October 11th 2017: GNG at the Institute for Global Prosperity (IGP), University College London - UK
With the Director of IGP (UCL), Professor Dame Henrietta Moore
With Professor Jeremy Eades (UK) - former Professor at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Lunch hosted by the Tongan High Commissioner (Mr. Tupou), Mrs. Elisiva Said and Dr. Taiamoni Pifeleti
Discussed the concepts of GNG at the BBC headquarter
Short visit to William Shakespeare's birthplace
On October 11th, Dr. Funaki was invited to present the GNG framework at the Institute for Global Prosperity (IGP) at the University College London (UCL). The purpose of the trip was to confirm the validity of the vision and to directly hear the reactions from UK researchers. Thanks to Dr. Tuukka Toivonen for connecting Dr. Funaki to IGP, the closed seminar was a success. The highlight of the trip was when the Director of IGP, Professor Dame Henrietta Moore mentioned that the peaceful approach of GNG has to do with Dr.Funaki's Pacific upbringing together with strong influence from Japan. Professor Moore added and said that she has been writing about something she calls, “solution arises from unexpected areas” but she never expected this area to be from the Pacific Islands. She invited Dr. Funaki to return again to the UK in order to further discuss the GNG model with a Philosopher in Generosity before taking the model to the media. The Dignified Pacific Inititive would like to acknowledge the kind coordination of the seminar by Ms. Hannah Sanders and Mr. Patrick Vickers from IGP.
The announcement made about the seminar on IGP's homepage and through email appears below.
The IGP would like to invite you to a closed seminar with Dr Kaituu Funaki on 11 October. In the seminar, Dr Funaki will outline his Gross National Generosity model - an alternative vision for delivering foreign aid based on the principles of reciprocity.
If you would like to attend, please register on Eventbrite. Places are limited. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gross-national-generosity-a-new-model-for-understanding-and-delivering-foreign-aid-tickets-38377640556
Date 11 October 2017
Time 10 am - 12 pm
Location IGP Offices, Floor 7, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF
In this closed seminar, Dr Kaituu Funaki will present the Gross National Gererosity (GNG) model, and argue that it is a strong alternative model for delivering and understanding the impact of foreign aid. He will show how the model can contribute to global prosperity by prompting a reconsideration of donor-aid relations and development.
Dr Funaki will outline the GNG model, and then open up to the room for discussion and debate.
About Gross National Generosity
Gross National Generosity (GNG) identifies six categories comprising Contribution to Contribution to Cultural Heritage (CCH), Contribution to Global Security (CGS), Contribution to Humanity and Livelihood (CHL), Contribution to United Nations Votes (UNV), Contribution to Sports and Research (CSR) and Contribution to Peace and Prayers (CPP). The idea of GNG is to integrate the strategic development framework of developing countries as contributions while at the same time these contributions act as reciprocity, since reciprocity is an essential cultural element for balancing relationships in many developing countries. The model is proposing the Pacific value of gift giving through reciprocity in order for recipient countries to carefully set up aid management institutions to achieve the goals of ODA.
In addition to global wellbeing indicators like GDP, the author wishes to cooperate with other views in order to further develop the model with the hope that it will contribute to improving global prosperity by shifting away from the benefits of "give and take" (helping them to help themselves), to discovering the riches of "give and give" (helping each other).
Hannah Sender
UCL Institute for Global Prosperity
With the Acting High Commissioner of Tonga to the UK and Europe, His Excellency Mr. Sonata Tupou.
Outside the John Wesley Memorial with Dr. Tuukka Toivonen (UCL) - from Finland
Sharing Tea with Marian Ayo who attended the lecture (from the Philippines)
Sharing dinner with Mr. Saulius Barauskas (Capital Group UK) - from Lithuania