The Clinton Global Initiative: 2010 Annual Meeting

The 2010 CGI Annual Meeting took place September 21-23 in New York City, and focused on finding effective, sustainable solutions to the some of the world's most pressing challenges. During the four-day event, CGI members made new connections, shared insights and ideas, and developed partnerships that will enhance the work they do throughout the year.

Since William J. Clinton began the Global Initiative in 1995, it has focused on four global challenges: Global Health, Economic Empowerment, Energy and Climate Change and Education. Rather than directly executing projects, CGI facilitates cross-sector partnerships that, in turn, create and carry out projects of their own choosing. CGI members come from a wide variety of professions, cultural and religious backgrounds, and geographic regions. Heads of state, corporate and non-profit executives, academics, media representatives, religious leaders, university students, and global citizens join within the CGI community to develop unique solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Members make Commitments to Action – concrete, measurable steps towards improving lives worldwide.

Kathi Dennis, Executive Director of IAVE, attended the event and said “It was a wonderful experience to learn how NGOs, government and corporations are working together to make the world a better place. Tens of billions of dollars have been raised over the past 10 years to support development and programs to implement huge changes in the way we work together toward successful globalization-- Globalization which respects the environment, shares resources, provides entrepreneurial opportunities, expands technology for all especially the poor, supports women and children and still makes a profit for the corporations who participate. These multilateral partnerships demonstrate how everyone wins and everyone reaches their bottom line”.

In a speech at the Annual Meeting, the 42^nd President of the United States said “Regardless of what we want to do and how much money we have to spend on it, how can we maximize our efforts and expand our impact so that our good intentions turn into real changes? As always, the 2010 Annual Meeting will be informed to develop solutions, to share innovative ideas and to answer that ‘How Question’.”  

The GGI members made nearly 300 new Commitments to Action, bringing the total number of commitments made to more than 1,900. Commitments to Action are new, specific, and measurable initiatives undertaken by members. Varying in size and duration, commitments may focus on diverse concerns, regions, and types of activities, including Empowering Girls and Women, Strengthening Market-Based Solutions, Enhancing Access to Modern Technology and Harnessing Human Potential.

http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/default.asp