Nigerian lawyer Zannah Bukar Mustapha receives prestigious Global Citizen Award

Nigerian lawyer Zannah Bukar Mustapha receives prestigious Global Citizen Award

BI AFRICA

November 13, 2023 9:32 AM

Mr. Mustapha played a critical role in mediating the release of over 100 of the Chibok school girls who were kidnapped by Islamic insurgency group Boko Haram in a remote part of Nigeria in April 2014, giving rise to the international #BringBackOurGirls campaign.

Internationally recognized humanitarian, philanthropist, and Founder of the Future Prowess Foundation School for orphans and less privileged children, Zannah Bukar Mustapha, has been named as the 2023 recipient of the Global Citizen Award, an annual tribute presented by leading international residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, in partnership with the Swiss non-profit humanitarian organization Andan Foundation.

The prestigious award, which honors an individual who shows exceptional courage and commitment towards improving and supporting the global community, was presented at a gala reception during the 17th annual Global Citizenship Conference at the Shangri-La Hotel DIFC in Dubai, UAE, attended by heads of government, policymakers, leading academics, private client advisors, family offices, as well as many wealthy entrepreneurs and investors.

Mr. Mustapha played a critical role in mediating the release of over 100 of the Chibok school girls who were kidnapped by Islamic insurgency group Boko Haram in a remote part of Nigeria in April 2014, giving rise to the international #BringBackOurGirls campaign. The school he founded in 2007 in Maiduguri — the capital of Borno State and the epicenter of the Boko Haram rebellion ­— provides free education, meals, uniforms, and healthcare to children on both sides of the conflict as a sign of the reconciliation he hopes to achieve in the region.

Chairman of Henley & Partners and Founder of the Andan Foundation, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, says Mr. Mustapha is a most worthy and inspiring recipient of the award. “As a champion for the safety and education rights of all displaced and orphaned children afflicted by the brutal violence in Northern Nigeria, Mr. Mustapha has demonstrated vision, exceptional courage, and innovation in driving change, and his actions and outlook are a valuable contribution towards a more just, peaceful, and tolerant world. He is a true ‘game changer’, bridging gender, political, and religious divides by helping children on both sides of the conflict come together and learn under the same roof. We need more Zannah Mustaphas in the world.”

The Global Citizen Award selection process is based on a majority decision of the Global Citizen Award Committee. The award itself consists of a bespoke sculptural medal designed by leading Italian artist Antonio Nocera, an award certificate signed by the Chairman of the Global Citizen Award Committee, and a monetary prize of USD 25,000, which goes towards supporting the awardee’s humanitarian efforts. In addition, Henley & Partners commits to working closely with the awardee for a period of one year, raising awareness of their work and supporting the selected project through the firm’s network of more than 40 offices worldwide.

Since its inception, the Global Citizen Award has honored many remarkable individuals. The first laureate was German entrepreneur Harald Höppner, who set up the refugee humanitarian aid project Sea-Watch. Other previous recipients are Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Africa’s largest disaster relief organization, and Monique Morrow, Co-Founder of The Humanized Internet, a digital identity project that aims to bring hope to the estimated 1.1 billion individuals in the world who cannot prove their legal identity. Diep Vuong, Co-Founder and President of the Pacific Links Foundation, was awarded for her work in Southeast Asia, campaigning for the rights of those enslaved by human trafficking, and Prof. Dr. Padraig O’Malley received his Global Citizen Award in recognition of his work on conflict resolution and reconciliation in Iraq, Northern Ireland, and South Africa.

Thanking Henley & Partners and the Andan Foundation for their recognition of his work, Mr. Mustapha said, “Humanity’s interconnectedness in the global data sphere is now undeniable, constituting an expansive realm with limitless possibilities. In contrast, the unity among races, ethnicities, and citizens has grown increasingly delicate. Only global citizenship can heal.”

Natural Disasters Management Summit: Protecting lives - building resilience

Mr. Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar Addressed Forced Migration Due to Natural Disasters at The Economist Impact’s Summit

In recent times, the world has witnessed a surge in the impact of natural disasters, exacerbated by the looming climate crisis. This has thrust the question of how we respond to such crises into the global spotlight, demanding comprehensive strategies for safeguarding lives and reducing risks. This pivotal issue has become an integral part of the global discourse on the sustainability and resilience of our societies and economies.

The blurring line between natural and man-made disasters in the face of the climate crisis underscores the urgency of developing a cohesive strategy for effectively managing and mitigating the risks posed by natural hazards. Furthermore, factors like rapid urbanization, shifting demographics, advances in the construction industry, the pivotal role of big data and artificial intelligence, the contributions of volunteers, and the critical ethical and social considerations all find a place in this vital discussion.

This discussion is not limited to one segment of society; rather, it involves a wide array of stakeholders. Governments, international institutions, national civil protection authorities, healthcare providers, insurance organizations, the financial and business sectors, academics, experts, and, crucially, the voice of ordinary citizens, all play a pivotal role in shaping this strategy.

Within this context, our esteemed Member of the Advisory Committee, Mr. Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar, Chair of the EUAA Management Board and former Director General of the Swedish Migration Agency, spoke at The Economist Impact's recent Natural Disasters Management Summit on Sep 13th in Thessaloniki.

Alongside distinguished speakers Sofia Voultepsi, Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum, Greece; Laurent Alfonso, Senior Adviser for Civil Protection, Union for the Mediterranean; Achilleas Tzemos, General Director for Greece, Médecins Sans Frontières; and George Mitri, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Land and Natural Resources Program at the Institute of the Environment, University of Balamand, Lebanon, Mr. Cassar discussed 'Forced Migration Due to Natural Disasters,' focusing on climate change-induced displacements and environmental refugees.

 The event was moderated by Alasdair Ross, who currently holds the position of Countries Editor for The Economist's “The World Ahead” and serves on the board of The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Watch Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar’s full speech on forced migration due to natural disasters here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PkePqgZOs

Andan supports the 6th Sustainability Summit for south-east Europe and the Mediterranean

Andan supports the 6th Sustainability Summit for south-east Europe and the Mediterranean

Dr. Titus Gebel, Founder of Free Cities Foundation and member of the Andan Foundation Advisory Committee participated in a panel discussion together with Notis Mitarachi, Minister of migration and asylum of Greece and Georgios Boustras, Professor in Risk Assessment, European University Cyprus,  at the Economist Sixth Sustainability Summit for south-east Europe and the Mediterranean.

Speaking on the topic ‘Migration, War, Environmental Crisis: How do they affect population flows?’ the panel discussed key questions around the refugee crisis and how to prioritize solidarity and inclusiveness while looking for solutions. 

Dr. Titus Gebel explained Andan’s concept and idea of a global city and why this approach is a solution for the growing refugee crisis.

Swiss entrepreneur plans model city for refugees

Swiss entrepreneur plans model city for refugees

A record number of people are fleeing their homes around the world. Entrepreneur Christian Kälin now wants to build a new Singapore for displaced people. He says this will let them rebuild their lives – while also making investors money.

Albert Steck, NZZ am Sonntag

September 21, 2022

A thriving city for refugees: What Christian Kälin is striving for seems utopian. But the entrepreneur wants to prove that the plan can succeed. He sees his «Andan Free Global City» not only as a humanitarian project, but also as a profitable business idea.

His model would turn the way refugees are treated completely upside down. Today, they are recipients of grants, and are perceived as a problem. They often live crammed in barracks or tents and without prospects for the future. In Kälin’s city, on the other hand, they would be motivated workers and founders of businesses who would build new lives for themselves – just like immigrants in the U.S. used to be.

«Initially, I was laughed at for the idea,» Kälin says. “People thought my project was hopeless.» Then, in a second phase, they looked for reasons that it would fail, he adds. Now, however, he is experiencing a new phase: «Governments and investors are approaching me and showing interest.»

Last week, for example, Kälin was scheduled to spend two days presenting his concept to a high-ranking government delegation. «Even the prime minister will talk to us,» he says. He adds that he is not allowed to reveal the name of the country; the discussions are confidential. He can say only this much: It is a neighbor of the EU. He is also in talks with representatives of the U.N. and the World Economic Forum.

Kälin attributes the increased interest in large part to the war in Ukraine. «Europe is experiencing a dramatic refugee crisis on its own continent. This shows people that we need new solutions,» he says.

Soon to be hundreds of millions

This year, the number of displaced people around the world will exceed 100 million for the first time. Until a few years ago, there were only half that many. The increase will continue, driven by climate change and political unrest in many regions. According to U.N. estimates, several hundred million refugees can be expected in the future.

Today, most of these people live in camps or slums. The largest such camp is in Bangladesh: Kutupalong has existed since 1991, and today accommodates over 600,000 people on an area the size of the city of Baden. Khalid Koser, a Maastricht University professor and member of the Andan Foundation board of trustees who has written numerous books on migration, says that people stranded in such camps stay there for an average of 17 years. «Today, our old models for dealing with refugees don’t work anymore,» Koser says.

The most obvious solution would be an early return home, Koser notes. But that is not possible with climate refugees. Moreover, many conflicts last for decades. The second option is resettlement in richer countries, but this cannot accommodate the current population of refugees – indeed, fewer than 100,000 people benefit from repatriation each year. The third solution, local integration, also has its limits, mainly because of political resistance.

The current practice of confining displaced people in camps is the worst of all options, the migration expert says. «It leads to enormous psychological damage and fuels violence and crime,» Koser says. He notes that minors make up a large proportion of this population, with around 2 million having been born during the course of their parents’ flight. «For me, the most compelling thing about Kälin’s approach is that he doesn’t see refugees as a cost factor, but recognizes them as an entrepreneurial opportunity.» That’s why it’s the right idea to bring private investors into play, Koser adds.

Migration has always been with us

Kälin even describes his concept as a basic principle of human development. «Many nations emerged through migration. The Helvetians also had this fate,» he says. The difference with regard to the past is that today’s system is based on national borders, he adds. In addition, development has shifted from the countryside to urban centers, he says.

This is why his model is based on modern city-states such as Singapore, Hong Kong or Dubai. «Immigrants have always been successful entrepreneurs, because their biographies have shaped them into real artists of survival,» Kälin says. He believes that it is crucial that these people are provided with the right conditions to thrive.

Earlier in his life, Kälin studied law, specializing in constitutional and immigration law. In parallel, he became an entrepreneur, joining the London-based firm Henley & Partners. He built this firm into the world’s largest specialist in citizenship and residence planning, earning himself the nickname of the «Passport King.» The business of acquiring residence and citizenship via investment originated in Canada and the Caribbean. However, many European countries today also offer such «golden visas,» which bring billions of dollars of revenue to these states every year.

Kälin and his firm are active on both sides. He advises private individuals who want to acquire visas as well as the states that offer such programs. As a result, he has access to many high-profile government contacts who are now opening doors for him on the project. «The biggest challenge is finding a country that will provide an uninhabited or sparsely populated territory for an autonomous city,» he says.

Moreover, such a city will not be cheap to build. Kälin expects the first phase to involve investments of between CHF 500 million and CHF 700 million. Initially, several tens of thousands of people could live there – with the prospect that it might ultimately become a city of millions. Private financing is therefore crucial to the success of such a large project, says entrepreneur Titus Gebel. «Private investors, unlike the state, can consciously deploy risk capital.»

Gebel, who was born in Germany, is also the founder of the Free Cities Foundation, which works to establish special economic zones in various countries, following the example of Shenzhen in China or the European free cities in the Middle Ages. «The establishment of such a city offers fantastic business opportunities, starting with the construction of houses and ranging to the establishment of infrastructure, telecommunications and information technology.» Ultimately, the state would also benefit from the resulting economic boom, he adds.

A model city for refugees could also set new standards in sustainability, adds Kälin. «Only with innovative cities can we tackle the huge ecological problems. Moreover, the trend toward urbanization will continue to grow strongly in many countries.»

Despite the many arguments in favor of his vision, Kälin is aware that the city may never be built. But he is willing to take that risk. His commitment is already worthwhile if he can point out ways to a better and more humane refugee policy, he says. «My goal is draw on the recipes for success used by immigrant nations such as the United States, Australia, Canada, but also Switzerland.»

The Statue of Liberty in New York stands as a symbol for this, says Kälin. Erected as the «mother of all displaced people,» the statue’s inscription reads: «Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.» Kälin says he could imagine such a motto for his refugee city as well.

See link to article:

https://www.nzz.ch/english/swiss-entrepreneur-plans-model-city-for-refugees-ld.1703647

MIT Solve Selects New Class of 40 Tech-Based Social Entrepreneurs Addressing Global Challenges with over $2 Million in Funding

MIT Solve Selects New Class of 40 Tech-Based Social Entrepreneurs Addressing Global Challenges with over $2 Million in Funding

Solve Innovation Future announces investment in three new Solver teams

September 18, 2022 (Cambridge, MA) - Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute for Technology with a mission to drive innovation to solve world challenges, revealed the new Solver teams and Indigenous Communities Fellows selected for its 2022 Global Challenges. The news was announced during Solve's annual social impact pitch event in New York City ahead of UN General Assembly Week.

The new 2022 Solver and Indigenous Communities Fellow Class was selected by Solve's expert judges from a pool of over 1,100 applicants from 117 countries and 46 Native Tribes. In this new class, 70% of Solver teams are women-led, 20 countries and eight American Indian Tribes are represented, and 48% are for profit/hybrid organizations.

You can find out more about the Solver class for the 2022 Global Challenges:

• The Care Economy,

• Re-Engaging Learners,

• Climate: Ecosystems + Housing,

• Equitable Health Systems, and

• The 2022 Indigenous Communities Fellows.

Included in this 2022 Solver Class are the first teams to join the inaugural Black & Brown Innovators in the US Program, launched this year as part of Solve's ongoing racial equity work.

"Solve sees the power in supporting entrepreneurs with proximity and experiences of global challenges and their impact on their communities. I'm excited to see the positive changes these teams will make," said Solve's Executive Director, Alex Amouyel. "In the coming nine months, our team—with the support of our growing Solve Community made up of corporations, foundations, and institutions—will fund, support, and mentor these entrepreneurs so they can scale their work and impact."

Over $2M in prize funding was awarded to the 2022 Solver teams and Indigenous Communities Fellows as well as select Solver teams from previous classes, with prize pools split as follows:

• The GM Prize supported by General Motors - $150,000

  Recipients: Annie, Amazon Gatherers for the Future, Indigenized Energy Initiative, Kibo - Inclusive Education for Blind, Mana Mama / Anax Angil, MycoTile Panels

• The Innovation for Women Prize supported by Vodafone Americas Foundation - $75,000

  Recipients: Batonga's Podcasts for Equality: rural girl-led storytelling, Kidogo - quality childcare through social franchising, omgyno: Home Testing & Telehealth

• The Living Proof Prize: Women's Leadership Solutions supported by Living Proof - $100,000

  Recipients: Lakou Kajou's Eksploratoryòm, Same Same: A lifeline for LGBTQI+ youth

• Heifer International Prize for Innovation for Smallholder Agriculture supported by Heifer International - $250,000

  Recipients: 2021 Solver teams Brastorne and Hiveonline

• AI for Humanity Prize supported by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation - $150,000

  Recipients: Amazon Gatherers for the Future, DawaMom, Kibo - Inclusive Education for Blind, Tarjimly: Translating for Humanity

• The Elevate Prize supported by The Elevate Prize Foundation - $300,000

  Finalists (recipient to be announced in January 2023): Indigenized Energy Initiative, 2020 Solver team SmartFish Mexico, Tarjimly: Translating for Humanity

• The GSR Prize supported by GSR - $200,000

  Recipients: Annie, Batonga's Podcasts for Equality: rural girl-led storytelling, MycoTile Panels

• The Health Access Prize supported by Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, a fund within the Johnson & Johnson Foundation - $175,000

  Recipients: DawaMom, Speetar, Care Xchange - Staff share, Jamii Life, omgyno: Home Testing & Telehealth

• The Good Energies Prize supported by Good Energies Foundation - $100,000

  Recipients: Amazon Gatherers for the Future, Easy Housing, Housing NOW, MycoTile Panels

• The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion supported by Andan Foundation - $100,000

  Recipients: Earth Enable, 2021 Solver team Hello World, and 2020 Solver team SOLshare

• The Health Equity Catalyst Prize supported by Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada - $40,000

  Recipient: MedHaul

• All 2022 Solver teams and Indigenous Community Fellows also receive a $10,000 grant from Solve, which is funded through donor gifts and Membership contributions.

Additionally, Solver teams and Indigenous Communities Fellows are eligible for investment from Solve Innovation Future, Solve's first-of-its-kind philanthropic venture fund. Solve Innovation Future invests debt and equity in for-profit and hybrid Solver teams. Solve Innovation Future is an evergreen fund, held as a donor-advised fund with ImpactAssets, with Solve serving as the donor advisor. Any returns are reinvested in future Solver teams, meaning donor gifts are multiplied over time. Solve Innovation Future has invested in 13 Solver teams since launch, and for every dollar invested, the team has catalyzed an additional five dollars of investment to Solver teams.

Solve is excited to announce three new Solver team investees:

• GLOBHE provides high-resolution imagery as an alternative to satellite data. By leveraging a global network of drone operators, GLOBHE is able to better inform businesses, organizations, and researchers to drive for a sustainable future.

• Ilara Health, creator of Butterfly iQ, is using tech-powered diagnostic devices to save lives, equipping a network of primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) to deliver quality healthcare to Africa's under-served communities.

• Dondoctor, creator of Sexperto, is working to make health systems more efficient, cost effective, and equitable for all patients. An online scheduling and software system for medical centers, clinics and hospitals, dondoctor provides real time, factual information and access to reproductive care to individuals across Latin America through their Sexperto platform.

Read Solve Innovation Future's annual report to learn more.

About MIT Solve:

Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to drive innovation to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation Challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social entrepreneurs all around the world. Solve then brings together MIT's innovation ecosystem and a community of supporters to fund and support these entrepreneurs to help them drive lasting transformational impact. Solve has catalyzed over $60 million in commitments for Solver teams and entrepreneurs to date. Join Solve on this journey at solve.mit.edu.

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Media Contact
Maya Bingaman
Officer, Communications & Content
maya.bingaman@solve.mit.edu

SOURCE MIT Solve

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Interview with Andan Founder Christian Kälin

Flourishing Citizenship-by-Investment Business: "The boom goes beyond everything we have seen before"

Demand for citizenships has exploded since Corona. Swiss lawyer Christian Kälin is considered the "Passport King" — he provides insight into a business worth $25 billion.

Albert Steck 02 Oct 2021, 9:45 pm

About the person

Christian H. Kälin

The 49-year-old Swiss lawyer is Chairman and partner of Henley & Partners, the market leader in residence and citizenship by investment. Kälin holds a doctorate in law from the University of Zurich. Already in his doctoral thesis, he dealt with the granting of citizenship to investors and recognized the economic potential. He is the author of several standard works on the subject and co-editor of the "Quality of Nationality Index," a globally respected country ranking.

Christian Kälin advises numerous governments, including St. Kitts and Nevis.

NZZ am Sonntag: You advise on residence permits and citizenships with your company Henley & Partners. Who needs your service?

Christian Kälin: As a Swiss, you do not realize how valuable your citizenship is. It's quite different for people living in South Africa, for example. We help them improve their mobility and security. The Corona pandemic has also massively increased demand. Many people are now thinking about where they want to spend their next lockdown.

How strong is the post-pandemic growth?

The recent boom dwarfs anything we have seen before. We are seeing 50 percent more client inquiries. Above all, demand is coming from completely new segments, for example from Italy or the USA. Because of Corona, borders were closed worldwide. In Europe, too, the free movement of people was stopped. That was a shock for many people. Only with a second passport or a residence permit did your personal freedom remain intact.

Political tensions are increasing worldwide. Do you feel that as well?

Political uncertainty is another factor: as an American, I would rather not show my U.S. passport when I check into a hotel or airport in many regions.

However, only rich people can afford an additional passport or a "Golden Visa". Are you promoting a two-class society?

This accusation comes up regularly. Of course, we also have very rich clients. But most of them live in fairly middle-class circumstances. In the Caribbean, for example, you can acquire a second citizenship for the whole family for $100,000 to $150,000. I know families for whom a passport is so important that they have spent half of their liquid funds on it.

Nevertheless, the system leads to a new injustice.

This argument is absurd. Citizenship is inherently unjust. It is actually a legacy from the feudal era: either I am well-born, for example as a Swiss, or I am, for example, from Afghanistan and as a result have much worse cards in life. It doesn't get any more unfair than that. Those who were able to grow up in a civilized society were simply lucky.

Do you think it would be better if passports became a question of money?

There are already many paths to citizenship. If you have talent in a field, you can get a visa very quickly. Athletes or artists, for example, benefit from this. The same is true when there is a shortage of labor. Australia is urgently looking for good doctors and nurses. Our work reduces this injustice when we help someone obtain a second citizenship or residence permit.

Your criticism of the citizenship system seems radical: do you want to abolish this important pillar of our political constitution?

Switzerland's direct democracy is a special case that cannot be compared to other countries. Such a say in politics does not exist anywhere else. On the contrary, most people in the world live in autocratically governed states. A citizen in Vietnam, for example, has mainly duties, but hardly any real political rights. Even in Western democracies, people see their citizenship primarily as a cost-benefit calculation: How much do I pay in taxes? And what do I receive in the form of social benefits and infrastructure? By contrast, having a political say is much less important than people think.

You are the pioneer in the "Golden Visa" business - and are referred to as the "Passport King". How did that come about?

The term "Passport King" came from Bloomberg, and since then I've been identified with the industry. But actually the practice is ancient. Already in the Bible, the apostle Paul is asked by the Roman officer during his arrest whether he is a Roman. The officer tells him that he bought his nationality for a lot of money.

How did your company manage to lead the industry so clearly?

In 2006, we were mandated by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to build a scalable citizenship by investment program. As a result of our work, this became the most successful in the world.

It has funded the state for up to one-third of all revenue.

This money saved St. Kitts and Nevis from ruin. The collapse of the sugar industry and the subsequent financial crisis hit the country hard. Instead, it has since experienced a strong upswing. Its success has prompted many countries around the world to also introduce such programs.

But the boom has also led to criticism. One criticism is the low level of transparency: those who acquire a visa or a passport usually remain hidden.

I am in favor of openness: Countries should declare who is obtaining citizenship. Then everyone can see that no problems arise from this. But in Malta, of all places, where the criticism has been loudest, the program is particularly transparent. There, all names are published. Other countries, such as Austria, are less open.

These programs are sometimes also associated with money laundering or corruption. This damages the reputation of your industry.

Such accusations have no factual basis. The proportion of problematic individuals is significantly lower than among other migrants. In the countries of the EU, 700,000 people are naturalized every year, while only about 1,000 people receive a passport each year through the programs in Malta, Austria or Cyprus. And these are thoroughly vetted — quite contrary to the other 99%.

But in the case of "golden visas", the numbers are much higher.

That's right, in Spain, Portugal or Greece there are a few tens of thousands. But again, these are very carefully screened investors. By way of comparison, Poland alone issues 750,000 residence permits every year — mainly to workers, 90% of whom are Ukrainians. The risk of abuse is much greater here.

Regardless, the EU regularly criticizes the "golden visa" programs.

Already two-thirds of EU countries have such programs — and they are met with great demand. This is the reality. The EU is making a mistake if it ignores these facts. Moreover, it has no right to interfere in the allocation of citizenship. Only the respective EU member states have competence in citizenship matters.

Are estimates that the market has already reached a global volume of 25 billion dollars correct?

That's about right. In Greece, for example, the program has helped stabilize the real estate market. So the EU should recognize that many member countries are benefiting greatly, and so is the EU as a whole.

Your firm, Henley & Partners, is active on both sides: you help clients obtain a visa or passport. You also advise countries on setting up programs. Which countries do you support?

First of all, there are several countries in the Caribbean. In Europe, Malta or Greece are among those we advise. In Asia, Thailand has commissioned us to market their residence program worldwide. We are also active in Australia. States and private clients each contribute about half of our earnings. We are active in over 35 locations worldwide.

Among the private clients, there are many Chinese, Russians or Turks - people from autocratically governed countries. Don't you undermine the power of these governments when you help people to emigrate?

For the Chinese, dual citizenship is not allowed; for them, only residence permits come into consideration. But the trend is going in the other direction: more and more countries are allowing a second passport, and now about two-thirds do.

Let's talk about Switzerland: it is very easy for EU citizens to get a residence permit. In contrast, the hurdles for people from the rest of the world are much higher. Do you think this is a good thing?

In fact, a residence permit for non-EU citizens is very expensive. They either have to invest here or pay high taxes - around 250,000 francs per year. But Switzerland is attractive. That's why this system makes sense.

How does an American come to Switzerland anyway?

For an American it may be worthwhile to first acquire citizenship of Malta. After that, you are an EU citizen and can move to Switzerland without any problems. For this reason, a disproportionate number of immigrants from Malta or Cyprus appear in the statistics. Montenegro is also gaining in popularity, because the country could one day join the EU and a second passport costs less there.

You are not only professionally involved with migration, but also as a philanthropist. Why do you support projects for refugees?

Where you are born determines your entire future life — wealth and health. This "lottery of birth" has preoccupied me since childhood. The Andan Foundation, which I established, helps refugees to start a new existence. We are also planning to build a city for refugees.

As a counter-model to today's refugee camps?

Camps cost a lot of money and still don't provide a dignified life. That's why we want to build a city that offers refugees a secure legal framework and is self-governed by them. Here, people should be able to build a new life, just as European emigrants did in the U.S. in the past, for example. The plan is ambitious, but we have to try.

You travel a lot. How many passports do you have yourself?

I have a few, but I don't want to reveal more. I spend most of my time in London. Nevertheless, I remain a Switzerland fan, the Swiss passport is the most important one for me.

Ambitious Project: A Model City for Refugees

The number of refugees in the world has doubled in just ten years. The UN now registers more than 80 million people who have been forcibly displaced. A large proportion of these refugees live locked up in camps — and not just temporarily. On average, residents spend 17 years of their life in such a camp.

Christian Kälin demands that politicians fundamentally change the way they deal with refugees. "Today, they are primarily considered a cost factor — most of the time they are not even allowed to work," he criticizes. "Instead, we should promote the productive potential of these people, because they are often among the most motivated of all."

The Andan Foundation, which Kälin founded, is therefore working on the project of a model city for refugees. He uses city-states such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai, which have achieved great prosperity, as historical models. "It is crucial that such a city is given a stable legal framework."

Kälin expects investments in the order of $700 million, with his sights set primarily on private investors. He won't name partners, but says the response so far has been very positive, especially in the technology sector. "This is a humanitarian project that also offers an interesting business plan."

Companies get the chance to build state-of-the-art infrastructure and implement novel systems of sustainability. Those who take the risk of investing can also benefit from rising land prices, he adds.

Kälin puts the number of residents at tens of thousands in an initial phase, but millions of people would settle in such cities over time. "The trend toward urbanization continues. Only with new cities can we meet the environmental challenges."

Among the project's sponsors is Stephen Klimczuk-Massion, a strategy consultant at Kearney and formerly with the World Economic Forum. "Western countries need to think more creatively about the unresolved refugee and migrant crisis," he says. He recalls that Europe also counted more than 10 million displaced people after World War II. "Countries like Canada, Australia or the United States owe much of their success to immigrants. We should take our cue from this model."

Kälin is in contact with several states about providing territory in sparsely populated regions. He emphasizes that there is no shortage of potential land areas, but the challenge is the willingness to commit to a visionary idea.

See Link to article:

https://www.nzz.ch/english/citizenship-by-investment-is-booming-but-is-it-fair-ld.1656800

Andan Foundation supports the Fifth Sustainability Summit

We are pleased to announce that Andan Foundation is a humanitarian supporter of the Fifth Sustainability Summit for South-East Europe and the Mediterranean which takes place on September 30th & October 1st 2021 in Athens - an event of the Economist Events SE Europe Events
#EconSustainability

Hello World has been selected for The Andan Foundation Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion!

We are honored to announce that @projecthelloworld has been selected for the Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion! In partnership with @Solve - MIT, we are awarding Hello World $100,000 to advance their work spreading education to all. https://solve.mit.edu/challenges/digital-inclusion/solutions/46820

See also the Andan prize announcement video.

The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion has been launched in partnership with MIT Solve

MIT Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a mission to solve world challenges, today announced its annual Global Challenges and Solve’s first US Challenge on Antiracist Technology. There is more than $1.5 million in funding available for the next class of tech-based social entrepreneurs, called Solver teams. Solve also announced Eric S. Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom and Karlie Kloss, Founder of Kode With Klossy as 2021 Challenge Ambassadors. 

Anyone, anywhere can submit a solution to any of this year’s five Challenges and apply to access the more than $1.5 million in funding by June 16, 2021. Finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions at Solve Challenge Finals during UN General Assembly Week on September 19, 2021 in New York City. At the event, leading cross-sector experts will select 35-40 of the most promising tech-based innovators to become Solver teams. These teams will take part in Solve’s nine-month program, which includes coaching, mentorship, and networking opportunities to scale their solutions. 

Solve’s 2021 Global Challenges are: 

1. Antiracist Technology in the US

2. Digital Inclusion

3. Equitable Classrooms

4. Health Security & Pandemics 

5. Resilient Ecosystems

Funders and Partners include General Motors, Comcast NBCUniversal, Elevate Prize Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, HP, Vodafone Americas Foundation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, American Student Assistance, and Andan Foundation. 

The Solve community will convene at Virtual Solve at MIT on May 3-4, 2021 with 2020 Solver teams, Solve Members, and Partners to build partnerships and tackle global challenges in real time. 

“After a year of turmoil, including a major threat to our collective health, disruption in schooling, lack of access to digital connectivity and meaningful work, a reckoning in the US after centuries of institutionalized racism, and worsening natural hazards—supporting diverse innovators who are solving these challenges is more urgent than ever,” said Alex Amouyel, Executive Director of MIT Solve. “Solve is committed to bolstering communities across the world as well as the United States by supporting innovators who are addressing our 2021 Global Challenges through funding, mentorship, and an MIT-backed community. Whether you're a prospective Solve applicant or partner, we hope you’ll join us!” 

To-date, the funding available for selected Solver teams includes (see Challenge pages for more details):  

• Solver Funding - Solve will award a $10,000 grant to each Solver team selected during Solve Challenge Finals

• The Elevate Prize for Antiracist Technology in the US supported by the Elevate Prize Foundation - $300,000 for one nonprofit Solver from the Antiracist Technology in the US Challenge 

• The ASA Prize for Equitable Education supported by American Student Assistance - $250,000 for a number of Solver teams from the Digital Inclusion, Equitable Classrooms, and Antiracist Technology in the US Challenges

• The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Prize - $150,000 across 3-4 Solver teams in the Health Security & Pandemics and Antiracist Technology in the US. Challenges

• The GM Prize supported by General Motors - $150,000 across up to six Solver teams in the Antiracist Technology in the US, Equitable Classrooms, and Resilient Ecosystems Challenges

• Innovation for Women Prize supported by the Vodafone Americas Foundation - $75,000 across three Solver teams from any Challenge

• The HP Prize for Accelerating Digital Equity supported by HP - $100,000 across four Solver teams in the Antiracist Technology in the US and Digital Inclusion Challenges 

• The Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion - $100,000 across four Solver teams from any Challenge 

• The Minderoo Prize to End Global Overfishing - $100,000 across four Solver teams from the Resilient Ecosystems Challenge

Thanks to its partners, Solve has provided over $40 million in funding committed for Solver teams and entrepreneurs to date.

Ambassadors and judges across the five Global Challenges include: Eric S. Yuan, Founder & CEO, Zoom (Ambassador for Digital Inclusion Challenge); Karlie Kloss, Founder of Kode With Klossy (Ambassador for Equitable Classrooms Challenge); David Sengeh, Minister of Education, Sierra Leone; Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation and President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation; D. Fox Harrel, Professor of Digital Media & Artificial Intelligence, MIT CSAIL; Danielle Wood, Director, Space Enabled Research Group, MIT Media Lab; June Sugiyama, Director, Vodafone Americas Foundation; Maha El Rabbat, Professor of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University and WHO/Director General Special Envoy on COVID 19; Susan Gardner, Director, Ecosystems Division, The United Nations Environment Programme; Philip Gaskin, Vice President, Entrepreneurship, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; and Heng Dean Law, Director, Temasek.

Interested applicants can learn more and apply online at solve.mit.edu/challenges.

Andan participates in Fourth Economist Sustainability Summit

Oct 2, 2020: Dr. Khalid Koser, member of the Board of Andan Foundation, participated in the 4th Sustainability Summit, organised by the Economist. In his comments, Dr. Koser talked about “managing the refugee crisis in turbulent times”. His comments are below:

My thanks to the moderator and the organizers, and it is an honor to be sharing this platform with the Minister.

The world was confronted with a refugee crisis even before Covid-19: unprecedented numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons; a greater proportion of them spending longer in exile; and a failure of traditional durable solutions.

The pandemic has only exacerbated the crisis. It poses health, humanitarian and security challenges within camps; it has further restricted the movement of refugees including resettlement; and it is likely to result in a reduction in international aid even through refugee assistance was already chronically underfunded.

The Andan Foundation, where I am a Board member, is determined to help resolve this crisis. Our guiding principles are impact and innovation, convening and collaborating, and systematic change. We are currently supporting projects around the world focusing on livelihoods and economic inclusion, education and vocational training, and technology and digital inclusion.

We promote refugee self-reliance. It is clear that refugees themselves understand best the nature of the everyday challenges they face, and what is required to overcome them. It is also clear that refugees are resourceful. Many are educated, and even those who are not consistently demonstrate resilience and entrepreneurship. Andan works to unlock this potential.

We build public-private partnerships to pool the resources, networks and know-how required to support refugees. The private sector, and high net worth individuals, have demonstrated an increasing commitment to refugees, but often don’t know how they can help. Andan helps them overcome the obstacles to contribute to a global effort.

We have a sustainable ambition for refugees beyond immediate assistance. We believe that new and innovative solutions are required. We are currently formulating a proposal for a refugee city: a safe location where refugees can settle, flourish, and become active citizens again.

Winners announced for Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion

September 29, 2020: Today Andan are proud to announce that after 90 social entrepreneur finalists from 34 countries participated in the MIT SOLVE finals, 3 winners were picked to receive the Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee Inclusion.

• Humans in the Loop

  Humans in the Loop provides refugee communities with training and remote work opportunities in the artificial intelligence industry. 

• Digital Literacy Rights

  Digital Literacy Rights advances digital inclusion and bridges learning gaps by providing laptops with preloaded educational content for girls in refugee camps and underserved communities.

• SOLshare

  SOLshare creates peer-to-peer (P2P) energy microgrids to monetize excess energy and affordably bring solar electricity to the remote, rural, and off-grid communities of Bangladesh. 

MIT Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation Challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social entrepreneurs all around the world. Solve then brings together MIT’s innovation ecosystem and a community of Members to fund and support these entrepreneurs to help them drive lasting, transformational impact.

Entrepreneurial Development Project completed in South Africa

Dysfunctional documentation processes in South Africa have resulted in a large number of asylum seekers either unable to establish legal status, or having to renew documents every 1-4 months; this negatively impacts their ability to access job opportunities, further education, or skills training. In addition, the few skills training courses available to asylum seekers are heavily oversubscribed. This project aims to assist migrants to create dignified and sustainable pathways to financial independence. In the pilot project,  nine participants were equipped with tools and information on starting small income generating businesses. To date the first two steps of the project: training and start-up fund disbursement, have taken place. Ongoing monitoring and coaching are scheduled over the next six months, culminating in programme analysis to inform programmic development.

1.      Aim of the programme: to strengthen entrepreneurial and business skills and facillitate business start-ups to enable vulnerable migrants living in Cape Town to generate incomes and attain financial independence.

2.      Objectives of the project:

a.      Utilise interactive exercises, and peer-learning opportunities at grass root level, to transfer knowledge and business skills to identify and select business plans , and successfully manage a business venture

b.      Develop ability to create a business plan based on entrepreneurial competencies, market analysis, available resources, and business principles

c.       Provide requisite coaching and mentoring to support beneficiary in developing a profit-making business

Andan Prize for Innovation in Refugee inclusion- launched in partnership with MIT Solve

After months of research, planning, and preparation, MIT Solve has launched the 2020 Global Challenges:

1. Sustainable Food Systems: How can we produce and consume low-carbon, resilient, and nutritious food?

2. Learning for Girls & Women: How can marginalized girls and young women access quality learning opportunities to succeed?

3. Maternal & Newborn Health: How can every pregnant woman, new mother, and newborn access the care they need to survive and thrive?

4. Good Jobs & Inclusive Entrepreneurship: How can marginalized populations access and create good jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves?

Solve now seeks tech-based solutions to these four Global Challenges. Anyone, anywhere can apply by the June 18 deadline. Selected Solver teams will join a supportive community of peers, funders, and experts to help scale their impact.

Andan Foundation is sponsoring a transversal prize across all 4 challenges - dedicated to innovation in refugee inclusion. Andan Foundation joins an illustrous group of organisations like the Gulbenkian Foundation, General Motors, Vodafone Americas Foundation, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, to give over $1 million in prize funding across the Challenges.

There are four ways to get involved:

1. Apply. Submit your solution, if you have one, by June 18.

2. Take the MITx course. Define or refine your business and impact plan through this free online course which follows Solve’s application, so you can work to improve your plan before you apply! Sign up here.

3. Spread the word. Get others in your network to apply! See our social media packet for sample posts.

4. Host a Solveathon. Help generate and refine solutions from your community by hosting one of our design-thinking workshops. Learn more here.

To develop these Challenges, we consulted more than 500 subject matter experts, hosted 14 Challenge Design Workshops in eight countries, and received more than 26,000 online votes through Solve’s open innovation platform. Thank you to everyone who took part!

Finalists for each Challenge will be invited to pitch their solutions at Solve Challenge Finals on September 20, 2020 in New York during UN General Assembly Week, and our esteemed Challenge Leadership Group members will select the most promising solutions to join our 2020 Solver Class.  

Chairman of Andan calls for creation of "Refugee Cities"

‘Refugee Cities’ Proposed as Sustainable Solution to Global Displacement Crisis

Athens, 16 October 2019

With the global displacement crisis becoming increasingly severe, innovative and long-term solutions need to be considered and implemented, says Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Founder and Chairman of the Andan Foundation. Speaking at the Economist’s Sustainability Summit in Athens, which brings together policymakers, heads of states, thought leaders, and industry experts to discuss the most pressing sustainability challenges facing the world today, Dr. Kaelin said that current strategies for handling the displacement crisis are both inadequate and disempowering, and proposed the concept of the ‘refugee city’ as a solution.

The core idea of a refugee city is a simple one, said Dr. Kaelin: “To expand opportunities for displaced people by creating secure, self-governing communities in which they can settle and build a future. They can engage in work, start businesses, gain independence, and rebuild their lives.” Pointing out that the average duration of a refugee’s stay in a camp is now 17 years, he observed that such conditions create a sense of hopelessness among the world’s population of forcibly displaced individuals, which now numbers over 70 million people. With countries around the world beginning to feel the effects of climate change, even the most optimistic view of the future suggests that in the years ahead, more and more people will be forced to migrate in order to survive.

Instead of a humanitarian response that focuses on maintaining refugees as ‘objects of care,’ said Dr. Kaelin, it was incumbent upon the international community to look for solutions that would allow displaced people to actively contribute to their host communities, enabling them and their families to start afresh. As head of the Swiss-based Andan Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to developing solutions that promote refugees’ self-reliance, boost their resilience, and foster their inclusion in their new countries, Dr. Kaelin said that he was dedicated to changing the narrative around refugees and urged new forms of collaboration that would transform the global displacement crisis into a sustainable development opportunity.

Concluding his address, the Andan Foundation Chairman explained, “Refugee cities go beyond the concept of charter cities or special economic zones. In a public–private partnership, these special jurisdictions can attract the necessary investment to replace camps with thriving communities that benefit their host countries. With the right support, there is no reason that refugee cities that are granted extensive self-governance status would not thrive. They can become a replicable model for the future that equally benefit the people settling there as well as the countries enabling them.”

Andan and MIT Solve announce winners of "Innovation in refugee inclusion Prize"

Andan Foundation and MIT Solve awarded the “Innovation in refugee inclusion prize” on 23rd September in New York at MIT Solve Finals, the premier live pitch event kicking off the UN General Assembly week.

The winners of the 2019 “Innovation in refugee inclusion prize” (25,000 USD each) are:

• Elpis Solar provides “solar hubs” to underserved refugee communities, enabled with off-grid water filtration, mobile charging, provision of digital services, and light. These solar hubs are operated by refugees, who by enabling essential services in their communities, earn wages and are financially empowered. They can then pass on these benefits to the communities where they have settled.  https://www.insider.co.uk/special-reports/how-edinburgh-students-solar-powered-20131046

• The Future is Offline, developed by Libraries Without Borders, unleashes the potential of refugees by providing them with access to learning and skills development opportunities through offline access to digital learning materials. 

They are part of the incoming MIT Solver class that was selected by Solve’s expert judges and was selected from a pool of nearly 1,400 applicants from over 100 countries.

1. Meet the eight Circular Economy Solver teams

2. Meet the eight Community-Driven Innovation Solver teams

3. Meet the eight Early Childhood Development Solver teams

4. Meet the eight Healthy Cities Solver teams

“We are thrilled to welcome our new class of 32 Solver teams—innovators bringing groundbreaking tech-based solutions to tackle four of the most pressing global challenges,” said Solve’s Executive Director, Alex Amouyel. “Over the next nine months, the Solve staff will work closely with each Solver to build partnerships across the Solve community and help source the funding, mentorship, and support they need to scale their solutions.”

Prize Funding: More than $1.5 million in prize funding was announced for the new 2019 Solver Class, including:

• $200,000 for the AI Innovations Prize, made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Schmidt Futures

  • Recipients: Algramo, Blue Sky Analytics, Kinedu, and RETOS

• $50,000 for the GM Prize on Community-Driven Innovation, made possible by General Motors

  • Recipients: POKET and WheeLog!

• $50,000 for the GM Prize on Circular Economy, made possible by General Motors

  • Recipients: AIR-INK and BioCellection

• $75,000 for the Innovation for Women Prize, made possible by the Vodafone Americas Foundation

  • Recipients: CareMother, OneSky Caregiver Training, and RAAJI

• $25,000 for the Morgridge Family Foundation Community-Driven Innovation Prize, made possible by the Morgridge Family Foundation

  • Recipient: WheeLog!

• $200,000 for the Dubai Cares Early Childhood Development Prize, made possible by Dubai Cares

  • Recipients: All eight Early Childhood Development Solver teams—Boston Children's Hospital Early Literacy Screener System, Dost Education, Khushi Baby, Kinedu, Living First Languages Platform, Mobile Village-Based Rehabilitation, OneSky Caregiver Training, and Tabshoura Tiny Thinkers in a Box

• $50,000 for the Innospark Ventures Prize, made possible by Innospark Ventures

  • Recipients: Boston Children’s Hospital Early Literacy Screener System and change:WATER Labs—iThrone Evaporative Toilet

• $100,000 for the Everytown for Gun Safety Prize, made possible by Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund

  • Recipient: Shape-Up

• $75,000 for the Innovating Together for Healthy Cities Prize, made possible by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s global health initiative

  • Recipient: Faircap Clean Water

• $60,000 for the UN Women She Innovates Prize for Gender-Responsive Innovation, founded by UN Women Global Innovation Coalition for Change and made possible by Johnson & Johnson and EY

  • Recipients: OmniVis (supported by Johnson & Johnson) and RETOS (supported by EY)

• $10,000 for the Community Award: the finalist from each Challenge with the most votes on Solve’s open innovation platform received Community Awards of $2,500 each

  • Recipients: Kayal, Mobile Village-Based Rehabilitation-Initiative, Supercívicos App, and Xilinat

• $320,000: Additionally, Solve announced a total of $320,000 in Solver grants, $10,000 for each new Solver selected

For-profit and hybrid-model Solver teams will also be eligible to apply to Solve Innovation Future, a first-of-its-kind innovative philanthropic venture fund that invests in Solver teams.

About MIT Solve:

MIT Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that advances lasting solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address the world's most pressing problems. Solve issues four Global Challenges each year to find the most promising Solver teams who will drive transformational change. Solve then deploys its global community of private, public, and nonprofit leaders to form the partnerships these Solver teams need to scale their impact. This year, Solve selected 32 Solver teams out of nearly 1,400 applications from over 100 countries tackling four Global Challenges: (1) Circular Economy, (2) Community-Driven Innovation, (3) Early Childhood Development, and (4) Healthy Cities. Join the community at solve.mit.edu.

Andan and MIT Solve partner to launch the "Innovation in Refugee Inclusion Prize"

The "Innovation in Refugee Inclusion Prize" is a partnership between Andan Foundation and MIT Solve, aiming at sourcing the globe for the most innovative ideas on how to accelerate and improve refugee economic and social inclusion.

MIT Solve seeks solutions from tech innovators around the world for its 2019 Global Challenges: Circular Economy, Community-Driven Innovation, Early Childhood Development, and Healthy Cities. Anyone can submit a solution and apply for the $1.25 million in prize funding by July 1, 2019.

Finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions at Solve Challenge Finals during UN General Assembly Week in New York City on September 22, 2019. At the event, leading cross-sector experts will select 35 of the most promising tech-based innovators to become Solver teams. They will work with Solve for the next year to scale their solutions with the support of funding, networking, mentorship, marketing, and more from the Solve community.

Andan Zurich Event Launch

Zurich 27 May 2019

Henley & Partners and the Andan Foundation: Harnessing entrepreneurial innovation to support refugees and host sovereign states – Andan enters into a partnership with UNICEF

The role that the private sector is playing in addressing the global challenges faced by refugees and sovereign states, was at the core of an event jointly hosted by Henley & Partners and the Andan Foundation in Zurich on 23 May 2019.

The keynote speeches and panel discussion focussed on innovative potential solutions devised by private sector actors, or developed with private sector support, in a number of refugee hosting countries around the world. The panel included contributions from respected leaders in the field:

• Bettina Junker, Executive Director, Committee for UNICEF Switzerland and Lichtenstein

• Monique Morrow, Founder and President, The Humanised Internet, and President of the Vetri Foundation

• Sofiane Ammar, Co-founder and Chairman of the Chams Foundation

Other organizations and networks involved with refugee economic empowerment were invited, like the Tent Foundation, a US platform working closely with multinationals and business all over the world to hire refugees and integrate them. Guests included entrepreneurs, business leaders and Henley & Partners clients and partners.

The event raised awareness of the global challenges facing refugees and host states and demonstrated that solutions do not have to involve only multi-billion dollar investments of public capital and macro political engagement. Meaningful change can be driven both by specific training and employment schemes as well as innovative solutions fuelled by injections of private capital into incubator-style projects. New creative ideas can be tested on a small scale, refined and contextualized in partnership with expert humanitarian actors, to both create local positive outcomes and then be assessed for their feasibility to be scaled up to the macro level.

The Andan Foundation, established in 2017 by the Swiss lawyer and entrepreneur Dr. Christian Kalin, Chairman of the globally leading investment migration firm, Henley & Partners, maintains an international focus on refugee economic inclusion while its programs strategy favours initiatives aimed to empower and enable economic inclusion of younger generations of refugees. To this end, the Andan Foundation was very pleased to announce a three year partnership with UNICEF to identify specific interventions, such as the GIL program in Lebanon that provides refugee youth with innovation skills, training for business development, seed funding, and mentorship and coaching for young entrepreneurs.

In collaboration with MIT Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that advances lasting solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address the world's most pressing problems, the Andan Foundation has also recently established a USD 50,000 Innovation for Refugee Inclusion Prize to encourage projects and creative thinking from the private sector to come forward and receive recognition.

Dr. Christian H. Kälin, Chairman of the Andan Foundation and Chairman of Henley & Partners stated: “The Andan Foundation is designed to capture the vigor and entrepreneurial drive of the private sector to design scalable solutions to aid sovereign states and NGOs in their work supporting both refugees and host countries. We very much hope our audience can see the very real human value created by donating either capital or time to the Andan Foundation.

Bettina Junker, Executive Director of UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein commented: “UNICEF is delighted to partner with the Andan Foundation to support the youth in Lebanon. Young people who have completed the UNICEF GIL program are prepared for the coming economic challenges. They have gained confidence and have already learned how to implement their own projects. The most important thing is that we have given them hope and prospects.”

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Biographies

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin
Dr. Christian H. Kälin, TEP, IMCM, the founder and Chairman of Andan Foundation, is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in investment migration and citizenship-byinvestment, a field he pioneered. Holding master’s and PhD degrees in law from the University of Zurich, he is a sought-after speaker and advises governments and international organizations. He is the author, co-author, or editor of many publications, including standard works such as the Global Residence and Citizenship Handbook, Ius Doni: The Acquisition of Citizenship by Investment, the Kälin – Kochenov Quality of Nationality Index, and the Switzerland Business & Investment Handbook. Dr. Kälin is not only an accomplished lawyer, legal scholar, and one of the globally leading investment migration specialists, he is also a successful serial entrepreneur, investor, author, editor and global humanitarian and philanthropist.

Monique Morrow
Monique is a technologist, an ex-CTO of CISCO and today President and Co-Founder of the Humanized Internet and President of the VETRI Foundation. The Humanized Internet is a nonprofit organization focused on providing digital identities for those individuals most underserved.

Recognized as one of the most influential technology leaders worldwide, Monique has earned honors that include Top 100 CIOs for 2016 (CIO.com), Top Women in Cloud Innovations Award 2016 (CloudNow), Social Media Presence of the Year 2016 (AI Magazine), 10 Women in Networking/Communications You Should Know, Top 10 Influential IT Women in Europe (Think Progress), 2015 Women of M2M/IoT (Connected World Magazine), and 2014 GEM-TECH Award (ITU and UN). She is a tireless advocate for women in technology and engineering, serving on multiple non-profit boards, publishing Internet of Women, Accelerating Culture Change in 2016 and facilitating the launch of the Women in Standardization Expert Group for ITU.

Sofiane Ammar
Sofiane Ammar has more than 30 years’ experience in telecom, IT and digital business. He has substantial expertise through his entrepreneurship experience in building scalable teams and platforms around IT and network/telcos operations, cloud and data,. He has also been an active tech and social investor in several startups since 2003 and recently joined Sophia Business Angels as a board member, become a shareholder and godfather in The Family French incubator, and the Partech and Daphni funds, in order to bring his expertise as advisor in several startups. Sofiane operated a Tunisian NGO, Yassrine, for more than a decade, focusing on improving education for 11-16 year-olds, and he is the Co-Founder of the Chams Foundation which aims to train as coders 10,000 refugees in remote settlements and camps.

Bettina Junker
Bettina Junker is the Executive Director of the Committee for UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In the five years of her previous role, she worked for the Swiss Cancer League and the Swiss Cancer Research as Head of Marketing, Communications and Fundraising. Bettina Junker has extensive international experience in working on diverse multi-national communications platforms, mainly in the financial industry. She had various leading positions in Corporate Communications, Marketing and Branding while she was working for Credit Suisse for more than 17 years.

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About the Andan Foundation

The Andan Foundation is a Swiss non-profit, public-benefit foundation devoted to supporting those displaced by war and conflict. Our mission is to identify and develop innovative and sustainable solutions that promote refugees’ self-reliance, boost their resilience, and foster their inclusion in their new countries. We prioritize projects that expand economic, financial, and political opportunities for both refugee populations and the communities that host them.

We believe that the collective ingenuity and creativity of the entrepreneurs and investors driving the private sector, coupled with the expertise and principles of the humanitarian sector, will dramatically improve what is one of today’s most pressing global cause.

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About Henley & Partners

Henley & Partners is the global leader in residence and citizenship planning. Each year, hundreds of wealthy individuals and their advisors rely on our expertise and experience in this area. The firm’s highly qualified professionals work together as one team in over 30 offices worldwide. The concept of residence and citizenship planning was created by Henley & Partners in the 1990s. As globalization has expanded, residence and citizenship have become topics of significant interest among the increasing number of internationally mobile entrepreneurs and investors whom we proudly serve every day.

The firm also runs a leading government advisory practice that has raised more than USD 8 billion in foreign direct investment. Trusted by governments, the firm has been involved in strategic consulting and in the design, set-up, and operation of the world’s most successful residence and citizenship programs.