NEWS Under the Honorary Chairmanship of HM Queen Mathilde LETTER SUMMER 2020 • www.kbfus.org • www.kbfcanada.ca

• www.africa-kbf.org Together against

• www.europe-kbf.eu the coronavirus An overview of response initiatives www.kbs-frb.be 3-7 Dossier Together against the coronavirus 3 The Foundation responded quickly 4-5 Response initiatives in Africa and Europe 6-7 Response initiatives in Belgium

Luc Tayart de Borms 8-9 Tribute to Michel Didisheim Managing Director 10-11 Telex 12-13 Heritage: Supporting young talent in music EDITORIAL 14-15 Health: A million euros for post-coma research 16-17 European Social Catalyst Fund: an interview with leading coordinator Madeleine Clarke Dear Reader, 18 Philanthropy: the Vergnes family reflect on

We have been through an unprecedented and extraordinarily their engagement tense period over the last few months. Capitalizing on strong 19 They have said relationships across our wide-ranging network we quickly understood that for many groups in our society who were already 20-21 EUpinions: Are Europeans optimistic or facing adversity, life was about to get even more challenging. pessimistic about the future?

During the initial emergency phase, the Foundation took 22-23 Telex action as responsively as possible within its remit, aiming to 24-25 From analysis to impact: experiences with the support or complement the work of actors in the field. In this newsletter we provide an overview of some of these initiatives. Platform against Energy Poverty We are pleased that we have been able not only to play our part 26-27 Africa: The FXBVillage model for development as a community foundation in Belgium, but also to help our international grantees, such as the organisations supporting 28-29 KBFUS – research project in East Africa refugees on Europe’s borders or those active in Africa. KBF US COVID19-response initiatives and KBF Canada also responded with celerity, directing resources from donors based in North America to pandemic-ridden regions 30-31 KBF Canada – research project on Ukraine in Europe, Africa and Latin America. COVID19-response initiatives Many countries have passed the peak in terms of infections and 32 In figures: 2019 results & 2020 budget hospital admissions, so we are currently moving to the next phase. We are helping organisations as they adapt their working conditions to the enduring presence of the virus in our environment. This type of medium- to long-term approach is indeed part of our DNA. PUBLISHER: Luc Tayart de Borms Rue Brederodestraat 21 B-1000 Brussels, Belgium I would like to express our thanks to our partners and donors T: +32-2-500 4 555 around the world who have unceasingly shown their confidence, [email protected] • kbs-frb.be at the peak of the crisis and during the subsequent period of IBAN BE10 0000 0000 0404 recovery and adaptation, in the efficient and effective use of the BIC BPOTBEB1 resources they entrusted us with. Thanks to you we have been able to make a difference for a large number of organisations EDITORS: Sabine Deboosere, Iadine Degryse working on the front line. CONTRIBUTORS: Maya Taal, E. Portier, E. Racquet, S. Tipper, M. Van Dyck, D. Vanoverbeke, C. Verbyst The first few weeks of this year, prior to the outbreak of the virus PROOFING: Greta Peirs, Emma Portier Davis DESIGN: All Yours PRINTING: De Maertelaere in Europe, already seem a long time ago. At that time we were ILLUSTRATIONS: Belga Images (p.1, 6, 19a), deeply saddened to say farewell to Michel Didisheim, my Carlos (p. 23a), E. Crooÿ (p. 2, 15a-b), P. de Formanoir predecessor and also a former President of the Foundation, (p. 11b), Fabrus (p. 29), FXB International (p. 26-27), without whom the Foundation could never have become what it Genio (p. 16), IWM/K. Ranger (p. 12a), J. Jacobs (p. 8), is today. We honour him and thank him for his determined R.W. Jemmett (p. 3), La Maison des Familles de Tournai and unwavering commitment over so many years. (p. 7), L’Atelier de l’Imagier (p. 10), B. Maindiaux (p. 18), MdM Greece (p. 5), Peshkov (p. 22a), W. Rawoens (p. 9), T. Simoens (p. 13c), Solarisys (p. 24), J. Van der Linden The King Baudouin Foundation is an independent, pluralistic foundation working (p. 11a), Wellphoto (p. 22b) in Belgium and at the European and international level. We are seeking to change society for the better, so we invest in inspiring projects and individuals. The Foundation was set up in 1976, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary Follow us on of King Baudouin's reign. TOGETHER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS

THE FOUNDATION RESPONDED QUICKLY AND IS STAYING THE COURSE

Over just a few days in informed us that they were willing financial assistance to hundreds mid-March, the severity of the to work alongside us and provide of organisations on the front line COVID19 pandemic brought funding. - in Belgium, in Europe and society almost to a standstill. For elsewhere in the world - so that the King Baudouin Foundation, as ‘This situation has challenged they can continue their work for all of us, both individuals and us to take action in the very under difficult circumstances. workers within organisations, the short term ànd prepare for Meanwhile we are bringing rapid introduction of measures to the next phase’ forward initiatives for the next combat the coronavirus has meant The Foundation is known as phase. We stood ready to accept a step into the unknown. an organisation that works in the gestures of solidarity that the medium and long term as an came from many thousands of ‘The power of our network: actor to bring about change in donors, from individual citizens get a perspective on most urgent society, but this situation has and families to corporations. needs very quickly’ challenged us to respond and A large proportion of these gifts Fortunately we found ourselves in take action in the very short term. have found their way into a number some ways well equipped to deal This is where the second layer of new Funds which allow the with this situation, with strong of our foundation came in: donors themselves to choose the foundations that have been good governance and robust type of organisations and target strengthened further in recent expertise has made it possible to groups they want their money to decades. First of all there is the make decisions quickly, while a support. Some have also funded a power of our network. We were strong set of tools - calls for series of project accounts that we able to get a perspective on the projects, Funds, international and opened for organisations: as a most urgent needs very quickly and fiscal agreements etc. have result they receive the donations continue monitoring those needs allowed us to implement those from their supporters in full, and as they developed, even over the decisions without obstacles. many have already deployed medium term. For example, we Finally we had a practical these funds to meet their understood that a rapid response advantage: our essential processes short-term needs. could make all the difference for and procedures were digitalised organisations that help people in some time ago. The virus has not gone away, poverty or who are involved in and our work is not finished. primary care. It was also very ‘Gestures of solidarity from many What we are presenting here is encouraging that many partners on thousands of donors’ not an end result; it is an update the front line and Funds managed Building on these foundations we on a work in progress. To be by the Foundation immediately have already been able to provide continued…

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 3 TOGETHER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS - AFRICA

KINSHASA DIGITAL "WE HAVE TO PUT ALL OUR FIGHTS FAKE NEWS BETS ON PREVENTION” ABOUT CORONA

Dr. Ernest Ahounou had planned to complete a ‘simple’ The Foundation has decided to award internship in resuscitation in intensive care at a Belgian an extraordinary grant of USD 60,000 to Kinshasa Digital in the DRC. hospital. But COVID-19 turned both his plans and his This Congolese social enterprise is internship objectives upside down. Now Dr Ahounou promoting digitalisation throughout intends to use his experience in the service of his own the country, and has also set up the Kinshasa Digital Academy, where country, Benin, and other countries in Africa. young people are able to receive a comprehensive training course free of charge. Kinshasa Digital has started a staff meetings and discussions project in collaboration with the on patient care. “I learned a lot Ministry of Health aimed at about strategy, how to organize disseminating correct, relevant human resources and logistics information throughout the population, to deal with this health crisis. as a way of combating fake news. I can now put my experience This is being done by text messages, at the service of Africa.” on social networks and at http://stopcoronavirus.cd. If countries in Africa are gravely affected by the pandemic, these Read the full story of the countries will find themselves in Kinshasa Digital project online an extremely complicated at www.kbs-frb.be situation, says Ernest Ahounou. “In rich countries, the care of COVID-19 patients in intensive care is costly and still the mortality rate is high. In Africa, EMERGENCY this would be dramatic. Africa must concentrate its resources on FUNDING FOR prevention – notably hygiene and the wearing of masks – and GRANTEES As a doctor and researcher in ensure the protection of the few Cotonou, Republic of Benin, carers we have by making The KBF is staying in regular contact Dr Ernest Ahounou is one of the available to them the appropriate with all its grantees in Africa during beneficiaries of support grants personal protective equipment.” this period. We are making a fixed awarded by the Baele-Rémion amount of EUR 5,000 available to Fund. The Fund supports further The Baele-Rémion Fund also them. Financial resources from the professional development of supports former grantees Carlier Fund are being deployed for African intensive care (4 doctors in Benin, 4 in Burkina applications from Burundi and the anaesthetists by financing Faso, 4 in Niger and 3 in Guinea), DRC. Other Funds that are active in internships for them in a Belgium. with emergency funding for Africa are making funding available Dr Ahounou’s internship at the protective equipment. Professor for other regions. Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc Baele, the founder, has further had barely begun when COVID-19 created a platform on which This support makes it possible for struck Belgium. He decided to anaesthetists from 16 African grantees to help their communities stay, to acquire knowledge and countries can exchange during the crisis (mainly in the area experience about preventing and information. of prevention), with information, fighting coronavirus. So for a materials (soap for hand washing), couple of weeks, he followed the Read the full story on protective equipment and training doctors’ rounds and took part in www.kbs-frb.be for health care providers.

4 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION TOGETHER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS - EUROPE

EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR WORK WITH REFUGEES IN GREECE

At the European level, challenges medically, politically frontline, ensuring adequate KBF and its partners united in and socially. protection, medical supplies, support EPIM (European Programme services and distance management More than 40,000 people are is almost impossible. for Integration and Migration) detained on the Greek islands, decided to grant emergency explains Elli Xenou of Doctors Doctors of the World is one of funding to support the work of of the World in Greece, with camps the NGOs supported by EPIM. full beyond breaking point. The Moria This intervention will help them eight NGOs in the refugee reception centre in Lesvos houses distribute hygiene kits, scale up camps of Greece. 19,000 people today, despite its their medical assistance and capacity being less than 4,000. provide protection for staff. In Greece’s refugee camps, Covid-19 is a crisis on top of a ‘Access to services was already The European Programme for Integration crisis on top of a crisis. Following compromised,’ she says. ‘Living and Migration, of which the King Baudouin the country’s financial collapse and conditions were already poor. Foundation is a founding member, has subsequent struggle to deal with Addressing an outbreak in such allocated €150,000 in emergency funding to eight Greek organisations providing medical, the huge numbers of people seeking overwhelming conditions is obviously legal, sanitary and social care to children and refuge on its shores, today’s public becoming a more difficult task that adults living in precarious situations. health disaster presents tremendous includes extra risks.’ For those on the www.epim.info • www.europe-kbf.eu

EU STAFF JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT THE CRISIS AND SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE AND FAIR RECOVERY

As many EU civil servants feel an Its efforts and initiatives aim to and will also react to needs in obligation to give their personal address the multiple threats to other EU countries. After the contribution and help countries human health, well-being and pandemic, the Fund will support and people to fight the health crisis, ecosystems. social and economic recovery, the group EUstaff4Climate set up inspired by the principles a dedicated Fund in cooperation The EUstaff COVID-19 Solidarity of sustainability and social justice. with King Baudouin Foundation. Response Fund is addressing immediate needs of civil protection EUstaff4Climate proposed to their EU Staff 4 Climate is a bottom-up agencies, hospitals, health colleagues across the EU institutions initiative bringing together civil organizations and NGOs that provide to donate monthly at least 2% of their servants from across the EU emergency response. It is initially salary. By mid-May the donations institutions, in their private capacity. focusing on Italy and Spain, already amounted to 180,000 euro.

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 5 TOGETHER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS - BELGIUM COVID RESPONSE IN BELGIUM

ASSISTANCE TO CARE HOMES EMERGENCY SUPPORT FOR PRIMARY CARE

30 organisations are District nurses, general practitioners, social workers, family receiving support to help assistants, outpatient mental health services, pharmacists care homes. and psychologists - primary health care providers are as Care homes are working day essential during this crisis as they always are. A total of and night to provide the best 335 organisations comprising or supporting health care possible care for their professionals in primary care received emergency support. residents and make their social isolation more bearable in The primary care sector is facing substantial added challenges during these extraordinary the health crisis. Many people who need care at home are very circumstances. Employees are isolated. Primary care providers are also arranging treatment for worried and tired, while people with symptoms to avoid imposing unnecessary burdens on managers are organising hospitals, and supporting people when they leave hospital who still services that extend far beyond have care needs. their normal activities. After the peak they will also need to The Dr. Daniël De Coninck Fund, supported by additional donations from sustain these efforts over a individual citizens and companies, provided funding to support primary long period to maintain the care professionals with a fixed grant of 10,000 euros (in exceptional quality of care that they cases 5,000 euros). The urgent call was launched quickly after the provide and ensure that care lockdown began, with an easy, flexible, quick procedure. Within a few homes continue to be pleasant weeks grants had been sent out to 335 organisations such as GP places to live and work. practice groups, psychologist networks, home care organisations and others. We were pleased that primary care providers not only organised The De Coninck Fund is themselves quickly to meet the more technical challenges, but also providing funding to 30 gave a lot of attention to providing psychological support for patients, organisations that help informal family carers and care providers. managers: these are helping to safeguard employees’ well- Seven out of ten grantees are using the resources to purchase protective being, improving equipment. For a very large number of organisations the crisis created communication with families urgent needs in the area of digitalisation: half the organisations supported and care providers, spent the funds (partly) on purchasing hardware and software, especially implementing medical and communication technology. In addition, half of the grantees also spent ethical guidelines and much (part of) the support on extra staff costs (overtime, recruitment) and on more. A total of 885,000 euros paying expenses for volunteers, as well as providing training for both have been made available. employees and volunteers.

6 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION TOGETHER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS - BELGIUM

AN OVERVIEW OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVES

EMERGENCY SUPPORT FOR POVERTY ORGANISATIONS PHILANTHROPY IN ACTION

Before the first week of lockdown in Belgium had come Individuals and companies to an end, we launched our first support initiative: have already donated more organisations helping people in poverty, homeless people than 15 million euros. and those living in insecure housing were all able to request A number of Funds managed a fixed amount of emergency support in a rapid process. by the Foundation are making Five hundred organisations received support in this way. extra efforts to finance initiatives during this crisis, Throughout Belgium organisations are mobilising to help the most from the local right up to the vulnerable people, who have been severely affected by the health crisis. international level. The Foundation has made funding available quickly to help them. There are also a large number As soon as the call was announced, applications came flooding in. of individual citizens and A jury of independent experts helped us day in day out to allow us to companies who wish to work through all the applications quickly. Thanks to the Baroness express their solidarity by Monique van Oldeneel tot Oldenzeel Fund, the Dr. De Coninck Fund, making donations or waiving a contribution from BNP Paribas Fortis, the Foundation’s own budgets profits. The KBF has been able and donations from a large number of individuals, we were able to to respond to these requests meet all the requests that met the criteria. quickly using its existing set of schemes and opportunities. A total of exactly 500 organisations received 10,000 euros each, distributed very evenly throughout the territory of Belgium. It was The Foundation is receiving noticeable that ‘only’ half of the support went to organisations in the donations for its emergency largest cities: Brussels, Antwerp, Liѐge, Ghent and Charleroi. The other initiatives for hospitals and half went to smaller towns and rural municipalities: a clear signal that other residential care poverty in Belgium is definitely not a problem restricted to major cities. institutions, primary care It is also striking that approximately one-third of those in the target providers and poverty groups reached were children and young people. organisations.

Eighty percent of the applications involved food distribution, while in sixty Project accounts have also percent of the organisations (part of) the money was spent on protective been set up by third parties. equipment and disinfectants. For seven out of ten organisations this Examples include a number emergency support was the first time they had been in contact with the of hospitals and a scheme King Baudouin Foundation. Many of them said that the emergency support to provide laptops for made the difference between giving up or being able to carry on. young people.

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 7 TRIBUTE

TRIBUTE TO MICHEL DIDISHEIM “I ENDEAVOURED TO LAY THE FOUNDATIONS OF AN ORGANISATION THAT HAD TO BE SUSTAINABLE AND RELEVANT TO SOCIETY”

It was with enormous sadness, at the start of this year, that we learned of the death of Count Michel Didisheim (b.1930). We would like to pay tribute to this exceptional man and to thank him most sincerely for having tirelessly devoted thirty years of his life to the King Baudouin Foundation.

Hier komt onderschrift

‘That’s a real challenge’ said Michel structure, establish the institution’s that we had to ensure the Didisheim, speaking of the mission ground rules and attract Foundation’s long-term survival given to him in person by King Baudouin sufficient capital to guarantee by dispensing money sparingly in 1976. The sovereign had asked him the sustainability of a foundation and by trying to find additional funds to set up and manage the Foundation that was still relatively unknown. to strengthen its capital and its that was created in that year to mark He laid down the key objectives and usefulness in serving the the 25 years of King Baudouin’s reign. developed the first programmes, community.” It was a strategy that It was a challenge that was closely akin initially relating to land use planning led the Foundation to developing to the work that had already marked and poverty. Other areas followed, philanthropy and the creation of Michel Didisheim’s societal involvement, including social welfare, health named Funds linked to specific one that he accepted with honour and and child welfare. causes, but jointly managed by to which he devoted the greatest part the Foundation and donors. of his professional life. The vision developed for the Foundation by Michel Didisheim is Without the involvement of During the pioneering years of the without doubt what has contributed Michel Didisheim, the King Baudouin Foundation, Michel Didisheim to its long-term sustainability. Foundation would not be what sought to put into place an efficient He once remarked “I believed it is today.

“A secretary general or managing director must, above all, have a strategic vision, establish the main lines of action and manage the organisation in general. I endeavoured to lay the foundations of an organisation that would be viable, be a role model and recognised by the general public, have an irreproachable reputation, a good relationship with government and the palace, avoid criticisms because it bears the King’s name and be of real usefulness. In short, it must be an institution that is relevant to society.”

8 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION TRIBUTE

“The King Baudouin Foundation is unique, both in its objective and its The quotations in this article are management. It is superbly managed and enjoys an excellent reputation, taken from an interview conducted and this is in a country as complicated as Belgium where people are quick with Michel Didisheim in 2015, in to criticise on the grounds of the linguistic communities or for links with which he talked about his career at the royal family – even though the only link is in its name. I think that the the Foundation. The full interview King Baudouin Foundation is also unique in the world. Foundations such can be found on www.kbs-frb.be. as the Ford Foundation and the Volkswagen Foundation are much bigger and much richer, but they are private initiatives.”

During the KBF Africa Prize award ceremony in 1994.

With King Baudouin, during the inauguration of the Foundation’s offices at Rue Brederode in 1986. During a visit by Philippe (then Prince) to the Foundation, in 1988.

BIOGRAPHY OF COUNT DIDISHEIM

• Born in Wimbledon (London), 18 April 1930. • Married to Countess Monika von und zu Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg in 1956. The couple had three sons and two daughters. • From 1962 to 1986, he was Chief of Staff to Prince Albert, future King Albert II of Belgium. • In 1971, he co-founded Inter-Environnement – Bond Beter Leefmilieu, where he was President until 1976. • In 1976, he created the King Baudouin Foundation, where he was successively Secretary General (1976-1981), Managing Director (1982-1995) and President (1994-1999). He sat on the Board of Governors from 1982 to 2004. • In 1997, the King Baudouin Foundation United States was created. Michel Didisheim was its first president. • Honorary President of the King Baudouin Foundation. • Died in Forest (Brussels), January 6, 2020. With Luc Tayart, in 1993.

“Shortly after the death of the King – it must have been in 1994 or 1995, when I was both the Managing Director and President of the Foundation – Luc Tayart and I got together to think about the long-term future of the King Baudouin Foundation. We both felt that the Foundation needed to distance itself from the Palace and that it became independent and European. And that’s exactly what happened. The Foundation kept the name of King Baudouin, in honour of a great man, but it would not be a royal foundation.”

NEWSLETTERBlikveld - 3/e SUMMER- 4e trimester 2020 2019 9 TELEX VENDREDI A TOTAL OF A SURREALIST REVIEW A unique review, with only one copy: ‘Vendredi’ 6.7 contained drawings, sketches, collages, texts and notes by the Belgian surrealists. One hundred issues, MILLION EUROS each containing between 2 and 10 pages, appeared between 1949 and 1951 – in all, some 900 flimsy In 2019, forty-three Funds managed by KBF pages with contributions from René Magritte, Marcel awarded grants for medical research totalling more Mariën, Louis Scutenaire, Irène Hamoir, Armand than 6.7 million euros. Projects and researchers Permantier, Christian Dotremont, Marcel Broodthaers, are supported in diverse domains such as neurology, Marcel and Gabriel Piqueray and Pierre Alechinsky. cardiology, cancer, rare diseases, rheumatology etc. Created on the initiative of the poet Paul Colinet, the The Foundation wants to thank all the philanthropists handwritten review was sent by post to the artist and the members of our advisory committees, Robert Willems, Colinet’s nephew, who was living in steering committees and scientific juries involved for the Belgian Congo. their selfless commitment and invaluable contribution to these activities. This magnificent testimony to Belgian surrealist The brochure on all the laureates and projects can be activity at its most spontaneous, was acquired downloaded free of charge via www.kbs-frb.be (Activities – Publications), where you will also find links to the videos on in 2012 thanks to the patronage of KBFUS. research into the genetics of retinal diseases, and on psychiatry This spring, the document became even more during the transition from teenage to adulthood. accessible to surrealism enthusiasts: a facsimile version has been edited in collaboration with art book publisher Ludion and is now available. ENTERPRISES FOR SDGS SUPPORT FOR SIX MORE BUSINESS PROJECTS Six business projects in developing countries, which are making a contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, were chosen earlier this year for the Business Partnership Facility support programme of the Belgian Development Cooperation and the King Baudouin Foundation. Following a first selection in June 2019, in which 11 projects were awarded a total of 1.75 million euros in support, a total of one million euros has now been awarded for this new selection of projects. TH VERY RARE 17 CENTURY RING The BPF focuses on job creation, empowering women, This spring, KBF purchased a gold (reducing) ecological impact, as well as the project’s cluster ring with diamonds at The contribution to sustainable economic impact and growth European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in opportunities. One of the six new projects is in Nepal Maastricht, with financial support from the Christian Bauwens Fund. and five are in Africa: Ivory Coast, Guinea, Uganda, Later this year this very rare ring Mozambique and Rwanda. The businesses involve from the 17th century will be added production of honey, sustainable coffee and chocolate, to the permanent exhibition at ethical diamonds, bricks that are less harmful to the DIVA, the diamond, jewellery and environment and the treatment of waste products and silver museum in Antwerp. compost.The BPF is shortly launching a special call for www.heritage-kbf.be initiatives responding to the COVID19-crisis.

10 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION TELEX OUR PHOTO COMPETITION: GRANTS TO AFRICA, MORE VOTES THAN EVER! LATIN AMERICA & ASIA For our yearly photo competition, all our grantees EVOLUTION OF THE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF GRANTS from the previous year can participate with photos from their projects. A professional jury shortlists In 2019, 136 philanthropic funds provided funding to 16 photos for the final voting by the general public. 290 grantees in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Each of them is granted 200 euros. The winners of the Public’s Prizes, the Social Media Favorite and the 12 million euros Prize of the Jury winner all get an additional 500 euros 10 million euros for their projects. This year, a new record was beaten: 8 million euros almost 13.000 votes were cast. Below is one of three 6 million euros winners Public’s Prize winners: a photo taken in Peru, 4 million euros picturing a supplier of the social enterprise Solid. 2 million euros 0 2016 2017 2018 2019*

Latin America Asia Africa

* In 2019 two multi-country programmes, the Business Partnership Facility (funded by the Belgian Development Cooperation, supporting entrepreneurship) and the Common Goal Fund, redistributed together €3.250.000

To view the amounts for each country, find the new Fact Sheet on our website kbs-frb.be (Activities – Publications) and download free of charge.

BARITONE SAX FROM 1846 PRESERVED The oldest preserved saxophone, an instrument with exceptional historical value: earlier this year OUR STRATEGIC the King Baudouin Foundation was able to purchase this heritage item using financing VISION FOR supported by the Courtin-Bouché Fund which is managed by the Foundation. The instrument dates from 1846, the year in which Adophe 2020-2024 Sax requested and received a patent for his saxophone. It is now on display in the Musical Helping to make a better society in Belgium, Europe and Instruments Museum in Brussels, as the elsewhere in the world: this is the mission that the King showpiece of the existing sax collection. Baudouin Foundation aspires to carry out, day after day. www.heritage-kbf.be But what are our ambitions? And how do we plan to guide our activities in the coming five years? To answer these questions, we conducted a collective exercise, led by the Foundation’s management team and involving the Foundation’s personnel, as well as numerous members of our committees and external contributors. You can find a summary of our 2020-2024 strategic vision or the full document on our website www.kbs-frb.be (About us > What we do -> Mission, vision, values)

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 11 HERITAGE

SUPPORTING YOUNG Mariana Iacob and Andrei Marta - TALENT IN MUSIC Fund Fortuna

More and more, KBF is selected by philanthropists with a heart and passion for music, to help them set up and manage their funds to support young talented musicians or artisans.

Two recently added funds and public relations. The fund also for musicians offers professional communications Cellist Florianne Remme, who is coaching and seeks to establish studying at the Royal Conservatorium co-operations to accomplish this of Brussels, has been using a high- goal. Current recipients are level instrument granted on loan by mezzosoprano Mariana Iacob and the Fund Strings for Talent to help pianist and conductor Andrei Marta. her build her international career. The Fund lends for a period of five “Rare to obtain such confidence to 10 years string instruments of the for a first recording” highest quality to talented and young Dedicated to musicians, the Fravanni musicians with a link to Belgium. Fund, established in 2013, helps young artists in the production of KBF’s Fortuna Fund gives musicians their first CD and organises a concert the possibility to make professional in Paris for them to debut their demonstration recordings which they recording. Pianist Valentine Buttard, need for selection processes for both the first laureate of the prize, says: world-renowned and international Florianne Remme - Fund Strings for Talent “It’s rare to obtain such confidence competitions and for their websites for a very first recording, especially

12 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION HERITAGE

since my project was daring, devoted Supporting young talented With a scholarship provided by the exclusively to one of the most organists… fund, Van Bosterhaut was able to important French composers today.” The Hubert Schoonbroodt Fund was get around this Catch-22. “The Buttard had opted for a recording of set up in memory of this master bursary allowed me to take some a contemporary composer, Philippe organist, who worked tirelessly to time to study abroad. Among other Hersant, for her debut CD. She preserve the organ’s heritage, by things, I was able to construct a praises the Fund’s choice in friends who wanted to ensure his cello alongside a well known musicians. “It’s not competition legacy. Starting in 2004, the fund maestro. Returning with prizes and the like that matter to offered grants for the restoration of supplementary training gave me the commission, as is often the damaged organs. In 2015, the fund confidence in my work alongside case elsewhere. The Fravanni Fund is refocused on supporting young, musicians.” based on the musical quality and talented organists with the originality of the projects.” establishment of the Hubert The fund has also helped existing Schoonbroodt prize, which is business owner Karel Goetghebeur awarded every other year. The who set up a saxophone making winner receives a grant of 4500 studio in 2012. He then fell gravely euros and the chance to perform ill with flu and was in a coma for two during the following Bozar Music months. Once he re-emerged from season. The first laureate was his health crisis, the fund helped him Stéphane Mottoul, who has since to buy essential tools and further his gone on to record a CD. Other expertise. “The business was at a Quatuor Akos – Fund Fravanni recipients include Marc Steffens low point when I picked it up again. and Russian born award-winning The support of KBF gave me the More recent laureats of the Fravanni organist Maria Vekilova, who possibility to get extra training and Fund are the Quatuor Akos and frequently performs all over Europe. gave me extra confidence in a period violinist Anna Göckel, who made it to that I needed it most.” the semi-finals of last year’s Queen and singers Elisabeth Competion. Each had the The Fund Braet-Buys-Bartholemeus His goal now is to finish work on his chance to make a CD, a crucial first supports yearly the singers’ class of latest version of the saxophone and step for a young musician that bears the internationally acclaimed Queen to find a way to source all materials fruit long after the recording. As says Elisabeth Music Chapel. By for this originally Belgian instrument Buttard: “When the listeners at garanteeing the continuity in the from Belgium. concerts are touched by my playing young classical singers’ coaching, and the music of Philippe Hersant, the Fund contributes to their higher when they come to ask me for the CD education before they start to build and are delighted with this discovery, a career in opera. I know that I absolutely made the right choice. Thank you to the Who will build the instruments? Fravanni Fund!” The S&B Platform for Education and Talent supports a wide range of up and coming artisans, giving them the chance to work in apprenticeships alongside the world’s best professionals in their field, thereby putting them on a path to excellence.

Among the laureates, is violinist turned luthier Joanne Van Bosterhaut, a recipient in 2017. She says: “As for all artisans, the

training is long and requires many Karel Goetghebeur - S&B Platform skills. The financial status for a for Education and Talent luthier working alone is complicated. The same problem exists for hiring More information on www.heritage-kbf.be Anna Göckel - Fund Fravanni an apprentice.”

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 13 HEALTH

A MILLION EUROS FOR POST-COMA RESEARCH

Neurologist Steven Laureys, who is known for his work among people who have survived being in a coma, was awarded the Generet Prize for Rare Diseases in January for his research into coma and types of altered states of minimal consciousness. This Prize, awarded by the Generet Fund which is managed by the Foundation, is linked to 1 million euros in funding.

By awarding the Generet Every year about 50 people in Belgium The team does not only see patients in Prize the international jury of end up in a situation where they have Belgium. People with difficulty experts has recognised Prof. woken up from a coma but are not regaining consciousness come from all Laureys for what he has already conscious and only make reflex over Europe for investigations. achieved with the Coma Science movements, which is known as an Group at the University and at unresponsive wakefulness state. Why do patients come to Liѐge? UZ Liège (Hospital), while also There are also a further 100 people We use various forms of medical supporting his ongoing research. every year who wake up after a coma imaging (scans) to investigate the state Professor Laureys and his team but only have a minimal level of of their brain and the prognosis for an specialise in refining the diagnosis, consciousness. A small minority of improvement. Doctors and families the prognosis for a possible patients are fully conscious after the have to make difficult decisions when a recovery and treatments coma but completely paralysed, which person is in a coma, and they don’t to stimulate the brain. is known as the locked-in syndrome. have much to go on. Is there any hope

14 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION HEALTH

“We do not want to offer families false hope, but all too often we see them lose hope without good reason.” Steven Laureys

For me that goes without saying. You have to treat the whole patient: what physio does he or she need? What about nutrition? The family also has additional hurdles to face, as with many rare diseases: difficulty getting the right diagnosis, the often hopeless search for an institution where the patient can receive the right care, and of recovery? Our aim is to reduce patients, but we want to know which a lot of ignorance and even a lack of uncertainty for the patient, their family patients will benefit from this effect. understanding, not only from the public and doctors. An initial phase involving research in a but for example also from insurers. small group of patients has yielded But what is ‘recovery’? some encouraging results, but these Part of the budget that comes from Getting back to a ‘normal life’? still need to be confirmed in much the Prize will therefore be going to set How much of an improvement is larger numbers of patients. up a foundation to support patients enough? What constitutes a life with and their families. We must always dignity? One important factor for me One patient who is quite well-known be vigilant to ensure that the human is whether the person can recover a with cycling fans is former cyclist Stig aspect never gets pushed into the level of consciousness that allows Broecx. He is walking and cycling background by the technical aspects functional communication - even again. Other patients may however involved in diagnosis and treatment. though it is only through making never manage to recover to that extent? minimal movements - so that he or “Stig’s positive attitude is indeed she can by themselves make their inspiring. You are right though, we The Generet Fund makes wishes known. In young people we saw some exceptional results in substantial financial means available for research into rare reach that point in about half of Stig’s case, and that is far from the diseases in Belgium, with the cases after brain trauma. norm. Nevertheless, many people ambition of making Belgium an can relate to his situation, particularly international centre for research We do not want to offer families false the uncertainty that his family faced: into rare illnesses. It awards an hope, but all too often we see them for months he showed no signs of annual prize worth 1 million lose hope without good reason, based regaining consciousness or euros to a leading research on the perception that there is no communicating at all, and even after scientist. The first ever Generet consciousness at all and no hope of that it was still not possible to predict Prize was awarded at the end of recovery, which leads people to make how far he would get.” 2018 to Professor Miikka Vikkula irreversible decisions too quickly. (Institut de Duve - UCLouvain), “It is a kind of double problem ... for his research into the genetic Are you also looking for treatments these patients are usually forgotten, causes of vascular anomalies. to stimulate recovery of and the problem only gets some Videos on the Generet Fund and consciousness? attention when a famous person is in its laureates can be viewed on We have been stimulating people’s the same situation. So then it finally the KBF’s Youtube channel. brains with electrical impulses for a few does get some attention, but on the years now, but we are also looking for other hand society’s perspective is different forms of treatment. We will be often limited to that small number of using the funds from the Prize to carry individual cases.” out further research into the effects of treatments such as apomorphine You look beyond technical injections. This substance is injected treatments and think about the under the skin and stimulates chemical situation facing your patients and processes in the brain for some also their families?

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 15 EUROPE

"FOR TRULY STRUCTURAL AND SUSTAINABLE IMPACT, YOU CAN'T IGNORE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES"

Earlier this year, the Madeleine Clarke is Founding You argue strongly that if Director of the Ireland-based foundations want to effect change, European Social Catalyst organisation Genio, also a founding especially in the social arena, they Fund was launched, with the partner of the ESCF, and was asked must work in partnership with King Baudouin Foundation to coordinate this new initiative. government. Why is that? Genio brings philanthropic initiatives Let's face it: the amounts that as one of its founding and government together to deliver philanthropic foundations and partners. The ESCF develops more efficient social services by funds can deploy are pretty small plans to scale up proven putting users centre stage. In this compared to government budgets. interview, Madeleine Clarke outlines Philanthropy doesn't have the means social service innovations her vision, based on many years to scale up a new approach that's within, and across, European of experience with the Atlantic been tested and validated at project Union Member States. We Philanthropies and Government in level in order to deliver systems-level talked to leading coordinator Ireland and in the context of her impact. So if you really want to former role as Chair of the European achieve structural reform in the way Madeleine Clarke. Venture Philanthropy Association. in which society performs its social tasks, you simply can't ignore government and public authorities. Working with government to achieve national objectives also provides opportunities for philanthropy to collaborate in achieving electorally mandated improvements

You also say that philanthropy should sit down with public authorities from the start? What happens if you don't? With the best of intentions, you support an innovation, invest in a few pilot projects, you evaluate them and you decide that the approach merits promoting as 'best practice'. Then you turn to government, because you have neither the money nor the power to introduce the approach system-wide. Imagine a civil servant who suddenly gets a foundation knocking on their door telling them that it's come up with the ultimate solution. You'll be given a friendly reception, of course, but how is that civil servant going to

16 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION EUROPE

react when you try to persuade “You have to build a and advisers are your allies him or her to move away from relationship from if you involve them from the start. the approach that's already been the outset if you want Electoral cycles also entail decided on, and for which resources public authorities to the risk of changing priorities have been allocated? take ownership of the and personnel. And the political innovation later on and process can be rather slow. But Our experience is that you're much make the impact such risks are 'part of the deal', more likely to succeed if you sit down sustainable and you just have to handle them. together from the beginning, and make it clear that you both want to deliver an scalable.” Because, as I said before, if you're improvement for a specific target Madeleine Clarke aiming for sustainable impact and group, and that you want to help the a structurally different way of authority achieve that goal. Start with transitioning to more cost-effective deploying large government the concerns of people in the field: approaches in the long term. budgets, there's simply no other they're all too familiar with the option than to work with public challenges and you'll always find So I'm not saying that there are authorities. people who want to be involved in no people with good ideas in improving the way things are done. government – there certainly are! You have to build a relationship from But reform inevitably means shifting EUROPEAN SOCIAL the outset if you want public money from one approach to CATALYST FUND authorities to take ownership of the another. Someone somewhere is The European Social Catalyst innovation later on and make the going to lose out, and such choices Fund (ESCF) is an initiative impact sustainable and scalable. are always politically risky. established and co-funded by the Support from a foundation can European Union Horizon 2020 But why does government bolster positions, not least by Research and Innovation need philanthropy? As you say, helping place the voices of end users Programme, Genio, the Robert the amount of philanthropic funding at the centre of service design. Bosch Stiftung and the King available is relatively small Baudouin Foundation. The ESCF compared to government budgets. Doesn't collaboration entail risks, for is encouraging other Yes, but philanthropic initiatives example if the government partner philanthropic Foundations to have greater freedom in their has too much control over the become involved. spending. Governments have communication side of things? In January, the ESCF launched its responsibilities to fulfil and the aim is Many foundations are strictly first pan-European call inviting certainly not for philanthropy to take avoiding political labelling... applications for financial and non- over those responsibilities. But in Yes, there are risks, and financial support to develop plans times of tight budgets, public communication is one of them, to scale proven social service authorities are already using all their especially if you want to retain a innovations within, and across, resources to perform existing day-to- neutral position. Unless you have a European Union Member States. day tasks. There's rarely any margin particular need for attribution, it’s One of the objectives of the ESCF (or appetite for risk with tax payers better to let the government partner is to design a further phase that money) for testing out innovations have the limelight and shine. After would focus on unlocking public and transitioning to a new approach: all, it is the public sector that will and private (including you have the cost of introducing the have ongoing implementation philanthropic) resources for the new system, including staff training responsibility. You obviously don't implementation of plans to scale for example, but you also need want your reputation and credibility proven innovations. This provides a resources to keep the old system to be compromised. So agree route for philanthropy to make a going in the meantime. communication ground rules on substantial contribution to meeting paper at the outset. I know there will the challenges facing Europe. This is where philanthropy can help, always be politicians who do their www.euscf.eu by acting as a catalyst to co-fund own PR... but their senior officials

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 17 “We felt that we PHILANTHROPY wanted to develop more long-term activities, to make a difference.” Bernard, Gonda & Emily Vergnes

WHEN LIFE HAS BEEN KIND TO YOU, THERE IS A MORAL OBLIGATION TO HELP OTHERS

The Bernard, Gonda and Emily Vergnes Fund was created in 2014, within the King Baudouin Foundation. To combat child poverty, its activities are focused on creating places in nurseries for children aged under three from vulnerable backgrounds. The Vergnes family look back on how they became involved in philanthropy and how they work in collaboration with public funding.

Bernard Vergnes: “Life sometimes at KBF and read numerous academic “A similar process brought us together brings us surprises, both good and bad. studies on the development of children with the public service provider Actiris in As the first Microsoft employee in from underprivileged backgrounds. Brussels. They intended to take over a Europe, creating and then running their They all show that the first few years of nursery, but funding was only available European operations, I witnessed the life are key. We decided to help to to subsidise 50% of the operating costs. growth from a small software firm to create places in nurseries for children So our Fund undertook to subsidise the the large company we know now. Our from vulnerable backgrounds.” remaining 50% for a 10 year period. This family has hugely benefited from that allowed Actiris to take over this nursery, ‘computer boom’.” After some first experiences with direct which welcomes children whose support to nurseries and a call for parents are looking for work.” “When life has been kind to you, there is projects, “we felt that we wanted to a moral obligation to help others, so it develop more long-term, structural “All too often we expect the public makes sense to get involved in activities that were more likely to “make sector to do everything. However, there philanthropy. Considering the options, a difference”. is a deficit: they cannot finance setting up a Fund managed by the King everything. Philanthropists therefore Baudouin Foundation was the simplest “In 2017 the Foundation put us in touch need to intervene alongside the public and most effective way to achieve our with Kind en Gezin [Child and Family]. sector to maximise their impact. goals while staying closely involved.” We offered to double their annual Viewing philanthropy as budget set aside to provide places for complementary to the public sector The Bernard, Gonda and Emily Vergnes underprivileged children, for a period of seems to make sense today, and it is Fund was created in 2014, with the 10 years. For the first time in Belgium, a one of the ways to move towards the primary aim of combating child long-term public-private partnership philanthropy of tomorrow.” poverty. “For a long time we had been was created in the social domain, and interested in what is happening in thanks to the actions of our Fund, an Find the full testimony and more society and concerned about poverty in additional 200 places were made information on the Fund Bernard, Gonda and Emily Vergnes on Belgium”, explains Gonda Vergnes. “We available for children from families in www.kbs-frb.be. had many discussions with the experts difficulty each year.

18 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION THEY HAVE SAID

“The crisis response will not succeed without European coordination and solidarity. As in the years 2010-2013, we will achieve solidarity not for ethical reasons but because the enlightened national interests of a number of countries ultimately coincide with the European interest. It takes a while before this insight matures.” Herman Van Rompuy, former President EU Council, in EPC discussion paper ‘COVID 19 – A turning point for the EU’. www.epc.eu/en/publications

“If people are being followed by the use of data from their mobile phones, they can easily be discriminated, not only by other people who may not want to interfere with them, but also because, for instance, they can be denied access to certain areas. It could as well lead to problems in the future, if insurance companies would not accept their application because of having had a certain disease.” Diego Naranjo, head of policy at European Digital Rights (EDRi), a Civitates grantee, on Actions to tackle the covid-19 virus using personal data. www.civitates-eu.org

“Previously, it was a mystery why one and the same protein caused three different brain diseases. Now, for the first time, we’ve been able to identify different shapes of -synuclein protein deposits in patients. Depending on the shape, a different disorder and, thus, a different clinical picture occurs.” Dr Anke Van der Perren, research coordinator KULeuven Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, on research co-funded by the Fund Sophia, managed by the King Baudouin Foundation. www.kbs-frb.be > newsroom

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 19 EU OPINIONS

RESEARCH INTO EUROPEAN CITIZENS’ OPINIONS THE OPTIMISM GAP

KBF recently joined Eupinions was launched in 2015 “The extra funding by KBF allowed us eupinions, an independent as a project of Bertelsmann Stiftung, to take a more detailed look at platform for European public founded by Isabell Hoffmann in Belgian citizens’ views. Beyond that, cooperation with Catherine E. it made possible a Dutch and French opinion, as its first de Vries and Nico Jaspers. version of our study which we, as a Foundation partner. The eupinions team collect, analyse European project, are very happy With KBF’s additional and comment on what the European about”, says Isabell Hoffmann. public thinks about current political funding, the research on issues and megatrends. eupinions Societal pessimism what European citizens employs cutting-edge data collection vs personal optimism think about political issues techniques. Every quarter, they In previous reports, the researchers can be elaborated further. collect samples from each EU demonstrated how anxiety due to member state in 22 languages. large-scale societal change is a driver

20 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION EU OPINIONS

of both polarization and politicization, Main findings The full report is available on and how these anxieties make people The researchers addressed eupinions.eu. Please note that more susceptible to the messages questions on how optimistic or at the end of the report, the team propagated by populist and extremist pessimistic people are about their also takes a look at the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and European political movements. In the most recent personal future and the future of governments’ response to it. In report, ‘The Optimism Gap’, the their country, and if this differs particular, they examine what researchers delve deeper into sense of across EU member states, among lessons might be drawn from societal pessimism, based on a survey different social groups and among times of crisis-management for politics in general. conducted in December 2019 in which supporters of different parties in On the website, previous reports more than 12,000 EU citizens were the political spectrum. remain available. Recent interviewd. The data is representative publications include: for the EU as a whole, as well as for • Within the EU27, they found, • ‘Great Expectations. The New seven member states including respondents are more pessimistic European Commission, its Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the than optimistic. A total of 59% of Ambition and European Netherlands, Poland and Spain. respondents in the EU27 feel Public Opinion’. pessimistic about their personal • ‘The Hopeful, the Fearful and the Societal pessimism describes the future, while only 41% feel Furious. Polarization and the 2019 European Parliament Elections’ concern that society is in decline and optimistic. The results also heading in the wrong direction. suggest that the same goes with • ‘What do the People want? Opinions, moods and preferences Interestingly, a rather substantial regard to their country’s future. of the European citizens’ quantity of people think that their In this case, 58% express country is not doing well overall, while pessimism regarding their still being quite satisfied with and country’s future, while only 42% In Germany, the Netherlands, hopeful about their own lives. So, there are optimistic. Poland and Spain, a clear majority is a gap between societal pessimism of people are optimistic about their and personal optimism. This suggests • Striking variations are evident personal lives. However, they are far that one source of the anxiety felt by across countries (see figure). warier about their countries’ futures. many people might be the perception France and Italy show the largest The largest “optimism gap” is that many of the processes that go on shares of people who are evident in Germany. outside the bounds of their daily pessimistic both about their own experiences are so complex that they personal future and the future of • Younger people are more likely cannot do much about them. their country. Belgians are split to be optimistic about their roughly down the middle when it personal lives than their older Isabell Hoffmann: “A take away for comes to assessing their personal counterparts, but are equally politicians is that trusting citizens’ sense future, but are more likely to be pessimistic about their country’s of responsibility works and might also pessimistic when assessing the future. pay off in the aftermath of this crisis.” future of their country. • Among social and demographic ARE YOU PESSIMISTIC OR OPTIMISTIC ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL AND YOUR COUNTRY’S FUTURE? groups, the largest optimism gap is found among the highly educated Personal Future Country’s Future and women, with 62% of highly educated people being optimistic 59 41 EU27 58 42 about their own future, but only 44% being optimistic about their 50 50 BELGIUM 64 36 country’s future. Among women, 61 39 FRANCE 69 31 55% express personal optimism, while only 38% are optimistic about 35 65 GERMANY 69 31 their country’s future. 56 44 ITALY 72 28 • Those who support far-right populist 37 63 NETHERLANDS 51 49 parties, are – within the context of 33 67 POLAND 52 48 their country’s electorates – most likely to be pessimistic about both 38 62 SPAIN 60 40 their personal future and their Pessimistic Optimistic B country’s future.

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 21 TELEX EUROPE LAUNCH OF READ AND QUOTED “This analysis establishes the COVID-19 pandemic as a EUROPEAN AI FUND critical juncture, a crisis that can permanently shake up Over the next five years, the European Commission institutions and societies. There are considerable has ambitions to forge a plan for Europe to reap the dangers beyond the impact of the pandemic on human economic and social benefits of artificial intelligence, lives, ranging from an economic crisis which could turn without ignoring the technology’s underlying out to be worse than the one in 2008/9, to a heightened ethical questions and human rights challenges, e.g. crisis of democracy and a geopolitical shift. None of pervasive surveillance, manipulation of democracy or these developments are inevitable and some of the discrimination through automated decision making. consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for the Western Balkans can be mitigated.” Europe has the potential to become a world leader in Source: Policy Brief “The Western Balkans in Times of the AI. But if Europe is to effectively lead the way, it needs Global Pandemic”, by BiEPAG, a joint initiative of the European Fund for the Balkans and the Centre for the Southeast European to address several knowledge gaps. Deep technical Studies of the University of Graz, April 2020 knowledge of AI is scarce, and mainly concentrated in large technology companies. Too few voices from the civil society are able to engage, to challenge where necessary and to support were useful. It is this pipeline of actors working on the impact and the INDEPENDENT accountability of AI and data driven interventions that we wish to see increased. JOURNALISM

A group of European foundations is therefore launching the European AI Fund. Originally convened by King Baudouin Foundation, Mozilla Foundation, Luminate, Mercator Foundation and Open Society Foundation, the group has already grown to more than 15 foundations and will support Civil Society Organisations in Europe working on AI related issues.

The changing context of the COVID-19 pandemic increases the urgency of the fund: pandemic related proposals such as tracking or immunity passes entail Civitates, the joint initiative of several foundations risks (surveillance, triage & resource allocation, throughout Europe, launched a call to support digital services), and it is important to also consider independent, public interest journalism in Europe. the longtail societal impacts if pervasive data It welcomes proposals to strengthen public interest collection is permitted in response to the pandemic. journalism organisations across Europe which defend

democracy, by covering stories of societal The fund will therefore focus in the beginning on importance, by exposing abuses of power and drivers AI/automated decision making (ADM) used to of polarization and by defending a space in which all address COVID-19 directly before opening up to voices are heard. The fund will provide multi-year other societal questions related to AI/ADM. commitments for general operating support and the institutional strengthening of its grantee partners to build more durable, more resilient, more networked, and more impactful public interest journalism organisations in Europe. In addition to strengthening specific organizations, Civitates will connect its grantee partners, encouraging them to learn and grow stronger together. The deadline for applications is 30th of June. Request for proposals: Independent Public Interest Journalism

More info on KBF in Europe: www.europe-kbf.eu

22 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION TELEX EUROPE CALL: ADVISE EUROPEAN ASYLUM 4 In its fourth webinar, the European Foundations’ Innitiative on Dementia (EFID) focussed on ‘People living POLICIES AND with dementia. Challenges and solidarity during the Covid-19 emergency’. The current crisis calls for more PRACTICES solidarity in communities to support people living with dementia and their carers as well as the resilience of professionals working in different contexts. This webinar explores the initiatives undertaken by EFID awardees to face the challenges of Covid-19, the talents of inspiring opera singers for nursing homes and the position paper by Alzheimer Europe.

All EFID Webinars can be followed live and are recorded for later consultation on www.efid.info.

The latest suspensions of the right to asylum in multiple EU member states in the framework of COVID-19: Covid-19 protection measures show once more that European asylum politics and practice move fast, LESSONS FROM especially in times of emergency. Civil society organisations at all levels play a key role as THE ‘EURO CRISIS’ watchdogs, protectors of the rule of law and promoters of alternative policy approaches. In the EPC series of discussion papers, Janis A. Through a rolling Call for Proposals, EPIM aims to Emmanouilidis and Fabian Zuleeg look back at a support (transnational) partnerships of civil society previous time of intense pressure and discord in the organisations active at all policy levels, for their Union, the euro crisis. They apply the lessons from efforts to seize opportunities to advise European the euro crisis to today’s health crisis to remind asylum policies and practices: promote feasible European, national and regional leaders that we stand alternatives; and/or put forward thought-provoking together, and fall together. Unconditional solidarity ideas, and/or react to policy proposals and practices guided by the principle of enlightened self-interest to safeguard the right to asylum and prevent will be the Union’s answer to the crisis. Secondly, the backtracking.Proposed projects should contribute to EU should act early and forcefully. The Union should ensure that all migrants are able to access European thus jointly set up and finance a common COVID-19 asylum systems that are humane, fair, effective and recovery and growth fund, and then implement a capable of offering protection. coordinated European ‘exit management strategy’. Finally, all EU leaders must recognise that absolutist For more information and applications, check www.epim.info. positions will undermine the search for an effective European strategy to manage and eventually overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Find the discussion paper ‘COVID 19: Lessons from the euro crisis’ and the other EPC Publications on the website A CAREER IN SERVICE OF www.epc.eu/en/publications EUROPEAN UNIFICATION The first five ‘fellows’ of the Charlemagne Prize Academy have been selected: each one will receive a grant of 25,000 euros for academic work. The Charlemagne Prize Academy is a new initiative from the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, or the Karlspreis as it was originally called, the highest accolade for those seeking to use their career in service of European unification. The King Baudouin Foundation is one of the funding providers for the Charlemagne Prize Academy.

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 23 ENERGY POVERTY

FROM ANALYSIS TO IMPACT: EXPERIENCES WITH THE PLATFORM AGAINST ENERGY POVERTY

Many foundations and other non-profit organisations invest in robust, high-quality research and analyses of problems in society. How do you go from analysis to solutions, often requiring intervention by policymakers? The King Baudouin Foundation has gained some useful experience in recent years through the Platform for Energy Poverty which it manages.

Energy poverty is a problem that Since 2015 the King Baudouin unfortunately faces all European Foundation has been publishing its countries, as we have learned from Energy Poverty Barometer every year, “While I was in hospital for a long time, the gas and the observations of the EU Energy working alongside researchers from electricity bills kept arriving. Poverty Observatory. It is a the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) That’s how the accumulation persistent problem in Belgium too: and the University of Antwerp (UA). of problems started.” about one in five households are The Barometer has recorded and Jean struggling with some kind of monitored the evolution of three major energy poverty. indicators since 2009, using the same definitions that are used in research at A number of significant observations the European level. It tracks how many indicate that energy poverty is “It has happened that I just people have to spend a much larger persisting. Tenants, particularly in didn’t have any money to reload my budget metre card. proportion of their income on energy social housing, have more problems Then you don’t have any than other comparable households, with it than people who own their electricity, it’s as simple as that. how many people are spending own homes. Single-parent families You have to be alert about remarkably little on energy, which - in eight out of ten cases these are everything, everything… usually indicates that they are making mothers with children - and single that’s not living” sacrifices in terms of comfort, and how women are a group of people who Monique many people feel unable to heat their are clearly encountering more severe homes adequately. energy poverty.

24 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION ENERGY POVERTY

Bringing all the stakeholders together The Energy Poverty Barometer provides “Only when I was confronted All publications issued by the Platform against Energy Poverty are available in an important reference resource for the with this fait accompli did I ask myself how come I had French and Dutch on the website work of the Platform against Energy www.kbs-frb.be. You will find the such high bills to pay?” Poverty, which is coordinated by the annual Energy Poverty Barometer and Foundation and has also been in place Fatou the recommendations there. In recent years, in addition to simplification of since 2015. The Foundation acts as a bills and funding for the Gas & neutral, reliable partner as it brings the voices of the people involved and Electricity Fund, the Platform has also together a comprehensive and diverse providers of social services who support made recommendations on renovation group of stakeholders around the table: them can be heard”, emphasises work in social housing and - very recently indeed - on the avoidance of the Platform includes representatives of Bernard Hubeau. In parallel with this, the evictions, optimising the relevant consumers and providers, King Baudouin Foundation ensures that procedures and making them more network operators, regulators, politicians and decision-makers are humane. Testimonials from people representatives from the social sector always up to date with the ongoing work involved in these situations have been written down and made available in and poverty organisations, academics, of the Platform, maximising the video format. The quotes illustrating government departments, public centres relevance of its work and ensuring that it this article are taken from the videos. for social welfare (OCMWs), social receives attention. In some cases public housing associations, architects services are involved, for example in (or their landlord). The Platform was and others. passing on the necessary data. concerned about this issue, which was also already on the radar of the The start-up was preceded by The Platform engages in detailed ministerial cabinet responsible for this ample discussions with all those discussions on the research that is area. The cabinet was therefore kept involved concerning their expectations carried out, so that it can make informed of this work while it was being and areas they wished to focus on recommendations on a sound basis. carried out. As a result the government through the work of a Platform. The KBF Thanks to the diversity and was able to make excellent use of the leads the stakeholder dialogues in a comprehensiveness of the Platform and Platform’s recommendations to impose neutral and independent way. It acts as the fact that it makes recommendations new standards for simpler bills, making convener, guaranteeing that all the based on very sound analyses, it enjoys them easier to understand and compare. participants are able to express a high degree of credibility and The recommendations made by the themselves in an atmosphere legitimacy. The Platform submits its Platform were largely taken over. of respect and confidentiality. recommendations to the King Baudouin The way the Platform works was Foundation, which in turn passes them Another example: the Platform informed decided on together with the participants on to policymakers (Parliament, policymakers that the Gas & Electricity and set down in a charter. ministerial cabinets, conferences etc.) in Fund - a source of financial resources a neutral, independent way, and ensures available to social assistance providers Figures and votes that the media reports on them. The in Belgium to help clients having “The members of the Platform members of the Platform also difficulty with their energy bills - had themselves decided which themes they disseminate the results within their own become seriously under-funded over the wish to work on as a priority - if networks. years. The Platform put very clear figures necessary there is voting on certain on this shortfall and asked for it to be points. The criteria include the urgency Concrete impacts on policy remedied as a matter of urgency. Soon of the problems and the impact that the “Thanks to this approach, the findings of afterwards the policymakers made a Platform is able to have on them”, says the Energy Poverty Barometer and the decision to provide emergency Emeritus Professor Bernard Hubeau, recommendations of the Platform are supplementary funding. Work has also Chair of the Platform’s Expert always read with interest by begun in Parliament on a structural Committee. policymakers”, comments Bernard review of the way the Gas & Electricity Hubeau. The impact is noticeable in the Fund is financed, to prevent the gap The members of the Platform work on a parliamentary questions that are asked between the need and the Fund’s voluntary basis in working groups on on this subject, as well as in the resources from widening again in future. sub-themes, allowing them to carry out a decisions that are made at numerous more in-depth analysis of the causes of levels of government. energy poverty. This goes beyond the “You try to fix things, analyses and explanations - in many The first example is simplification of but one day when you cases highly technical in nature and energy bills. Energy bills can easily come home, you can’t switch provided by outside experts when become complex and they used to be on the hall light anymore…” necessary. “The Platform also gathers very variable depending on which Lode stories from real-life situations, so that provider was chosen by the consumer

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 25 AFRICA

THE FXBVILLAGE MODEL HELPS THE POOREST TO REGAIN THEIR DIGNITY, WITH SUSTAINED RESULTS

How to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness? The FXB Association has developed an approach that combines empowerment, guidance and material support and has been applying this FXBVillage-method in 10 countries. It measures the impact of this approach and applies the lessons learned from evaluations to regularly adjust its programmes. This is done in concertation with its partners, including the King Baudouin Foundation, which has been supporting its programmes in Burundi for many years.

The Buterere slum in the Burundian working in more than 20 countries. It would be wrong to focus on their capital Bujumbura is home to some The FXBVillage model has been income alone. Our response is an of the poorest people in the country. implemented in ten of these approach that simultaneously They occupy homes that are often locations. The King Baudouin addresses five aspects in an no more than shacks and try to Foundation has been supporting integrated way: nutrition, health, survive by looking for waste food on the FXBVillage projects in Burundi education, healthy housing and the city’s nearby landfill sites and (and formerly in Rwanda) for environment, and economic occasionally selling the things they 15 years. empowerment’ says Christine Eggs, find, such as pieces of charcoal. Director of FXB. FXBVillage involves a three-year Through its FXBVillage programme, engagement with a group of Small shop the Swiss François-Xavier Bagnoud participants in a neighbourhood. The families - many of them single Association (FXB) supports the ‘Under-nutrition, disease and mothers with children, but also some poorest of the poor in slums such unhygienic living conditions... people couples with children - receive as these. FXB has existed for almost living in the greatest poverty struggle guidance, information and training, 30 years and has been, or is still with complex problems. but also health insurance,

26 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION AFRICA

“A small start-up capital protects the participants from the risk of indebtedness that would push them even deeper into poverty.” Christine Eggs food products and money. Initially the latter provide for the majority of their needs, but the material support is gradually tapered off as the families start a small business to generate their own income, often a small shop.

FXB addresses this situation Improve on long-term basis Extension to 4 years differently from organisations such In this way FXB aims to break the In many cases, partly due to severe as microcredit providers. “Our target cycle of poverty and is not afraid to floods, the sanitation situation has group is the poorest of the poor, and have its approach evaluated by deteriorated once again. On the other these people are often ineligible for external consultants. Participants in hand, there have been some nice microloans. They do not have paid several projects in Burundi have been results: more and better food, major employment nor homes or land to sought out to find out whether they improvements in terms of health offer as security”, explained Christine have managed to improve their care, more children attending school. Eggs. “The most important quality of life on a long-term basis. innovation of our approach, has been FXB has been learning from the the donation of a small seed capital “In recent years the situation in evaluations it undertakes and, – rather than a loan – which enables Burundi has been extremely difficult where necessary, adapts the model families to become economically and fragile, with a political and to meet local needs. “Due to the extra active and progressively acquire a economic crisis and high inflation, difficult circumstances in Burundi, sufficient and regular income. and increasing insecurity. The results after discussing this with our This small start-up capital protects have therefore not been as partners, including the King Baudouin them from the risk of indebtedness sustainable as those in Rwanda, for Foundation, we see it as vital to that would push them even deeper into example. But, the families are still extend new programmes to a fourth poverty. The question of microcredit better off than before they entered year. During this time, no more will be addressed in a later phase of the programme and they are also at material aid will be provided but development or diversification of their least as well off or better off than the there will still be further guidance”, business”, she continued, “after we residents living around them. It must concluded Christine Eggs. have empowered participants and be remembered that they were trained them in budgeting and clearly the poorest people in the slum business management.” at the beginning.”

The King Baudouin Foundation has supported FXB since 2006, in collaboration with the Funds Amélie, Corbier and Jourdain, managed by the KBF, and with the Swim for Life action and Comptoirs de la Méditerranée. A total of over 780,000 euros have been attributed, about 2/3 of which has been for FXBVillage programmes in Burundi and the rest in the DR Congo and Rwanda.

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 27 KBFUS

A DAIRY IN THE DESERT

A COUPLE’S QUEST TO IMPROVE NUTRITION AND PROVIDE JOBS IN EAST AFRICA

Roughly 50 percent of the selective genetic camel breeding. “The envisions donations of more than world’s camel population is project matches perfectly with our $350,000 to support the camel milk found in Sudan and Somalia, dreams of making a difference in research and to disseminate learned Africa through education.” Additionally, practices into the community. where they are primarily bred the research will help strengthen the for milk production - a relationship between the University of Donating made easy by KBFUS primary source of protein and Torino and its research partner on this Joan Leonard and Dr. Michael Vigoda project - the University of Khartoum, had sponsored some initiatives in the a key economic driver. Joan the largest and oldest university U.S. in prior years but “we didn’t feel Leonard and Michael Vigoda in Sudan. that fulfillment”. The couple sought a are supporting an innovative more personal connection to the research program to identify “It’s just been a super mission, and a greater say in how the experience so far, money was ultimately distributed. the gene that leads to increased Hoping to make a bigger difference, milk production in female KBFUS has just made they decided to pursue funding camels. donating very easy." opportunities overseas. To structure Tumani Corrah their giving, they first tossed around Millions of people across the globe the idea of setting up their own depend on camels for their survival. In Professionalizing camel foundation but quickly realized that the arid lands of East Africa camel milk dairy business starting and operating a private is a key source of nutrition. Increasing The global market demand for camel foundation wouldn’t be the best the amount of milk that a female milk products has steadily increased solution. An extensive research for camel can produce would provide a over the years, as its purported other ways to give money to foreign welcome boost to communities – in health benefits attract new consumers. countries led them to KBFUS. “It’s just terms of food security and extra And while Sudan boasts the world’s been a super experience so far, KBFUS revenue. Over the last few years Joan second largest camel population, has just made donating very easy” Leonard and Dr. Michael Vigoda have its milk productivity remains relatively according to Joan Leonard. Better yet, provided financial assistance to low. “An injection of money to further “they’ve been very understanding about support research conducted at the professionalize the sector could our financial and organizational University of Torino, which aims to radically elevate the lives of East concerns. We have confidence in the raise the nutritional quality and African camel herders,” says Joan Foundation and who we’re giving our production of camel milk through Leonard. With her partner, she money to.”

28 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION KBFUS

KBFUS FACILITATES CLOSE TO $12 MILLION IN EMERGENCY GRANTS

As soon as reports of the COVID-19 pandemic started coming in, KBFUS sensed that donors were seeking ways to express their solidarity, also internationally. On March 26, KBFUS launched COVID-19 Emergency Response Funds for several European countries that were being hit particularly hard by the pandemic. During the first week of April, KBFUS announced similar Emergency Response Funds for eight African countries at risk of being dangerously impacted by COVID-19.

Each one of these Emergency Individual grants to initiatives in By mid-May, KBFUS had facilitated Response Funds is pooling donor Europe and Africa an additional 35 grants to European contributions and distributing their As a global philanthropy enabler, and African nonprofits, for a total generosity to selected nonprofit KBFUS offers customized support to amount of more than $1.56 million. organizations. These include corporate and family foundations More support is announced for the leading hospitals that are wishing to make grants to coming weeks. overwhelmed by the large influx of organizations outside the U.S. KBFUS patients, and lack emergency facilitated grants from the Erie Family Major donors include Owens Corning equipment and basic supplies. And Foundation to the King Baudouin Foundation, Caterpillar Foundation, also other nonprofits working on the Foundation Belgium, in the amount of MetLife Foundation, Corning Inc. frontlines of their country's response, $4,390,000, to support nonprofit Foundation, American Express providing much needed social initiatives working on the frontlines of Foundation, Pfizer Foundation, services to the most vulnerable the COVID-19 response in countries Morrison & Foerster Foundation, groups, such as the elderly, the poor such as France and Belgium. S&P Global, Barings, Makena and and the homeless. Detailed the Judy and Peter Blum Kovler information about the organizations KBFUS also worked with the Conrad Foundation. Grantees are hospitals receiving support can be found on N. Hilton Foundation to facilitate and social service organizations the website of KBFUS. $3,250,000 in grants to the Regional working with vulnerable groups in Office of WHO in Africa, based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, By mid-May, KBFUS’ COVID-19 Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, to Egypt, France, Greece, Ireland, Emergency Response Funds had strengthen the capacity of high-risk Italy, Liberia, Lithuania, Poland, disbursed a total amount of almost countries in the African region to South Africa, Spain and the $2.4 million. respond to COVID-19 cases. United Kingdom.

The King Baudouin Foundation United States (KBFUS) is the leading resource for philan- thropic giving to Europe and Africa – a trusted advisor for US donors seeking to support their favorite causes and non-profits overseas.

To learn more about our donor-advised funds, legacy funds and KBFUS ART, please visit www.kbfus.org. Or contact us at (212) 713-7660 or [email protected].

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 29 KBF CANADA

A BORDERLAND WHERE CURRENTS COLLIDE BUILDING SCHOLARLY TIES WITH UKRAINE

Thanks to a donation by the Temerty Foundation in Toronto, KBF Canada has been able to finance a four-year scientific research project, the “Ukraine in European Dialogue project” with the Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen (IWM) in Vienna.

The project raises the quality of The partnership with KBF Canada Learning from each other scholarship and intellectual in mid-2019 gave the project the Through fellowships, the project discussion around Ukraine, bringing programme support it needed. helps Ukrainian intellectuals build it into the broader European “KBF Canada has been the ideal new networks crucial for the narrative. “There is absolutely no partner for us, because everything success of reform efforts and way to tell the story of Europe is perfectly arranged to handle for building a sovereign state without including Ukraine in it,” says situations exactly like ours where governed by the rule of law. research director Katherine Younger. we’re working in multiple At the same time, scholars from international contexts,” Europe and North America gain A platform for intellectual exchange says Younger. insight into dynamics in Ukraine The IWM has a long-standing relevant to the European present tradition of solidarity with Eastern and future. “We have as much European societies in transition. The “We have to learn from Ukrainians as they dialogue project was conceived in as much to learn do from all of us,” says Younger. 2015 in the wake of the Maidan revolution. “What we recognised at from Ukrainians In December 2019 the IWM that time is that Ukraine is a sort of as they do from hosted the highly successful proving ground for things that are all of us.” closing conference of the bilateral going to become major Katherina Younger, Cultural Year Austria-Ukraine preoccupations of the world more research director IWM 2019, examining the modern broadly,” says Younger. history of the region between Vienna and Kyiv. “There are multi- directional movements of people, ideas, objects,” Younger explains. “It’s this complicated exchange that both sides benefit from.”

More than power politics Through research, publications and events, the project allows a deeper scientific look into a country with a complex history and unique society that go far beyond the current power struggle between Western Europe and Russia. “I think the crucial question here is maintaining agency for Ukraine and for Ukrainians in all of these discussions,” says Younger. We are trying to remind people that Ukraine is a real place that it has its own concerns that go beyond just broad questions of geopolitics.”

30 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION KBF CANADA

COMING TOGETHER TO DEFEAT THE THREAT OF THE CENTURY

KBF Canada is the Canadian services and devastating economic partner of the COVID-19 hardship. “The worst may be yet to Solidarity Response Fund, come, and it is going to hit the world’s vulnerable populations the the first and only fund hardest,” he says. allowing individuals and companies to contribute Yet the overwhelming show of generosity he has seen from donors all directly to pandemic over the world give him reason for response efforts by the hope. At the time of printing, over World Health Organization 400,000 donors, companies and (WHO) and its partners, foundations from all over the world had donated over 214 million US the Swiss Philanthropy Response Plan to track and dollars to the fund. Foundation and the United understand the spread of the virus, Nations Foundation. ensure patients get the care they “This is a terrible crisis, but in any crisis need and frontline workers get the human spirit will prevail, and we will “The COVID-19 pandemic is essential supplies and information, prevail against this virus together,” says the worst sudden public health and accelerate research and Singer. “I think this is also the core crisis in 100 years. The only way development of a vaccine. lesson of the solidarity fund.” to address a truly global threat like that is through global solidarity,” “You really need an organisation that Contributing to efforts in Italy says Canadian Peter Singer, Special works with scale and works with Canadian donors also made donations Advisor to WHO Director-General partners at scale to respond to this to KBF Canada to finance four Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. level of threat. Because nobody is solidarity projects in Italy, one of the safe in the world until we are all hardest-hit countries in the world with A global initiative to save lives safe,” says Singer. over 30,000 COVID-related deaths. The KBF Canada partnered with the fund funds went to affected communities, to expand the network of donors and We’re all in it together supporting local projects to provide collect Canadian donations. Funds Singer fears a long road ahead to food and sanitary equipment to lower- go towards supporting countries counter both the COVID-19 outbreak income people in Rome, Milan and according to the WHO’s COVID-19 and its knock-on effects, which Venice as well as medical equipment Strategic Preparedness and include a lack of access to health for Buzzi children’s hospital in Milan.

European-based citizens willing • KBF CANADA is a registered to contribute to the WHO COVID- charitable organisation in Canada 19 Solidarity Response Fund can • It works with individuals, families, corporations and foundations, to do so through the Transnational enable donors to support charitable Giving Europe-network, of which KBF activities outside of Canada. KBF is a leading partner. CANADA • KBF CANADA crafts personalized www.transnationalgiving.eu solutions for one-time gifts or Enabling thoughtful and effective giving recurring donations through The Japan Center for donor-advised funds. International Exchange and the • www.kbfcanada.ca - China Population Welfare [email protected] - (1)514 481 2000 Foundation have also joined this collective fundraising effort.

NEWSLETTER / SUMMER 2020 31 KING BAUDOUIN FOUNDATION

Our detailed 2019 accounts will be available online during 2019 IN FIGURES June 2020. On www.kbs-frb.be, you can also find information about the composition of the Board of Governors, the Advisory Council, various steering committees, support committees, € 66,151,801 management committeesand the independent juries IN SUPPORT PROVIDED for our calls for projects. SUPPORT: AMOUNT 345 SUPPORT: AMOUNT € 50,000 - € 100,000 - INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTED € 100,000 € 1,000,000 2,459 ORGANISATIONS SUPPORTED Aantal € 5,000 - ondersteunde € 50,000 organisaties en 157 < € 5,000 CALLS FOR PROJECTS individuen

3,194 EXPERTS IN OUR SUPPORT: MAIN THEMES INDEPENDENT JURIES SUPPORT: MAIN THEMES AND COMMITTEES Civic engagement Development of talents

Heritage 801 Africa and Sustainable developing development ACTIVE FUNDS countries European SET UP BY INDIVIDUALS engagement AND BUSINESSES

Poverty 67 & Social Justice Health PUBLICATIONS

2020 IN FIGURES WHWHEREERE D ODOESES T HTHEE M MONEYONEY CCOMEOME FROM?FROM? 15,500,000 Portfolio assets 10,000,000 from our own capital Belgian National € 97,000,000 Lottery BUDGET

32,500,000 39,000,000 Philanthropic Funds’ portfolio initiatives assets

The King Baudouin Foundation thanks the Belgian National Lottery and all other donors for their valued support. King Baudouin Foundation, rue Brederodestraat 21, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium