Regional Incubators at the Source of the Economy

“Unleashing talents, catalyzing creativity, synergies and opportunities for global and sustainable development”.

Concept Paper

Boris Varnitzky

Harvard Kennedy School

June 2011

Concept Paper - Boris Varnitzky HKS | RISE: Regional Incubators at the Source of the Economy. – June 2011 2

What is RISE?

RISE is a new model with long-term high impact and sustainable solutions for economic, social and environmental development.

RISE is a holistic approach that aims at design, translation and replication of

the model in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). RISE is about unleashing, harnessing and integrating regional talents and

catalyzing creativity, synergies and unexplored possibilities. RISE is a social change model developed by an organizational model built

around four pillars — RISE School, RISE Markets, RISE RDD&D and RISE Culture — that perpetually learn from and interact with each other.

RISE is an interactive community project about people possessing different interests, but sharing a common vision and purpose and gaining the leadership to mobilize and take up new challenges.

The RISE Constellation

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"Nothing is impossible; the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" Audrey Hepburn. Actress.

A new perspective to look at an old issue.

Improving International Development is an equation as old as its origin. OECD’s Paris Declaration on Aid

Effectiveness (2005) and the Accra Agenda for Action (2008) shows the genuine efforts made by International

Institutions to “harmonize and align aid delivery” and “commit to taking concrete actions to address the remaining

challenges”. But the reality is that the “remaining challenges” are bigger than ever: from 25 in 1971, the number of

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) grew to 48 in 2011.

Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD), the gap that exists between relief (short-term) and

development aid (long-term) has always been the Achilles’ heel of the current model. The truth is that the

ineffectiveness of Aid is partly rooted in the genes and strategy of a system that has not been designed to prepare

people to successfully transition toward development and the markets. There is need and space for a new model.

The world is moving at the pace of high speed internet; accessible, affordable and profitable new technologies are

changing the rules of the game, even in the most remote and lowest income areas. Global Warming is also a

fantastic “opportunity” that carries diametrically new perspectives and interests. We just need to see and act

differently.

From Sustaining to Disruptive Innovations1.

The OECD encourages moving toward “local ownership, alignment, harmonization, cost reductions, better

measurement and limiting fragmented action2”. It is true that at all level International Institutions, donors or INGOs

made significant efforts and progress deploying new technologies and ideas into the field – ie: World Bank’s

Lighting Africa, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or small innovative INGOs such as Solar Aid. But they are

“sustaining innovators”, proceeding by incremental improvements within the existing model that integrates

fundamental limitations and inconsistencies. There is an interest – desired or not – to maintain a kind of status quo

while hundreds of millions still see development as a promised inaccessible land.

Many new opportunities exist, some are implemented, but they remain marginal in their impact, usually limited to

one sector, and are often due to individual initiatives more than institutional ones. Others have to be explored,

experimented and discovered, but the current system does not permit it. This is when there is a need for a

“disruptive innovation”, outside of the existing framework, a holistic, simpler and cheaper (more efficient) model

adapted to today’s reality, needs and potential.

Regional Incubators at the Source of the Economy (RISE) is a fundamental new model rethinking everything:

mindset, collaboration, funding, time-line, staffing, purpose, communication, leadership… these barriers must be

broken down and win-win cross-sectorial links have to be built.

More than ever today the world is telling us “I’m possible!” Let’s believe it.

1 “Disruptive Innovation” is a term coined by Clayton Christensen from Harvard Business School http://www.claytonchristensen.com/ 2 See: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness next December (2011)

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REVERSING THE PERSPECTIVE: FROM THE FIELD TO THE CONCEPT

An easy way to start seeing from a different perspective is to look at Aid/Development from the field and people’s side: lack of proximity, trust or reactivity, multiplication of

intermediaries, “reinventing the wheel” permanently, “competing” and/or overlapping programs /organizations, poor sustainability of the action, resistance to change and

innovation are usual and common criticisms of the system. Behind that there is a shared feeling that the very sense of purpose of the Aid/Development action has been lost and that

the people are too often neglected. If Aid and Development organization’s performances are far from being uniform, there are globally 2 categories of actors.

The Many, the Few and the New.

The Many represent the “traditional” approach; they composed the majority of the International Institutions and Organizations. They lag far behind the reality of the world and will

have to evolve or… disappear. The Few are the “sustaining innovators”, those who are making very positive changes, implementing efficient programs but remain costly and cannot

rid themselves of some limitations of the system to which they belong. This is when The New must arise from a “disruptive innovation” offering new perspectives.

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THE NEW: RISE, WEAVING A NETWORK OF CROSS-SECTORIAL REGIONAL INCUBATORS.

Having in mind The New, and because in LDCs more than everywhere else, needs are various and means little, the

concept is to bring together the stakeholders in “clusters” gathering multi and cross-sectorial actors, combining the

role of University - Business Incubators, RDD&D and Cultural & Arts Center, each of them nurturing each other.

These “innovations systems” and “cluster development” approach have been developed in different places, but they

are usually focused on one sector (Nile University telecom in Egypt), one product (New Rices For Africa cluster in

Benin), are run in countries that are usually more developed (University-Industry Linkage in Nigeria) or with greater

foreign investments.

EARTH University, a non-profit dedicated to “sustainable agriculture education in the tropics”, is one of the most

advanced running projects in this direction. But it remains one-sector oriented (even if others are involved) and mostly

funded by traditional donors3 with the embedded limitations noted earlier. RISE intends to go further, faster and

wider in its cross-sectorial and regional integration, mixing people and talents from new horizons - arts, religion,

design, tourism… - catalyzing creativity and duplicating its model with RISE clusters in LDCs. In order to have an impact

we must think big, high and holistic as all the development issues are tightly intertwined.

RISE: A “LEARNING ORGANIZATION” DEVELOPED FOR AND BY THE REGIONAL PEOPLE.

As Peter Senge explains in the “Fifth Discipline”, a “learning organization” is a place “where people continually expand

their capacity to create the results they truly desire” this is exactly where RISE wants to head. The interactivity and

multiplication of connections and exchange (web, social media, etc) will make this learning process faster and bigger.

The 4 pillars of the RISE model

3 US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided a $100M endowment at the opening in 1990

KNOWLEDGE / EDUCATION MARKETS RDD &D CULTURE & ARTS

PURPOSE Regional center for Education developing academic & professional skills adapted to context and potential.

Harnessing Professional & Academic talents, creating cross-sectorial regional & international opportunities.

Locally Designed Products developed for Regional and International markets.

Bringing new dimensions, actors and perspectives in development.

WHO Regional & International Students, Partnering Universities

Local, Regional & International actors training the trainers.

Local and Regional SME’s get new opportunities for growth

International Companies investing/developing markets.

Students’ internships/network

Local Entrepreneurs and International firms send researchers “in situ”.

New actors involved; green, biotech, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology

Local, Regional & International Artists / Designers

International Arts Companies, Museums, Foundations, Ministries

Religious & traditional Groups

WHAT Long & Short term curriculum designed and developed locally.

Professional Trainings with cross-sectorial skills

International students’ exchange

Business Angel’s capacity: RISE “invest” in promising projects

Networking, alliances.

Students acquire practical experience (internship) / skills

Developing specific LDC’s products / projects and intersections of sectors: eco-tourism, green energy, agribusiness, transportation..

Culture & Arts as an element of development and better understanding of the traditions.

Arts, design and cultural performance & exhibitions

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RISE: AN INTERACTIVE “COMMUNITY” MODEL IN WHICH EVERYONE’S WINS.

Example: developing eco-cultural tourism. Let’s think about a young graduate from the RISE School that is willing to become a local entrepreneur developing tourism in places that were

so far unknown and not connected to the minimum of infrastructure and comfort. Within the RISE community he/she will have been in touch with multiple partners to design, promote,

fund and realize the project via new communications means, mobile payment facilities, renewable energy, local housing designed and developed by local artists, designers and R&D

respecting the customs and the environment and attracting tourists from the RISE community willing to see the project they support. Visitors will be staying within the local community,

accessing local religion, traditions and culture through this new kind of intelligent, sustainable and respectful tourism that will have a positive impact on the local economy/society4. 4 This has been developed in “RISE: Journal of a Journey” story.

WHAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT THEY GET FROM

People & Local Community Conceptualize, translate and realize their own solutions

Bring their cultural diversity, talents, new perspectives and potentials.

General economic take off, with more opportunities integrating social and environmental sustainability.

Students (Regional & Intl) Bring their talent, know-how and entrepreneurial spirit in the regional development.

Access to high quality education with extensive connection to regional markets and professional network/opportunities

Academics and Trainers Design & develop curriculum adapted to local needs and potential

Bring knowledge & expertise in a multi-cultural learning organization

Learn from other disciplines and cultures

Work in a motivating, rewarding, rich and diverse environment

Researchers Design and develop products for the local/regional markets

Bring their skills and technical supports (International Researchers)

Exponential Creativity & Intersectional Ideas, cultural inspiration

New field of experimentation for regional & international markets

Artists, Designers Bring new perspectives & dimension to development

Contribute to the recognition & development of regional culture/people

New opportunities to develop arts, benefit from cross-cultural diversity with new sources of inspiration and access to new markets / exports.

International Cultural Actors Financial and Technical support to develop and export regional culture.

Make connections and provide new opportunities for artists.

Access to new cultures, partnerships, developing Art & Design for the markets of tomorrow.

Religious / traditional groups Bring their crucial knowledge and understanding of the communities with new perspectives & dimension for development

Recognition & integration of the crucial role of religion in civil society

Inter-religious dialog, better tolerance and social integration.

Local & Regional SMES Invest (money, training, fellowship) in tomorrow’s workforce and develop professional skills adapted to context and potentials

Bring expertise and network for partnership with international firms.

Multiplication of opportunities & new businesses; local and regional synergies and economy of scale

Partnerships with regional and international organization/firms.

International Firms (start-ups, SMEs, Multinational)

Financial Support to RISE, fellowship/internship for students, investments/partnerships with local firms

Technical support; send teachers / trainers, materials equipment

Developing networks & partnerships for tomorrow’s double digit growth markets with access to skilled local workforce

Design and develop new products for their own markets

Regional / Local Government & authorities

Creating an enabling environment (infrastructures, facilitation business) Develop their economy, research and knowledge and networking

More resources comes from economic growth, civil society integration

RISE Community (foundations, individuals, corporate)

Financial support to the organization and the local projects/people

Bring their motivation to support a new model for development: different interest (environmental, aid, business) but same purpose.

Active involvement in the expansion of a new development/aid model

Multiplication of individual, professional and cultural exchanges and relations between North and South with a positive impact

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HOW RISE HOLDS THE VALUE OF THE NEW.

Global sustainability: seeing bigger and further.

RISE is an ambitious project because it works for today and prepares for tomorrow. Seeing further means that the

scale at which we look at the action must be changed. “Real” capacity building is a heavy investment in time, money

and effort, it cannot be achieved or measured in a 2 year program and this is why RISE scale of time will be much

longer. The RISE strategy is to look at Economic, Social and Environmental sustainability, seeing the whole picture.

Shared Vision: the RISE Community.

RISE is a fundamental new approach of seeing development as positive, creative and interactive relations between

the People. It is not anymore about “the rich from the North providing assistance to the poor from the South”, it is

about sharing ideas, projects, demonstrating things that work, and being involved; making connections and fostering

dialogue. All the individuals of the RISE community give and take; this is no longer one-sided. Through the web, social

media, and instant video, creative and new actions will be seen and shared instantly.

Catalyzing creativity: don’t be SMART, be bold!

Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Timely (SMART) indicators are required by most of the traditional donors

in the system. Measuring impact is crucial but the impossibility to make any breakthrough partly lies in the constraints

and limitations of the indicators themselves. RISE will foster initiatives and projects without any predetermined or

“closed” objectives. This project brings the same idea(l) of an explorer leaving for unknown territories, not exactly

sure of what he will find, letting the unexpected unravel. Engaging new people absent or neglected will bring

“Intersectional Ideas5” those who “leap in new directions”, break down boundaries and open new perspectives.

Better and cheaper: doing more with (much) less.

Having a lighter structure with staff in country HQ will not only improve the proximity and ownership of the project

but be much more efficient in terms of cost-effectiveness. No direct implementation and a limited staff should cut-

down the fixed costs by five, ten or twenty fold times. RISE team will be made-up by a limited administrative staff and

teachers/academics / trainers / advisers. Many of them will be sent / paid by the partnering institutions and firms,

others will come from local Universities (and will be trained), and few will be permanent. The costs and budgeting will

be determinate during stage 1 (below).

RISE’S LAUNCH: A 3 STAGE ROCKET

5 See Frans Johansson and the Medici Effect : http://www.themedicieffect.com/

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RISE FAQS

Does a similar project exist? What is new about RISE?

These “innovations systems” and “cluster development” approach has been developed, sometimes very successfully

as described in detail by Harvard professors Michael Porter and Calestous Juma. But they are usually focused on one

sector, one product or run in middle-income countries. Approaches like the Aga Khan’s University of Central

Asia, Earth University Foundation in Costa Rica or Makerere University in Uganda are amongst the most innovative

and closest to the RISE model in their philosophy. As will be more fleshed out during the first stage, RISE will explore

new paths outside of the existing framework, adapted to today's realities, needs and potential. RISE will foster

initiatives and projects with the flexibility and breathing room to try innovations as they arise, engaging new

communities in a unique position to provide perspectives needed to be successful.

Where will the money come from?

Funding will come from mobilizing people, firms and institutions interested in investing in this ambitious and

innovative approach. The RISE Community will be made up of people sharing ideas, ideals and interests, to develop

local capacities and potential.

Where will this project start?

Identification of potential sites and associates will be part of stage one. Ideal candidates are among the most

advanced LDCs; countries that are politically stable with sufficient infrastructure and neighboring poorest countries

integrated in cross-regional approach. 33 out of the 48 LDCs being Africans, countries such as Ghana, Burundi or

Zambia have the profile of the good candidate.

Wouldn’t be easier to start smaller and more simply?

Perhaps, because with fewer partners to coordinate, RISE could start with one sector and incrementally increase the

integration of others (i.e. agribusiness and its link to energy, communication, mobile banking, logistic etc). But RISE

will use a cross- and multi-sectored approach, which is necessary, as development issues are inextricably linked and

cannot be solved separately.

Is RISE realistic?

“This is too big”, “the system cannot be changed” etc… To many, this is utopian, megalomaniac or naive because of

uncertainties and barriers to wipe out. But breakthrough arises from “crazy people”, “unrealistic projects” and risk

taking to move the lines. To overcome this daunting challenge, RISE carries simple values: a purpose shared by people

who gain the power of making changes.

Bio express: Boris Varnitzky

Boris Varnitzky has worked for many years in International Development / Aid organizations and was recently country director of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Central African Republic following work in Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Pakistan. Prior to that, he attempted a career as a professional opera soloist (baritone) for two years with limited success, but no regrets. From 1996 to 2002 he worked in communications agencies in Paris and was an associate at Prime-Team. Boris earned a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government (2011), a Management Postgraduate Diploma from the International School of Management, Sup de Co Montpellier (1995) and a Diploma in Economics from the University of Montpellier (1992). Contact: borisv@post.harvard.edu # +1 617 233 0832 US / +33 664 82 0916 France.