, Geneva
  • Isabel Phiri, Deputy General Secretary World Council of Churches, Geneva
  • Nana Francois, Director Membership, FaithInvest, Bristol/UK
  • Timo Plutschinski, Director WEA Business Coalition, Berlin/Germany

2) Keynotes Plenary (Moderator Christoph Stückelberger). Video is available

Setting the Scene: Impact and Faith-driven Investing in and after the Corona Pandemic

  • Anis Asghar, Investor, UK/Bangladesh, Board Oikosinvest Foundation
  • Needs, risks and opportunities of investing in Corona times. Investor perspective.
  • Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary, Christian Conference of Asia, Thailand/India: Needs and opportunities of investing in Asian church-related programmes.
  • Baocheng Liu, Professor of Business Ethics, Beijing/China, Advisor to the government on China-Africa-Investments: Social Responsibility in Chinese Outbound Investments.
  • Prune Ansvananda, President of UNIAPAC Asia, Thailand: The Contribution of Christian entrepreneurs (Uniapac members) for Faith-driven Investments, with a focus on Asia

3) Working Session 6 parallel sessions with active interaction of participants.

Faith-driven Project Examples: one successful and one in consideration for investing

  • Health Sector (Moderator Manoj Kurian, India/Geneva, WCC, Public Health Expert. Video to be available soon
  • Agro-food and water sector (Moderator: Athena Peralta, WCC, Philippines/Geneva). Video to be available soon
  • Renewable Energy and Climate sector (Moderator: Timo Plutschinski, WEA, Germany). No video
  • Education sector (Moderator: Asha Singh Kanvar, President Common Wealth of Learning CoL. Video to be available soon
  • Financial and Fintech sector (Moderator: Nana Francois, Faithinvest, UK). Video to be available soon
  • Real Estate / Infrastructure (Moderator: Chris Elisara, WEA Creation Care, SDG Cities). No video

4) Plenary Panel and Discussion (Moderator Nana Francois). Video is available

Loans, Interest Rates, Equities, Grants, Governance: What to consider

  • Nicolas Karambadzakis, ECLOF International, Geneva. Microcredits
  • Mason Tan, Founder Garden Impact Investments, Singapore: Investing in the poor.
  • Jean-Pascal Beyrard, Partner, Lombard Odier Private Bank, Geneva: Impact Investing as a private bank.
  • Nicholas Niggli, Deputy General Secretary Economic Development, State of Geneva, Canton of Geneva, Member Building Bridges Initiative: Asian Investment Bridges.


5) Plenary Panel and Discussion (Moderator Lorna Gold). Video is available

Faiths Invest: Principles and Praxis in Islamic, Hindu and Interfaith Investments.

Vivek Mittal, Hindu, CEO AFIDA (Africa Infrastructure Dev. ), India/London.
Martin Palmer, CEO FaithInvest: Faith Long-term Plans. The strategy of FaithInvest.
Mizue Tsukushi, President & CEO of Good Bankers Japan & Michael Shackleton, FaithInvest Consultant for Asia: Building on traditional values: examples from Japan.

6) Plenary Panel and Discussion (Moderator Christoph Stückelberger). Video is available

Making Investments Work. Three Cases.

  • Nawang Kunphel, Ladak, India: Pennees Row Project
  • Joy Cadangen, Philippines/Geneva, Board Oikosinvest: Affordable Housing
  • Christopher Mbanefo, CEO Oxï-Zen, Global/Geneva: CO2-Conversion Projects
  1. Closing remarks, conclusion, follow up. Video is available

2021 Conference: Asia Focus

Mar 5, 2021

4th International Faith-Based Investment Conference
Faith-Driven Investing: Walk the Talk
Asia Focus

Online Conference: 5 March 2021

With the success of our first fully digital conference “Walk the Talk”, Geneva Agape Foundation, FaithInvest, World Evangelical Alliance-Business Coalition and World Council of Churches would like to thank you for all of great discussions, effective communication to speakers, attendees, and partners who made this yearly event a truly special one!

For downloading:

  • Videos of the conference are available here
  • All presentations go to Conference Materials
  • Short video clip on the whole conference is available here
  • Short 2021 Conference highlight and recommendations: to be available by the end of April 2021
  • Conference programme


Send an email to the Programme Executive Communication Ms Hong Bui-Rydell, bui@gafoundation.world in order to get more information.

2021 Conference Materials: Africa-Europe Focus

Jan 16, 2021

Conference Materials: Africa Focus

1. Welcome. Walk the talk: Expectations for 2021. Plenary. Video is available.

  • Christoph Stückelberger, Executive Director Geneva Agape Foundation GAF, Geneva
  • Isabel Phiri, Deputy General Secretary World Council of Churches, Geneva
  • Nana Francois, Director Membership, FaithInvest, Bristol/UK
  • Timo Plutschinski, Director WEA Business Coalition, Berlin/Germany

2. Keynotes Plenary. Video is available

Setting the Scene: Impact and Faith drove Investing in and after the Corona Pandemic

  • Anis Ashgar, Investor, UK, Board Oikosinvest Foundation, Needs, risks and opportunities of investing in Corona times. Investor perspective.
  • Nkatha Njeru, Coordinator African Christian Health Association Platform ACHAP, Nairobi: Needs/ opportunities of health projects in Corona times. Church perspective.
  • Bruno Bobone, new President of UNIAPAC: The Contribution of Christian entrepreneurs (Uniapac members) for Faith-driven Investments, with a focus on Africa.
  • Roland Schatz, CEO UNGSII and President Geneva Agape Foundation, ev with Günter Nocke, Africa Desk of the Government of Germany, Berlin, Commitment of the German government for cooperation with faith-driven investing.

3. Working Session 6 parallel sessions with active interaction of participants. (No videos available)

Faith-driven Project Examples: one successful and one in consideration for investing

  • Health Sector (Moderator Mwai Makoka, WCC, Zambia/Geneva)
  • Agro-food and water sector (Moderator: Athena Peralta, WCC, Philippines/Geneva)
  • Renewable Energy and Climate sector (Moderator: Timo Plutschinski, WEA, Germany)
  • Education sector (Moderator: Obiora Ike, Globethics.net, Nigeria/Geneva)
  • Financial and Fintech sector (Moderator: Nana Francois, Faithinvest, UK)
  • Real Estate / Infrastructure (Moderator: Chris Elisara, WEA Creation Care, SDG Cities)

4. Plenary Panel and Discussion. Video is available

Loans, Interest Rates, Equities, Grants, Governance: What to consider

  • Jean-Pierre Sweerts, DOB Equity, Board Chairman, Kenya/Amsterdam, Board GAF
  • Oscar Iloh, Lombard Odier Private Bank, Geneva
  • Bright Mawudor, All Africa Conference of Churches, Deputy GS, Finance Director:
  • Nicholas Niggli, Deputy General Secretary Economic Development, State of Geneva, Canton of GenevaMember Building Bridges Initiative.

5. Plenary Panel and Discussion. Video is available

Faiths Invest: Principles and Praxis in Islamic, Hindu and Interfaith Investments.

  • Omar Shaikh, Head Policy, Islamic Finance Council UKIFC, UK
  • Vivek Mittal, Hindu, CEO AFIDA (Africa Infrastructure Dev. Assoc.), India/London
  • Martin Palmer, CEO FaithInvest: Faith Long-term Plans. The strategy of FaithInvest.

6. Plenary Panel and Discussion. Video is available

Making Investments Work. Three Cases. Video is available

  • Grant Smith, CEO Hand in Hand Group, Kenya/UK: Affordable Housing
  • Christopher Mbanefo, CEO Oxï-Zen, Continent Africa/Geneva: CO2-Conversion Projects
  • Ulrich Möller, President One Climate Fund, Germany/Southern Africa and Arumugam Pillay; One Climate Fund Southern Africa

7. Closing remarks, conclusion, follow up