Switzerland - The Graduate Institute, Geneva

CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Address
Clinton Global Initiative, 1301 Avenue of the
Americas, Suite 37-20, New York, NY 10019-6022
Phone +1.212.397.2255
Fax +1.212.397.2256
Web www.clintonglobalinitiative.org
E-Mail info@clintonglobalinitiative.org
Category Dialogue
MISSION STATEMENT
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a non-partisan undertaking that is part of the William J. Clinton Foundation, is a catalyst for
action.
CGI brings together a community of global leaders (CGI “members”) to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the
world’s most pressing challenges. Ongoing working groups focus on issues that include poverty, climate change, global health, and
religious and ethnic conflicts. All CGI members—who come from diverse entities including business, non-governmental
organizations, foundations, philanthropy, and government—are required to make a specific action commitment each year to help
address one or more of these problems. Commitments can be made to any cause or organization of the member’s choosing, and can
any number of forms including financial contributions, an investment of time, or the application of special expertise. Over the past
two years more than 500 commitments have been made by CGI members, totaling nearly $10 billion and benefiting the work of
more than 1,000 organizations.
Founding year 2005.
BACKGROUND AND ACTIVITIES
For three days each September, our members participate in the CGI annual meeting, a working session designed to provide insights
into global problems and possible solutions. The annual meeting creates an ideal setting for collaboration, recognition of notable
commitments, and the formation of proactive partnerships.
Areas of Focus include:
• Energy and Climate Change
• Global Health
• Poverty Alleviation
• Mitigation Religious and Ethnic Conflict: Creating integrated communities from divided societies, addressing the
growing rift between Islam and the West, finding new and effective ways to resolve deadly conflict: these are among
humanity’s most urgent tasks. In 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative brought together religious and business leaders,
statesmen, as well as NGO and civil society activists who never before had participated in the same gathering to discuss the
role of religion in conflict, social issues and politics. It brought to light a number of at times counterintuitive realities: that
concrete, practical steps can be taken to alleviate inter-religious tensions; that bringing religious leaders to the discussion
table may defuse rather than exacerbate tensions; and that dealing with the gap between Islam and the West was a
business as much as a security imperative. This year’s session is broadening the field, including not only religious but also
ethnic conflict within and between societies, while simultaneously narrowing the substantive focus, emphasizing more
concrete, practical steps that can be taken.
New entry: March 2007.
REMARKS