• Transforming Ideas Into Action
  • Why CGI?
  • Our Model
  • What We've Accomplished
  • Get Involved
• Combating Climate Change
• Treating HIV/AIDS & Malaria
• Fighting Childhood Obesity
• Promoting Economic Opportunity
• Creating Sustainable Development in Africa
• Enabling Sustainable Development

ACTION SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) reflects President Clinton’s belief that governments need collaboration from the private sector, nongovernmental organizations, and other global leaders to effectively confront the world’s greatest global challenges. In 2005, President Clinton established CGI to turn ideas into action and to help our world move beyond the current state of globalization to a more integrated global community of shared benefits, responsibilities, and values.

By building partnerships among world leaders from a variety of backgrounds, CGI creates a unique opportunity to channel the capacities of individuals and organizations to realize change. To fulfill the action-oriented mission of CGI, all members devise practical solutions to global issues through the development of specific and measurable Commitments to Action. To date, CGI's members have made more than 1,700 Commitments to Action valued at $57 billion, which have already improved more than 200 million lives in over 170 countries. (Watch a video about CGI’s results and impact.)

Much of the inspiration for CGI members’ work happens at CGI events, where heads of state, government and business leaders, scholars, and NGO directors work together to analyze and discuss solutions to urgent global issues. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state; 14 Nobel Peace Prize laureates; hundreds of leading global CEOs, heads of foundations, and major philanthropists; and directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations.

CGI Fifth Annual Meeting 2009

The CGI Fifth Annual Meeting, held in September of 2009, marked the fifth time global business, government, and nonprofit leaders have come together to focus on taking action in the areas of economic empowerment, education, global health, and energy and climate change. President Clinton welcomed President Barack Obama during the opening plenary session to kick off four days of discussions led by Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Al Gore, Wangari Maathai, Paul Farmer, James Dimon, Lloyd C. Blankfein, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon, among others. The 2009 CGI members made 282 commitments with an estimated value of over $8 billion. Once these commitments are fully funded, they are projected to positively change the lives of 197 million people.

In response to the current economic climate and to enable the private sector to better leverage its unique talents and resources to make progress on these global challenges, the 2009 meeting focused on four new Action Areas. These Action Areas are points of collaboration and intervention that will enable companies to more effectively partner with the public sector and civil society to help spur positive change:

• Harnessing Innovation for Development
• Strengthening Infrastructure
• Developing Human Capital
• Financing an Equitable Future

In 2009, CGI also introduced special programming on the topic of Investing in Girls and Women. CGI members explored how new and ongoing projects that support this constituency can improve entire communities and drive economic progress. (Watch a video about how CGI members are already helping girls and women around the world.)

During the Annual Meeting, President Clinton also honored six extraordinary individuals with the Clinton Global Citizen Award: Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Ruchira Gupta, Peter Bakker, Quincy Jones, Rola Dashti, President Paul Kagame. Through their work, these citizens have proven that diverse sectors of society can work together successfully to implement and devise solutions that effect positive, lasting social change. The ceremony was hosted by Ben Stiller and featured performances by Juanes and Alicia Keys.

Clinton Global Initiative University

President Clinton launched the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) in 2007 to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. The 2009 meeting, held at the University of Texas in Austin, brought together over 1,200 students, university presidents, and youth organizations. Throughout the year, and as a prerequisite of attending the CGI U meeting, students and university officials develop their own Commitments to Action: specific plans of action that addresses a pressing challenge on their campuses, in their communities, or in different parts of the world. Commitments resulting from CGI U Meetings include installing energy-efficient light bulbs and establishing bike-share programs on American campuses, distributing lifesaving water filtrations kits in communities around the world, and designing medical backpacks for nomadic doctors in Africa. The 2010 CGI U Meeting will take place April 16-19, 2010, and be hosted by the University of Miami. Visit CGIU.org to learn more.

MyCommitment.org

MyCommitment.org builds on the success of the Clinton Global Initiative and reflects President Clinton’s dedication to promoting citizen service. Designed to “democratize” CGI’s mission of giving, this online portal helps connect everyday citizens around the world to opportunities for action in their own communities. Since its launch in 2007, more than 150,000 visitors to the site from more than 200 countries and territories have made almost 2,500 commitments reflecting nearly 430,000 volunteer hours, nearly 45,000 donated items, and over $5 million in contributions to people and organizations in need.