Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Statement of President Bill Clinton on World AIDS Day 2009

New York, N.Y. - World AIDS Day has always been a personal and emotional day for me. Hillary and I have lost several friends and loved ones to AIDS over the years. After I was elected President, we made unprecedented investments in prevention and treatment, especially targeted at regions and populations where infection rates were the highest, including African Americans and Latinos. We established a White House AIDS Office and convened the first White House Conference on HIV and AIDS. We made research and awareness a priority. And by the time I left the White House, stigma was fading, more people were getting tested, antiretrovirals were in mass production, and nearly everyone in America had access to lifesaving medicines.

So when I started my Foundation, I focused our efforts to fight AIDS globally, where only 300,000 people were on treatment worldwide. I knew we could make the biggest impact by reducing the prices of lifesaving antiretroviral medicines that were cost-prohibitive for much of the developing world. We brought prices down and now more than 70 countries are able to access drugs at our prices, benefiting more than 2 million people – half of the 4 million people now on treatment worldwide, including two-thirds of the children on pediatric medicines, thanks to our partnership with UNITAID. We’ve partnered with countries to build national health systems and address other health challenges – such as prevention of mother-to-child transmission and malaria – that continue to make AIDS one of the greatest killers of our time.
But despite our progress, in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control has estimated that the crisis in the United States is worse than we previously thought. And the UN reports this year the infection rate worldwide is more than double the rate of those on treatment.

Today, I am hosting a panel discussion a t Columbia University. In keeping with the theme of World AIDS Day 2009 “Universal Access and Human Rights,” we'll discuss what access means today – education and awareness, prevention and testing, and medicines and health care – and what businesses, governments, and civil society can do to help.

In 2010, no one, no matter where they live or how much money they have, should lose a loved one to this terrible, but preventable and treatable disease.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Updates

CAMPARI® BROADENS GLOBAL REACH WITH REFRESHED WORLDWIDE DIGITAL MEDIA STRATEGY


MILAN (November 4, 2009) – Campari®, the legendary one-of-a-kind spirit, announced today the launch of their new worldwide digital media strategy. Beginning with a redesigned Web site, Campari will continue their existing consumer awareness platform highlighting bold, unique flavors, distinctive imagery, and Campari’s signature “Red Passion.” In addition, Campari has updated its presence on Facebook and launched an iPhone application to complete the first three elements of its global approach to digital media integration. With a focus on cocktails that span from classic favorites to contemporary creations, this new strategy will be a catalyst to continue the worldwide passion behind the Campari brand. Read more »


Wild Turkey Tradition

Only 14,000 Bottles of Master Distiller Selection Available in U.S
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LAWRENCEBURG, KY (September 30, 2009)—Wild Turkey® Bourbon, The Real Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, announces the release of Wild Turkey “Tradition,” a limited edition, 14-year-old, 101 proof bourbon. This Master Distiller Selection, only the third in this series of special selections, celebrates the history of the Wild Turkey Distillery and the traditions held dear by the people of Kentucky. Only 30,000 bottles are available worldwide and just 14,000 have been allocated to the U.S. Suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $100.

Campari Calendar – March

International Actress Featured in Calendar Shot by Emerging Italian Photographer Simone Nervi

MILAN (October 8, 2009) –Campari® launched today its 2010 Campari Calendar: “Campari Milano.” Set in Milan, Italy the calendar features the seductive actress Olga Kurylenko’s interpretations of the Campari woman in twelve different Milan landscapes, inspired in each shot by new passion and the Campari aperitif, and captured by the lens of emerging Italian photographer Simone Nervi. The twelve images will be featured in a limited edition calendar, with only 9,999 copies being printed to be distributed worldwide.


SAN FRANCISCO (September 25, 2009)—The year 2008 was a monumental one for Skyy Spirits, LLC (http://www.skyyspirits.com/), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari and the definitive marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America. And, that fact has now been recognized by IMPACT Newsletter and Market Watch Magazine, the industry’s top sources for data, trends, and analysis. This month, three of the company’s brands, SKYY Infusions®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur® and Wild Turkey® American Honey®, were named among IMPACT’s “2008 Hot Prospect Brands.” SKYY Infusions was also named Market Watch’s “2008 Best New Product” for its stellar performance in the market place.


The New Irish Mist and Ancestors

Updated Packaging Marks Marketing Shift Towards New Audience of Cocktail Consumers

TULLAMORE, IRELAND (September 7, 2009) — Irish Mist®, the original Irish whiskey liqueur, unveils a dramatically different new package designed to position the spirit as an accessible mixer and approachable beverage for every social occasion. Moving significantly away from the decanter shaped bottle of the past, the new, taller design takes its inspiration from the Irish whiskey category itself. Starting this month, consumers will find the new packaging in bars and stores alongside the liqueur’s namesake base spirit. A refreshed logo maintains the brand’s Celtic roots while being easier to spot on the back bar and on store shelves. Read more »

Thursday, October 1, 2009

President Clinton and President Preval Sign Agreement to Expand HIV/AIDS Services and Strengthen Health Systems in Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti - President Bill Clinton signed a Memorandum of Understanding today with President Rene Preval and the government of Haiti. The agreement invites the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) to provide on the ground programmatic and technical support to the Government of Haiti, to help expand access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment services and strengthen the systems required to deliver primary health care services.

“My Foundation’s global AIDS work began in the Bahamas, the setting for one of the great success stories in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” President Clinton said. “I am confident that by using the same approach that is currently helping 2 million people access lifesaving treatment around the world, we can achieve the same success in Haiti. I look forward to working alongside the government of Haiti to strengthen health systems and save more lives.”

"We are very pleased that President Clinton is working with us to help strengthen health services for HIV/AIDS patients in Haiti," said President Rene Preval. "We look forward to working with the Clinton Foundation to respond to the needs of the Haitian people."

Haiti currently has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region, at 2.2 percent, and only half of those in need of care and treatment are receiving it. Furthermore, less than half of pregnant women deliver in a health facility, meaning that access remains low to services that can prevent mother-to-child transmission, while maternal mortality remains high.

In close collaboration with the government, CHAI will establish a country office in Haiti with the goal of helping to increase access to essential health services. CHAI will support the government in strategic planning and resource optimization, and will focus on vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children. The program builds on CHAI’s continuing commitment to the region. CHAI currently works in four other Caribbean countries, recently supporting the Dominican Republic to put more than 200 children on treatment and nearly doubling the coverage of testing for infants. Similarly, in the Bahamas CHAI has supported the Ministry of Health to initiate rapid testing for the first time, while also helping the government to reduce its ARV costs by nearly $1 million.

Globally, The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative focuses its efforts in two main areas: access programs aimed at lowering the prices of drugs and diagnostic tests for HIV/AIDS and other illnesses; and country programs focused on assisting governments to develop the plans, policies, and systems required for high-quality, national HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs. More than 2 million people are now benefitting from medicines purchased under CHAI agreements, and Haiti has had access to affordable drugs and diagnostics through CHAI’s negotiated prices since 2003. This agreement marks the first time a country program has been established there. Haiti will join over 20 other countries that have partnered with CHAI to build better-functioning health systems.

President Clinton began working as the United Nations Special Envoy for Haiti in June 2009.
About the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

Since 2002, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI), a project of the William J. Clinton Foundation, has assisted countries in implementing large-scale, integrated care, treatment, and prevention programs. CHAI works side-by-side with more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean to build systems that will deliver HIV/AIDS treatment and health care by providing governments with technical assistance, leveraging human and financial resources, and facilitating the sharing of best practices across nationwide projects. CHAI also brokers agreements to lower prices of essential medicines and diagnostics, which are now accessible to more than 70 countries, representing more than 90 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in the developing world. Today, 2 million people are receiving lifesaving treatments purchased under CHAI negotiated agreements. Learn more at www.clintonfoundation.org.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

President Clinton Announces 2010 Meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U)


Meeting to be held at the University of Miami, April 16-18, 2010?President Clinton will bring together over 1,200 students, nearly 100 college and university presidents, NGOs, national youth organizations, athletes, and celebrity-activists

New York – As the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative came to a close, President Clinton looked ahead to announce the third meeting of Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) to be held at the University of Miami from April 16-18, 2010. Students can apply online at www.cgiu.org."For the third year in a row, I look forward to building on the success of the Clinton Global Initiative's Annual Meeting by holding a similar meeting for college students from around the world next spring," President Clinton said. "To date, nearly 2,000 student commitments have been made, which are impacting hundreds of campuses and communities. I am excited to see what innovative solutions to the world's most pressing problems students will bring to CGI U in 2010."The 2010 CGI U Meeting will convene 1,200 college students, 100 university presidents, as well as leading not-for-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and youth leaders. Over the three-day meeting, attendees will participate in forums and working sessions to formulate new ways to make a difference. On the final day, CGI U Meeting attendees, in collaboration with the University of Miami, will participate in a wide range of community service activities.CGI U builds on the successful model of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) by engaging the future generation of global changemakers. The mission of CGI U calls upon college students, university presidents, and leaders of the nonprofit community to address global challenges in the areas of education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights, poverty alleviation, and public health.All CGI U Meeting attendees make a Commitment to Action – a comprehensive, formal plan of action to address a specific problem on their campus, in their community, or abroad. While a commitment is a requirement for participation at the meeting, just like at the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, any college student or university can make a commitment throughout the year at http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1808820&l=73976&ctl=26DCC22:058C06ED4ED2D11A71390D98BFD4540618086CB2B84F59D9&. Since the inception of CGI U, nearly 2,000 commitments have been made by students and universities worldwide.The early deadline for applicants is November 20, 2009, and the final application deadline is February 1, 2010. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, and students are encouraged to apply early. Applying and attending the meeting are free for accepted students.What: Third Clinton Global Initiative University MeetingWho: President Bill ClintonDonna Shalala, President of University of Miami,1,200 college students, college and university presidents, and leaders from government, academia, and non-governmental organizations, including university administrators, social entrepreneurs, youth leaders, and prominent philanthropistsWhere: The University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida 33124When: April 16-18, 2010About the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. The Fifth Annual Meeting was held September 22-25, 2009 in New York City. To learn more, visit http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1808820&l=73976&ctl=26DCC23:058C06ED4ED2D11A71390D98BFD4540618086CB2B84F59D9&.

2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award Honorees Announced by President Clinton


Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Peter Bakker, Dr. Rola Dashti, Ruchira Gupta, and Quincy Jones honored

Ceremony Hosted by Ben Stiller, featuring Gen. Wesley Clark, Lisa Ling, Demi Moore, and Usher Raymond, along with performances by Alicia Keys and Juanes

New York –In a special ceremony, President Clinton tonight presented the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Awards, which recognize remarkable individuals for their leadership in improving the lives of people around the globe. The ceremony took place during the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). CGI's Annual Meeting convenes leaders from across sectors of society, giving them a forum to develop and then implement workable solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges."Our honorees tonight see hope where others see despair," President Clinton said. "They come from different countries and play different roles in society. But all six have fostered positive partnerships and relationships and used them to change the world. We owe them for their commitments, which embody the spirit of CGI."Award winners were nominated by a collection of global leaders and selected for their visionary leadership, demonstrated impact, and sustainable and scalable work in solving pressing global challenges. Honorees were chosen from government, civil society, the private sector, and the philanthropic community.Actor Ben Stiller was the master of the ceremonies, which included musical performances by Alicia Keys, co-founder of Keep A Child Alive, and Juanes, founder of the Mi Sangre Foundation. Other presenters included General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; Lisa Ling, Oprah correspondent and Nightline contributor; Usher Raymond IV, founder and chairman of Usher's New Look; and actress Demi Moore, co-founder of the Demi and Ashton Foundation.

For photos of the ceremony, please email photos@clintonglobalinitiative.org. The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative continues until Friday. For more information or to watch the live webcast, please visit http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/.

Introducing the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award honorees:

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of RwandaLeadership in Public Service
?His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has led his nation through an unparalleled transformation. A brilliant military commander, President Kagame joined Rwanda's transitional government after leading the force which ended the 1994 genocide. He was elected President in 2000, and re-elected in 2003. President Kagame's national leadership has proven to be as bold as his military campaigns: creating visionary policies, innovative national programs and strong international partnerships to support the development of the new Rwanda. President Kagame has worked to develop infrastructure, boost tourism, increase access to energy and health care in rural areas, expand exports, and develop ties to the international business community. After the 1994 civil war, he helped usher in a decade of 7.6-percent annual economic growth, and last year, in the midst of global decline, Rwanda's economy grew 11.2 percent. From crisis, President Kagame has forged a strong, unified and growing nation with the potential to become a model for the rest of Africa and the world.

Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Chairperson, Save Somali Women and Children?Leadership in Civil Society?


Asha Hagi Elmi Amin is co-founder and chair of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) and a member of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. Amin has been deeply involved in the struggle for peace and reconciliation in her war-ravaged country and has worked tirelessly to carve out a role for women in economic and public life. Somali women were sidelined from any peace talks until the "Sixth Clan" was formed by Amin and her peers in 2000. Through the historic Sixth Clan, these daring women convinced the five male-dominated clans to accept a new role for women around the negotiating table. This became the first time that women were represented in a peace process in Somalia, and Amin has participated in the talks ever since. Amin was a 2005 Women and Public Policy Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a 2008 winner of the Right Livelihood Award.

Peter Bakker, Chief Executive Officer, TNTLeadership in the Corporate Sector
?As CEO of TNT, Peter Bakker has set a new standard for corporate responsibility. Shortly after Bakker became CEO in 2001, TNT launched a partnership with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The global transportation and distribution company committed to sharing resources and logistical know-how in emergencies, particularly natural disasters. Since then, TNT has helped the WFP deliver aid in more than 30 emergency situations. In response to the 2005 Southeast Asia tsunami, TNT's quick supply of trucks, aircrafts and humanitarian supplies – a total of €2.3 million in in-kind support – was a key factor in the WFP's ability to give food to 750,000 people in less than three weeks. In 2005, TNT launched its Driving Clean initiative, which is designed to reduce its vehicular emissions significantly over time. And in 2007, under Bakker's leadership, TNT decided to improve transparency regarding its carbon footprint, reduce carbon emissions, and stimulate its 159,000 employees to do the same in their private lives. Bakker says these initiatives are "the start of our quest to become the first zero emissions express and mail company in the world."

Dr. Rola Dashti, Member of Parliament, State of Kuwait?Leadership in Public Service
?A gender-equality activist and champion of democratic reform, Dr. Rola Dashti exemplifies the CGI mission of turning ideas into action. In 2005, she fought for – and achieved – a decree that would permit Kuwaiti women to vote for and run in parliamentary elections for the first time. She was the first woman to file her papers at the election department when the registration opened, and she herself was a candidate in the 2006 parliamentary election. In the 2009 parliamentary elections, Dr. Dashti and three other women won seats to become the first women to enter the Kuwaiti parliament, setting the stage to deepen the role of women in politics and decision making. Dr. Dashti has also broken down barriers throughout her career as an economist. She is currently chairperson of the Kuwait Economics Society, where she is advocating for increased economic transparency and working to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs. Dr. Dashti's victories for Kuwaiti women and for Kuwaiti democracy have proven that deliberate persistence and tenacity can lead to historic change.

Ruchira Gupta, President, Apne Aap Women Worldwide?Leadership in Civil Society
?Ruchira Gupta is a journalist, activist, and policymaker who has worked relentlessly for the past 24 years to end human trafficking. She is best known for her work with Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a community-based initiative started by women in prostitution in the Khetwadi/Kamatipura red light area of Mumbai in 1998. Gupta founded the organization along with 22 women who were featured in her sex-trafficking documentary, "The Selling of Innocents," which won an Emmy Award in 1997. Apne Aap ("self-help" in Hindi) combats trafficking by building up the capacity of girls and women through small "self-help" social and economic cooperatives. Through these cooperatives, the organization has provided access to education, income-generation training and legal protection. Apne Aap now protects women and girls through 67 such cooperatives and has a goal to reach 200 cooperatives (3,000 girls and women) in one year's time. In addition to her work with Apne Aap, Gupta has provided policy support to the Government of India, the United Nations and USAID. Through commitment and perseverance, Gupta has shown that it is possible to bring hope and change even in some of the world's most marginalized communities.

Quincy Jones, Founder, Quincy Jones FoundationLeadership in Philanthropy?
?Quincy Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment world. His eclectic compilation of humanitarian projects rivals his plethora of musical accomplishments. Jones has been a tireless advocate of using the arts to generate social change. In 1985, with the single "We Are The World," he pioneered the model of using celebrity to raise money and awareness about a cause. The song remains one of the best-selling singles of all-time, and raised more than $63 Million for Ethiopian famine relief. In 2004, Jones helped launch the We Are the Future initiative, a project that has raised money for children in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas in Africa and the Middle East. In 2007, he joined forces with the Harvard School of Public Health to advance the health and well-being of children worldwide through Project Q, which challenges leaders and citizens of the world to provide essential resources to enable young people to achieve their full potential. In a career spanning more than six decades, in both his music and his philanthropy, Jones has shown time and again that he is truly a citizen of the world.About the Clinton Global Citizen AwardsThe Clinton Global Citizen Awards began in 2007. Past winners include: Andre Agassi, founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation; Fazle Hassan Abed, founder of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee; Cisco CEO John Chambers; and Vicky Colbert, founder of the Escuela Nueva Foundation; Jennifer and Peter Buffett, co-chairs of the NoVo Foundation; Xiaoyi (Sheri) Liao, founder of the Global Village of Beijing; Julio Frenk, dean of the Harvard School of Public Health; and Nevill Isdell, then-chairman of the Coca-Cola Company.Learn more at www.clintonglobalinitiative.orgAbout the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.

Brad Pitt Gives Progress Report on 2007 "Make It Right" Commitment


New York – The third day of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) focused on ways CGI members could make smart investments in infrastructure and human capital."Whether it's providing housing to the homeless, education to the poor, or green technology to fix our climate crisis, the solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time all requires investments in infrastructure and human capital," President Clinton said. "Governments and companies need to make smart investments in public works and the labor force to spread the benefits of economic growth to millions more people around the world."A special press conference, featuring a panel including U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda D. Solis, focused on member commitments working to end human trafficking and slavery. Participants credited CGI with helping them forge new, multidimensional partnerships and stakeholder networks that enable them to more aggressively approach the problems of slavery and human trafficking, particularly in relation to supply chain issues – investigating how a product was made to ensure that forced labor was not used at any stage of production.Several commitments were announced today that aim to end human trafficking. A full list of commitments are listed below.
The Jean Cadet Restavek Foundation and its partners will develop a community prevention program to model, train, and equip community members to protect restavek – children who are forced into domestic service – in Petite Place Cazeau, Haiti. From there, the Restavek Foundation will advance into other rural and urban communities in Haiti with the hope of one day eradicating the system of enslaving Haiti's most vulnerable children.
Free the Slaves committed to freeing at least 700 people from seven Indian villages from slavery, enabling them to build new lives of sustainable freedom. Freed villages are linked together to become a strong force for the eradication of slavery and trafficking in neighboring communities, producing a wide range of social and economic benefits. See below for a complete list of commitments announced today.
The day culminated with a special session highlighting the progress of Pitt's 2007 CGI Commitment to build sustainable housing for in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. In 2007, Cherokee Investment Partners, a CGI member, committed to provide in-kind support for Make It Right, helping to oversee operations, providing accounting and consulting services, and aiding with communications and public relations.The Fifth Annual Meeting of CGI will continue until Friday. To learn more, or to watch the meeting webcast live, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.Commitments Announced on Thursday, September 24, 2009
Usher's New Look (UNL) commits to establish Powered by Service, a global initiative to engage hundreds of thousands of young people in service opportunities around the world. Through toolkits, mini-grants, and strategic partnerships, UNL will support young people as they use their unique artistic and entrepreneurial talents to create change in their communities.
EarthEcho International, with its partners, commits to engage 8,000 students across the country in curriculum-driven environmental service projects to restore and protect Earth's water systems. Students will be supported by an online knowledge center and their collective impacts will be measured using revolutionary technologies.
Teck Resources Limited, the International Zinc Association, the Micronutrient Initiative, and UNICEF will launch the Zinc and Nutrition Initiative, which aims to improve global health by ensuring that a key micronutrient, zinc, is universally available. This initiative, benefiting more than 6.3 million people, will distribute dietary supplementations and zinc-fortified fertilizers to improve crop output, nutritional quality, and food security.
Cisco, Intel, Microsoft, Kenya's Ministry of Education, and USAID commit to deploy education technology and capacity building in 60 schools across Kenya. This project will also establish a new School Technology Innovation Center at the Kenya Institute of Education, where curriculum developers, teachers, and students will be able to learn using educational technology.
PlanetRead and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad commit to transitioning 150 million people in India from a state of weak reading skills to functional and fluent reading ability. They will do this through scaling up their proven and cost-effective innovation of Same Language Subtitling (SLS) on 50 weekly TV programs in India.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commits to roll out the Community Technology Access (CTA) program in 19 new locations in nine countries, directly benefiting an estimated 20,000 refugees and their families. The CTAs will offer a range of services including vocational training, computer skills training, educational materials, language skills, as well as revenue-generating ancillary services.
The Institute for Sustainable Communities and its partners commit to help Chinese industries transition to a low-carbon economy by building a professional field of environment, health and safety (EHS) management that will boost EHS compliance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This will be accomplished by advising authorities on developing a new EHS certification protocol, and establishing EHS training academies.?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Playworks will roll out the "Return on Recess" program to 27 new cities over three years. The program uses structured recess time to improve a school's overall performance. It is expected that Playworks will deliver a "Return on Recess" to participant schools of over 100,000 hours of reclaimed teaching time each year.
AREVA will launch the construction of the AREVA Thorium Extraction Facility. Through the treatment of scrap materials from its own processing, AREVA will have the capacity to produce large amounts of medical grade Lead 212 suitable for cancer treatment through Alpha-Radio-immuno-therapy. This treatment targets cancers including aggressive forms that kill at least one million people in the world each year.
South Energyx commits to combating the devastating effects of climate change by reclaiming nine square kilometers of land for a new city, Eko Atlantic. Eko Atlantic will be an environmentally conscious city, built with nature, to restore an original coastline and protect Victoria Island, Nigeria from the severe risk of ocean surge and flooding.
Whole Child will work with orphanages and child care settings in Nicaragua and El Salvador to improve the quality of care for 18,000 children, while also advocating for national childcare policy. Whole Child's sustainable model includes a threefold approach: culturally-sensitive caregiver education and training, organizational change, and structural modification.
Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) and its partners commit to train 500 lawyers to provide pro bono representation to at least 2,100 unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children by the end of 2011. KIND will also launch a pilot project in Guatemala to ensure the safe and sustainable reintegration of unaccompanied children who are deported from the United States.?
Watershed Organization Trust commits to take its community-based model of watershed rehabilitation to two African countries, providing local residents with culturally relevant training in climate change adaptation strategies. This model will allow communities to regenerate the natural resource base of individual local watersheds, and promote water saving agriculture practices and livestock development.
SOUL Foundation commits to rehabilitate approximately 42 miles of the polluted Jukskei River in South Africa. Its sustainable model revolutionizes the concept of waterway management, putting it in the hands of small entrepreneurs who will transform their community's natural resource into clean water. Subsequently, SOUL will train entrepreneurs on how to maintain the river and create jobs through community enterprises.
The Carbon Disclosure Project and its partners will build a comprehensive, global corporate emissions database that will collect standardized information from all sectors. This system will bridge the gap between multi-national corporations and governments, providing an accurate measurement of the global corporate carbon footprint to various stakeholders, and enabling companies to take actionable steps to reduce future emissions.
ESRI and NAVTEQ, in partnership with the City of San Francisco, commit to implement a truly innovative pilot program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from specific municipal vehicle fleets, and mobile work force vehicles in the city and county of San Francisco. By using fleet route optimization software, city workers will locate routes that minimize fuel consumption.
Majora Carter Group commits to create an urban agricultural cooperative in inner-city Detroit to sell locally-grown produce and develop an investment strategy to take the pilot to scale. The cooperative will encourage investment in sustainable approaches by local developers, community members, and the city of Detroit, while also empowering and including traditionally disenfranchised citizens.
The FIA Foundation will support, over the next decade, the International Road Assessment Program (iRAP) which partners with governments and NGOs in developing countries to promote "vaccines for roads." A commitment of $10 million from FIA will ensure that iRAP can expand its services, make technical recommendations to governments, and provide cost/benefit analyses for fixing road infrastructure design flaws.
Deutsche Bank and the Community Preservation Corporation will raise capital to retrofit residential properties in New York City. In this pilot phase, the program will retrofit approximately 2,000 low- and moderate-income housing units. This commitment will help lower energy and water use for property owners; while reducing carbon emissions, providing higher-quality affordable housing, and creating jobs in New York's green economy.
The Somaly Mam Foundation will support business enterprises that provide a means of livelihood for the sexually trafficked and that aid in reintegrating survivors into their home societies. The Foundation will identify promising business partnerships that pair survivors of trafficking with non-trafficked individuals, assist in developing business plans, and provide microfinancing for viable and sustainable initiatives.
Free the Slaves commits to freeing at least 700 people from seven Indian villages from slavery, enabling them to build new lives of sustainable freedom. Freed villages are linked together to become a strong force for the eradication of slavery and trafficking in neighboring communities, producing a wide range of social and economic benefits.
Verité and ASSET commit to identify good practices to prevent and address slavery in supply chains, to pilot these good practices with three companies, and to promote public learning from these pilots. This commitment will benefit vulnerable workers including those in slavery, those in forced labor, and victims of trafficking and their communities.
Apne Aap Women Worldwide will expand its self-help model over the next five years to prevent and protect 3,000 women and girls from sex trafficking in India. This model organizes women and girls in small community-based economic and social cooperatives to access legal protection, livelihood options, and educational learning.
The Body Shop and ECPAT International have committed to announce "Progress Cards" to evaluate state actions and policies regarding sex trafficking. These Progress Cards will analyze how at least 40 individual states are meeting their obligations to stop sex trafficking of children and young people using globally-agreed goals and indicators.
The Jean Cadet Restavek Foundation and its partners will develop a community prevention program to model, train, and equip community members to protect restavek – children who are forced into domestic service – in Petite Place Cazeau, Haiti. From there, the Restavek Foundation will advance into other rural and urban communities in Haiti with the hope of one day eradicating the system of enslaving Haiti's most vulnerable children.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime will launch a training program to prevent trafficking in girls and rehabilitate those already trafficked. Initially, the project will focus on communities in Uganda and Delhi, India, where participants will be trained in tailoring and design and will be given assistance to set up their own micro-businesses.
Polaris Project will develop a holistic campaign to reduce profitability and incidence of human trafficking for victims of sexual exploitation in the U.S. and Japan, and create a strategic model for implementation that can be used worldwide.
Fonkoze and its partners commit to introduce a new, holistic program to identify some of the key factors that prevent poor households in Haiti's Central Plateau from escaping poverty, and offer tailored financial solutions to empower them. It will also provide other necessary services such as health care, nutrition education, and agricultural training, as well as access to education.
Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group commits to create 25 infrastructure development enterprises for underserved communities in Latin America over the next five years. These enterprises will bring water, sanitation, energy, and other services to a combined population of over 200,000 people. Furthermore they will generate economic activity while providing basic services to struggling communities.
The Soul of Haiti Foundation commits to empower selected Haitian communities to create their own success through relationships with Ireland's leading and most successful entrepreneurs. Soul of Haiti will commit dedicated resources to execute several prioritized projects over the next two years through entrepreneurial drive and professional business skills to enrich the lives of underserved and at-risk Haitians.
Habitat for Humanity International commits to empower Haitians to mitigate the impact of climate change and increased hurricanes by providing or repairing shelter for 1,500 families in extreme poverty. This will improve employment opportunities for 600 people or small enterprises in the low-income housing construction sector, introducing low-cost construction materials, and training 1,000 families in disaster prevention and mitigation.
The Green Family Foundation and its partners will raise the cultural capacity and morale in Haiti through the creative use of key cultural documentation in the community, schools, and media. This will be accomplished through the repatriation of recordings made by Alan Lomax that are a testament to the power of Haitians to create and hold fast against many odds.
Andrew Weiss, International Action, and their partners commit to provide clean, safe water to 360,000 Haitians over the next year, by making and installing water tanks and chlorinators in Port-au-Prince neighborhoods. As the program progresses in future years, typhoid, hepatitis, cholera, and chronic diarrhea will no longer be a constant threat to children in these areas.
SunNight Solar Enterprises commits to provide 500,000 portable, solar powered lights to bring the economic and quality of life benefits of light to at least 2.5 million Haitians on an immediate and sustainable basis. Hundreds of NGOs and other charitable and humanitarian organizations will be mobilized to become distribution partners in this project.
The Micronutrient Initiative (MI) commits to improve the nutritional status of women and children in Haiti by funding a coordinator position to join the Government of Haiti's Food and Nutrition Directorate, provide in-kind donations, and lend MI staff time. This innovative funding arrangement will assist local government to effectively implement practical solutions to combat life-threatening and debilitating micronutrient deficiencies.
James Lee Witt Associates commits to provide disaster relief training in several communities in Haiti through Community Emergency Response Team training for women. Through this commitment, James Lee Witt Associates will improve the overall ability of these communities to survive and manage the consequences of natural disasters.
Her Excellency Queen Rania of Jordan will launch the 1GOAL: Education for All Campaign bringing together humanitarian, government, private sector, and NGO leaders in conjunction with the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The campaign aims to sign up 30 million supporters, creating the political will to ensure 75 million children not in school have access to basic education.
The Ubuntu Education Fund commits to launch a one-on-one holistic mentoring program targeting 200 Ubuntu scholars in South Africa. Its comprehensive model supports these at-risk students at school and at home, to empower them to reach their full potential and to ensure their college readiness and success.
CEDAC commits to help eight municipalities in Brazil bolster the public education system to ensure that 26,000 students acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills. To accomplish these goals, CEDAC will train educators, develop cutting-edge classroom curriculum, and advocate for better learning conditions.
Amenons Nos Filles a l'Ecole - Bringing Our Girls to School (ANFE) will ensure that 200 girls enroll and graduate from primary and secondary school in Nouakchott, Mauritania, where many girls drop out after one or two years. To sustain the students' success it will provide business and microfinance skills to their mothers, thus empowering whole families.
FORGE will launch its People-Powered Development program in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to provide libraries, IT labs, and training opportunities to former refugees returning to the DRC. Through this scalable, low-cost programming model, FORGE will empower local leaders to effect grassroots change and enact sustainable solutions.
The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) will identify and support young entrepreneurs from low-income communities across the United States interested in creating environmentally friendly "green" businesses. NFTE will create a monetary award for the best "green" business plan at 12 regional and national competitions. Winners will receive mentorship from top business leaders to transform their commercial plans into viable enterprises.
MGR Foundation commits to create long-term partnerships – through the GREEN Community Schools Model – between high-need public schools and their surrounding communities, transforming them into hubs of environmental activity and social justice. Starting with pilot projects in Chicago and Detroit, MGR will create diverse governing bodies to drive the process of greening schools and decreasing their environmental footprint and raising healthier students.
The Arthur Guinness Fund, working with Youth Business America, will lend seed capital to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 21 to 35 without access to funds so they can start new businesses. The program will also provide mentoring services in marketing and innovation, and educate business developers about the importance of establishing socially responsible practices for their new ventures.?
Vital Voices and its partners commit to launch an initiative bringing new solutions to enduring and emerging challenges facing women around the world. The initiative aims to influence policy, raise awareness, strengthen the capacity of women leaders on the frontlines of change, attract new stakeholders to support gender quality, and promote international women's leadership as a vehicle for global progress.
Karama will convene the first regional summit of all 22 members of the Arab League to assess the challenges and successes of achieving human rights for Arab women. Karama will then unify the voices of 150 Arab women's groups to advocate for national and global policy changes.
The U.N. Trust Fund to End Violence against Women commits to launch a global fundraising drive with the goal of raising $100 million annually by 2015 for grant-making to grassroots organizations working to end violence against women and girls. The target is tied to the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
NoVo Foundation will provide grants to support three projects by the International Rescue Committee, V-Day, and Women for Women International, which seek to end violence against girls and women in the Dominican Republic of the Congo. This commitment addresses the need for economic empowerment and education and will impact the lives of 46,345 women and girls.
Pick n Pay Retailers will sponsor an expedition by environmentalist and explorer Lewis Gordon Pugh to swim in a once-frozen lake on Mt. Everest, raising international awareness of the overwhelmingly negative impact of climate change on the environment. Leveraging this historic swim, Pick n Pay's School Club will reach one million South African children with a new environmentally-focused curriculum.
The EDP Foundation and its partners will secure the energy needs of the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya to reduce poverty and encourage sustainable development. They will develop a set of standardized, environmentally-sustainable, and renewable energy solutions such as solar and wind systems serving 50,000 refugees to ensure the camp can meet its energy needs and preserve local natural resources.
The UPS Foundation and partners will develop innovative models that will enhance the capacity of organizations and governments worldwide to respond more rapidly and effectively to national disasters. These new models will leverage business expertise and engage skill-based volunteers; encourage in-kind support and strategic cross-sector partnerships; and focus on supply chain management and logistics, including transportation, warehousing, and distribution systems.
The Jack D. Hidary Foundation and partners will dramatically accelerate the energy retrofit of the U.S. built environment by making available innovative low cost financing for commercial and residential projects. This will be achieved through accelerated adoption of municipal Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, mayoral, state, and federal support of PACE finance, and the development of PACE finance best practices.
John Berdes and ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia commit to establish the Portland Retrofit Collaborative, which will promote greater investment in efficient building projects, in particular residential and small business retrofits focused on energy issues such as weather-proofing, space heating, and hot water heaters. This commitment will make homes and businesses more energy efficient while creatinggreen collar jobs.
His Excellency José María Figueres Olsen and Aimee Christensen, with their partners, will launch the Global Observatory, a new organization dedicated to making the climate change issue relevant to the public. A team of leading experts will evaluate the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference negotiations and translate what the implications are for communities and the world at large.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Close Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative


In 2009, members made 284 Commitments valued at $9.4 billion dollars1,700 commitments have been made since 2005 valued at more than $57 billion

New York – President Bill Clinton was joined today by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to close the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). In his remarks, President Clinton announced that by the end of the meeting, which has been underway since Tuesday, CGI members in 2009 have made 284 new commitments valued at more than $9.4 billion dollars. In total, these commitments are projected to improve more than 200 million lives. Since 2005, members of the Clinton Global Initiative have made nearly 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion dollars."I think we can say with some certainty that this model actually does work," President Clinton said. "People don't have to have the same politics, the same religion, or speak the same language to work together and to have an impact. We all have things to learn from each other. What we need is a shared mechanism to achieve common goals."The impact of 2009 commitments, once fully implemented, is expected to yield the following results:

79 million people will generate sustainable income through self-employment or new job opportunities.
$5.4 billion will be invested in or loaned to small- and medium-sized enterprises
25.4 million people will have improved access to capital and financial services.
3.5 million small farmers will gain access to inputs, supports, and markets.
7 million women and girls will be reached through empowerment initiatives.
30 million children will gain access to education.
2 million girls will be reached through school enrollment efforts.
30 million metric tons of CO2 emissions will be cut
7 million people will be reached with clean energy.
1.5 million people will be engaged in efforts to promote climate change solutions.
83 million people will have increased access to health services.
17 million people will have increased access to maternal-child health and survival programs.
4.7 million children will benefit from malnutrition interventions.
40 million people will receive treatment for neglected tropical diseases.
$50 million will be raised to fund research and development of new vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.
18 million people will have increased access to safe drinking water. While many commitments are made in advance of the Annual Meeting, some are inspired onsite. For example:
Member Mouhsine Serrrar from Prakti Design Labs came in to the Annual Meeting to find partners for his commitment to distribute fuel efficient cookstoves in India. This week, he has not only developed a new commitment around developing fuel efficient cookstoves in Haiti, a country that desperately needs new options for stopping deforestation, but he has also found a wide range of implementing and funding partners – including E+Co, AIDG, the Sierra Club, among others – to make it possible.

Another member, inspired by remarks by Dr. Wangari Mathaai, has anonymously committed to help Mathaai's organization and to fund cataract surgeries for more than 300 individuals.
While attending the action network on human trafficking and slavery, Jim Greenbaum realized that he could use his contacts and resources to make a difference. He committed to put the issue of ending child and slave labor on the map of the Young Presidents Organization, and to work to get all YPO member companies to ensure that they and their supply chains are not utilizing child or slave labor.

Prior to the closing session, a morning plenary session focused on how financial resources could be deployed for the global good. The session, "Moving from Crisis to Opportunity – Financing an Equitable Future," featured Fazle Abed, founder and chairman of BRAC, Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, James Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase & Co., and Peter Sands, CEO of Standard Chartered PLC. It was moderated by CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo. Participants discussed how to avoid another financial crisis, and how to extend financial products such as microfinance and insurance to the world's poor. ?
During the session, several new commitments were announced. Among them:
Moody's, in partnership with Kiva, is poised to dramatically increase the number of entrepreneurs benefiting from microloans. Using Moody's financial support and expertise in risk analysis, and pro-bono credit ratings of Kiva's 20 largest microfinance institution partners, Kiva will build on-the-ground teams to expand its capacity to connect with entrepreneurs, assess their creditworthiness, and monitor progress toward loan repayment.
PRODEL commits to develop a savings vehicle targeted at the very poor, which will help raise funds in order to scale up PRODEL's microfinance lending, both in Nicaragua and throughout Central America. PRODEL's model of social and financial inclusion offers microloans to the poor for the improvement of housing, basic services, and infrastructure.

A complete list of commitments made today is included below.Commitments Announced Friday, September 24, 2009:
The World Food Programme (WFP) commits to bring together key global, regional, and local private sector entities to undertake a five year project to radically reduce malnutrition in a minimum of two countries in Asia. WFP will undertake an analysis of the gaps and implement country specific solutions including new product development, increased fortified foods, and improved processing technology and training.
The Rockefeller Foundation commits to financially supporting the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). GIIN is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building the infrastructure, activities, education, and research that will enable more effective impact investing around the world.
The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) will build a community of leading impact investors as the founding membership of the GIIN Investors' Council. This commitment aims to build the infrastructure, activities, education, and research that will enable more effective impact investing around the world, ultimately increasing the volume and effectiveness of capital deployed to solve previously intractable social and environmental problems.
The Global Impact Investing Network and its partners will launch the Impact Reporting and Investment Standards, an initiative to measure and report on the performance of impact investments. This project will bring transparency and credibility to this industry, encouraging investment in effective solutions to pressing social and environmental challenges.
The Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth, Ashoka, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation commit to support 32 Young Champions who will be selected based on their novel approaches to reducing maternal death and disability. The Young Champions will be linked to leading experts on the ground and will acquire experience propelling them to become leaders in their fields.
One HEART and its partners commit to launching an innovative program that will provide supplies and skills training for maternal and neonatal health in remote and resource-poor communities in Nepal and Mexico. This program aims to reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality in indigenous and underserved populations that experience high rates of home deliveries and related mortalities.
The Lwala Community Alliance commits to increase health infrastructure and community maternal health education to save lives of infants and mothers in the catchment area of Lwala and its surrounding villages in Kenya. This commitment will provide public health outreach and clinic-based safe motherhood services before, during, and after delivery by women of reproductive age.
The Pakistan National Forum on Women's Health commits to launch a program to train 30 nursing and midwifery tutors from across Pakistan in Karachi who will then return to their provinces, teaching at local nursing midwifery schools. The project's goal is to train a workforce of nurses who will tackle the issue of needless maternal deaths in the country.
Jhpiego commits to introduce breakthrough methods to combat eclampsia, the second leading cause of maternal mortality, through simple, high-impact, and cost effective strategies and tools. Through a three-tiered approach consisting of prevention, detection, and treatment, this commitment will prevent the needless death of mothers and its devastating effect on families in 11 Asian and African countries.
American India Foundation (AIF) commits to improving maternal and newborn survival in Seraikela Kharsawan, one of India's poorest districts. AIF support will allow for increased institutional delivery or skilled birth attendance in public and private health facilities, and improved community-based newborn care. The project will directly benefit 17,500 women and 6,400 children under the age of two.
Moody's in partnership with Kiva is poised to dramatically increase the number of entrepreneurs benefiting from microloans. Using Moody's financial support and expertise in risk analysis, and pro-bono credit ratings of Kiva's 20 largest microfinance institution partners, Kiva will build on-the-ground teams to expand its capacity to connect with entrepreneurs, assess their creditworthiness, and monitor progress toward loan repayment.
Impact Capital Partners commits to catalyze the affordable housing sector in India through investments in construction and microfinance that will lead to the building of 50,000 affordable, sustainable homes in India at less than $20,000 a home. This project will create access to finance through micro-mortgages for the working poor of India currently residing in slums.
UN-HABITAT commits to financially support the Affordable Mortgage and Loan Corporation in its efforts to reduce the serious housing shortage in the Palestinian Territories. This project will lead to the construction of 30,000 affordable housing units in the West Bank for low to middle income Palestinians who currently cannot afford housing and have no access to formal mortgage finance.
PRODEL commits to develop a savings vehicle targeted at the very poor, which will help raise funds in order to scale up PRODEL's microfinance lending, both in Nicaragua and throughout Central America. PRODEL's model of social and financial inclusion offers microloans to the poor for the improvement of housing, basic services, and infrastructure.
Ashoka Arab World, through Housing For All (HFA), commits to revolutionize the Egyptian housing industry and transform the affordable housing market for families living in unsafe and illegal slum conditions. HFA will leverage the strengths of the private sector, Citizen Sector Organizations, universities, and low-income populations, using market-based strategies to provide affordable and environmentally sustainable housing for 18,000 families.
Mercy Corps and its partners will pilot a permanent, sustainable system that will promote local community stewardship of natural resources in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through financial incentives, this model will motivate communities living in threatened habitats to implement environmentally sustainable household activities that include using fuel-efficient stoves, planting renewable woodlots, and producing reduced emission briquettes.
DonorsChoose.org commits to encourage 5,000 citizen philanthropists and institutional stakeholders, through its online platform, to provide educational resources and supplies to create a more robust academic experience for 150,000 students in nearly 6,000 classrooms, in underserved, rural schools in the U.S.
Qifang will launch a scalable model to help young girls from Shaanxi, China attain their college dreams and become community leaders. Qifang will leverage its social lending and web platform to finance the college education of qualified female students. Participants will receive life-long mentorship. Those who return to their communities two years after graduation will also benefit from debt relief.
The Center for Financial Services Innovation commits to form a for-profit, market-rate venture capital firm, Core Innovation Capital, which will invest in the most progressive, highly-scalable financial technology companies. This commitment will create excellent, market-rate financial returns, and create billions of dollars in cost savings and asset building opportunities for millions of underbanked households in the U.S.
Naya Jeevan commits to provide access to an affordable, high-quality micro-insurance program for 100,000 low-income families in Pakistan and India. As part of a comprehensive approach, this also includes providing primary and preventative healthcare education, as well as workshops on sanitation and relevant skill development training, to low-income families.
The HealthStore Foundation, with its partners, commits to expanding their Child and Family Wellness Clinics (CFW) funded by social venture capital equity investments in Kenya and Rwanda, and launching a CFW network in Ghana to provide high-quality drugs and basic health care to underserved communities.
Freedom from Hunger will extend its Microfinance and Health Protection Initiative, building a consortium of practitioners, researchers, donors, and advocates to demonstrate that microfinance service providers can – and will – offer their clients health protection options. Five hundred or more microfinance service providers will offer health protection options to at least 2.5 million very poor clients in the developing world by 2014.
Right To Play International, ExxonMobil, and Wasserman Media Group will join the United Against Malaria partnership, using the World Cup 2010 in South Africa to dramatically accelerate progress against malaria. Through this commitment, high-profile individuals and organizations will use football, the world's most popular sport, to raise global awareness and renew worldwide commitment to prioritize and end malaria.
PATH and its partners commit to improve the health of more than 800,000 schoolchildren in India by expanding their Ultra Rice meal fortification program. Increased demand for Ultra Rice and expected economies of scale will make the incremental cost of rice fortification more affordable to governments, better enabling them to improve the health of millions of malnourished schoolchildren.
Growing Power commits to strengthen food security for school children and their care givers in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Growing Power will build a new model of local food systems to ensure adequate nutrition in the short-term and build a long-term foundation for competitive African human capital in the global market place.
Mantria Corporation commits to help mitigate global warming through the use of its Carbon Fields site, where Mantria will perform trials on their product BioChar, a carbon-negative charcoal, to prove how this product can sequester carbon dioxide, improve soil quality when buried, and reduce emissions in developing countries.
AgroFrontera and Tres Ríos Agricultural Cooperative, with their partners, commit to work with 450 smallholder farmers and food companies to design and implement innovative food value chains that will improve capacity of smallholder farmer organizations in the impoverished northwest region of Dominican Republic to supply high quality food products to local, national, and international markets.
General Mills, PEPFAR, and USAID's Partnership for Food Security will link the technical and business expertise of General Mills experts with up to 200 small and medium-sized mills and food processors in sub-Saharan Africa, with the goal of improving the overall commercial viability of these enterprises and enhancing food production of nutritious food products for the world's most vulnerable populations.
Pegasus Sustainable Century commits to bring capital, financial, operating, and policy expertise to middle-market growth businesses in the U.S. Through this commitment, these businesses will have the potential to transform a significant segment of industry with more efficient, sustainable solutions with sustainability benefits including pollution reduction, improved energy efficiency, and reduced resource use.
Green For All and Living Cities commit to form the Urban Opportunity Retrofit Fund, a new social investment fund that finances innovative efforts to retrofit homes, businesses, and community facilities to achieve greater energy efficiency and other environmental benefits while creating jobs and cutting costs for low-income communities.
CMEA Capital commits to investing new capital in clean technology and new energy initiatives in companies whose technology combines scientific breakthroughs from a variety of disciplines. This commitment extends CMEA's history of investing in technology entrepreneurs and innovators, with a particular focus on those opportunities and innovations that translate environmental challenges into significant global economic value.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), CDC Foundation, Grupo ABC, the Nduna Foundation, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNIFEM, and the World Health Organization will develop a global initiative to address the human injustices of sexual violence against girls. Through surveillance methodology, policy and social interventions, and a media campaign, the commitment aims to achieve sustained positive change in the treatment of girls. About the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Former President Clinton Announces Winners of the


President Paul Kagame, Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Peter Bakker, Dr. Rola Dashti, Ruchira Gupta, and Quincy Jones to be honored in a special ceremony at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. Ben Stiller will host the awards ceremony, which will also feature General Wesley Clark, Lisa Ling, Demi Moore, Usher Raymond,Juanes, and Alicia Keys

New York – President Clinton announced the 2009 honoree selections for the third annual Clinton Global Citizen Awards today. The award recognizes remarkable individuals for their leadership in improving the lives of people around the globe. The awards ceremony will take place on September 24, 2009, during the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initia tive (CGI). CGI's Annual Meeting convenes leaders from across sectors of society, giving them a forum to develop and then implement workable solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.

"With the Global Citizen Awards, we highlight individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service to humanity," President Clinton said. "I am proud to announce this year's winners, each one of whom is a model of service. Their innovation, dedication and determination have changed lives, and their actions serve as models for what each of us can do to make a difference in the world."

Award winners were nominated by a collection of global leaders and selected for their visionary leadership, demonstrated impact, and sustainable and scalable work in solving pressing global challenges. Honorees were chosen from government, civil society, the private sector, and the philanthropic community.

The 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Awards will be presented during a ceremony hosted by Ben Stiller, which will include musical performances by Alicia Keys, co-founder of Keep a Child Alive, and Juanes, founder of the Mi Sangre Foundation and of Paz Sin Fronteras. Other program participants include General Retired Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; Lisa Ling, Oprah correspondent and Nightline contributor; Usher Raymond IV, founder and chairman of Usher's New Look; and actress Demi Moore, co-founder of The Demi and Ashton Foundation. ?

The Clinton Global Citizen Awards were launched in 2007. The 2007 winners were Andre Agassi, founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation; Fazle Hassan Abed, founder of the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee; John Chambers, CEO of Cisco; and Vicky Colbert, founder of the Escuela Nueva Foundation. In 2008, the winners were Jennifer and Peter Buffett, co-chairs of the NoVo Foundation; Xiaoyi (Sheri) Liao, founder of the Global Village of Beijing; Julio Frenk, dean of the Harvard School of Public Health; and Nevill Isdell, then-chairman of the Coca-Cola Company.

Introducing the 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Award honorees:

His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of RwandaLeadership in Public ServiceHis Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has led his nation through an unparalleled transformation. A brilliant military commander, President Kagame joined Rwanda's transitional government after leading the force which ended the 1994 genocide. He was elected President in 2000, and re-elected in 2003. President Kagame's national leadership has proven to be as bold as his military campaigns: creating visionary policies, innovative national programs and strong international partnerships to support the development of the new Rwanda. President Kagame has worked to develop infrastructure, boost tourism, increase access to energy and health care in rural areas, expand exports, and develop ties to the international business community. After the 1994 civil war, he helped usher in a decade of 7.6-percent annual economic growth, and last year, in the midst of global decline, Rwanda's economy grew 11.2 percent. From crisis, President Kagame has forged a strong, unified and growing nation with the potential to become a model for the rest of Africa and the world.Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, Chairperson, Save Somali Women and ChildrenLeadership in Civil SocietyAsha Hagi Elmi Amin is co-founder and chairperson of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) and a member of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia. Amin has been deeply involved in the struggle for peace and reconciliation in her war-ravaged country and has worked tirelessly to carve out a role for women in public life. Somali women were sidelined from any peace talks until the "Sixth Clan" was formed by SSWC and other women in 2000. Through the historic Sixth Clan, these daring women convinced the five male-dominated clans to accept a new role for women around the negotiating table. This became the first time that women were represented in a peace process in Somalia, and Amin has participated in talks ever since. Amin was a 2005 Women and Public Policy Fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and a 2008 winner of the Right Livelihood Award.

Peter Bakker, Chief Executive Officer, TNTLeadership in the Corporate SectorAs CEO of TNT, Peter Bakker has set a new standard for corporate responsibility. Shortly after Bakker became CEO in 2001, TNT launched a partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The global transportation and distribution company committed to sharing resources and logistical know-how in emergencies, particularly natural disasters. Since then, TNT has helped WFP deliver aid in more than 30 emergency situations. In response to the 2005 Southeast Asia tsunami, TNT's quick supply of trucks, aircrafts and humanitarian supplies – a total of €2.3 million in-kind support – was a key factor in WFP's ability to provide food for 750,000 people in less than three weeks. Under Bakker's leadership, TNT has also taken major strides to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2005, TNT has put emphasis on improving its carbon footprint transparency, reducing its carbon emissions, and encouraging its 160,000 employees to do the same in their private lives. Bakker says these initiatives are "the start o f our quest to become the first zero emissions express and mail company in the world." ?

Dr. Rola Dashti, Parliament Member, State of KuwaitLeadership in Public ServiceA gender-equality activist and champion of democratic reform, Dr. Rola Dashti exemplifies the CGI mission of turning ideas into action. In 2005, she fought for – and achieved – a decree that would permit Kuwaiti women to vote for and run in parliamentary elections for the first time. She was the first woman to file her papers at the election department when the registration opened, and she herself was a candidate in the 2006 parliamentary election. In the 2009 parliamentary elections, Dr. Dashti and three other women won seats to become the first women to enter the Kuwaiti parliament, setting the stage to deepen the role of women in politics and decision making. Dr. Dashti has also broken down barriers throughout her career as an economist. She is currently chairperson of the Kuwait Economics Society, where she is advocating for increased economic transparency and working to empower a new generation of entrepreneurs. Dr. Dashti's victories for Kuwaiti women and for Kuwaiti democracy have proven that deliberate persistence and tenacity can lead to historic change.

Ruchira Gupta, President, Apne Aap Women WorldwideLeadership in Civil SocietyRuchira Gupta is a journalist, activist, and policymaker who has worked relentlessly for the past 24 years to end human trafficking. She is best known for her work with Apne Aap Women Worldwide, a community-based initiative started by women in prostitution in the Khetwadi/Kamatipura red light area of Mumbai in 1998. Gupta founded the organization along with 22 women who were featured in her sex-traffi cking documentary, "The Selling of Innocents," which won an Emmy Award in 1997. Apne Aap ("self-help" in Hindi) combats trafficking by building up the capacity of girls and women through small "self-help" social and economic cooperatives. Through these cooperatives, the organization has provided access to education, income-generation training and legal protection. Apne Aap now protects women and girls through 67 such cooperatives and has a goal to reach 200 cooperatives (3,000 girls and women) in one year's time. In addition to her work with Apne Aap, Gupta has provided policy support to the Government of India, the United Nations and USAID. Through commitment and perseverance, Gupta has shown that it is possible to bring hope and change even in some of the world's most marginalized communities.
Quincy Jones, Founder, Quincy Jones FoundationLeadership in PhilanthropyQuincy Jones stands as one of the most successful and admired creative artist/executives in the entertainment world. His eclectic compilation of humanitarian projects rivals his plethora of musical accomplishments. Jones has been a tireless advocate of using the arts to generate social change. In 1985, with the single "We Are The World," he pioneered the model of using celebrity to raise money and awareness about a cause. The song remains one of the best-selling singles of all-time, and raised more than $63 Million for Ethiopian famine relief. In 2004, Jones helped launch the We Are the Future initiative, a project that has raised money for children in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas in Africa and the Middle East. In 2007, he joined forces with the Harvard School of Public Health to advance the health and well-being of children worldwide through Project Q, which challenges leaders and citizens of the world to provide essential resources to enable y oung people to achieve their full potential. In a career spanning more than six decades, in both his music and his philanthropy, Jones has shown time and again that he is truly a citizen of the world.

President Clinton Hosts Special Session on Northern Ireland; Announces New Commitments Focused on Harnessing Innovation for Development


Special Session on Northern Ireland, moderated by President Clinton, featured Peter Robinson, first minister from Northern Ireland Executive; Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland Executive; Declan Kelly, economic envoy to Northern Ireland, U.S. Department of State; Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and Michéal Martin, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ireland.Matthew Bishop, New York bureau chief at The Economist, moderated discussion on innovation, which featured Al Gore, chairman of the Alliance for Climate Protection; Jack Ma, chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Group; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of The World Bank Group; Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation; and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director of Grameen Brank

New York РThe second day of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) came to a close with a special session on Northern Ireland, following afternoon plenary and breakout sessions that focused on harnessing innovation for development."Innovation can mean a new business model, a new technology, or a new way of delivering services to the poor," President Clinton said. "No matter the form it takes, innovation is key to the challenges that face our world. There are so many people around the world we have yet to reach Рwe must find new ways to develop and implement innovative solutions on a massive scale."At the afternoon plenary session, "Harnessing Innovation for Development," six notable leaders discussed how innovation can empower the poor, fight climate change, increase access to education, and improve health care. Matthew Bishop, New York bureau chief at The Economist, moderated the discussion, which included Al Gore, chairman of the Alliance for Climate Protection, Jack Ma, chairman and CEO of the Alibaba Group, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of The World Bank Group, Judith Rodin, president of the Rockefeller Foundation, and Muhammad Yunus, founder and managing director of Grameen Brank.Highlights from the discussion included former Vice President Al Gore highlighted the innovative tools that already exist in the fight against climate changed and emphasized the importance of putting a price on carbon. Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, spoke about the potential for social businesses to improve lives around the world. As an example, he cited Grameen Danone Foods, a partnership between the Grameen Group and Group Danone, to produce fortified yogurt to nutritionally-deprived people in Bangladesh where close to half of all children under 5 are underweight. He also noted that mobile technology has the potential to improve education and health care in poor areas.President Clinton convened the session by announcing six new commitments fueled by innovation. A full list of today's commitments included below.The special session focused on Northern Ireland, moderated by President Clinton, included key figures who exercised political leadership to secure peace in Northern Ireland, including Peter Robinson, first minister from Northern Ireland Executive; Martin McGuinness, deputy First Minister, Northern Ireland Executive; Declan Kelly, economic envoy to Northern Ireland, U.S. Department of State; Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and Mich̩al Martin, Minster of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ireland. Panelists discussed factors that can make Northern Ireland more appealing for foreign investors, how local businesses can reach their markets in the U.S., and how talents of young people in the region can be utilized through entrepreneurship.The Fifth Annual Meeting of CGI will continue until Friday. To learn more, or to watch the meeting webcast live, visit www.clintonglobalinitiative.org.Commitments Announced on Wednesday, September 23, 2009The following commitments were announced this afternoon at plenary and breakout sessions focused on "Harnessing Innovation for Development":

Visa will build on the success of its 2008 commitment with a new commitment to reach 20 million people worldwide with financial literacy education by May 1, 2013. To help reach this expanded goal, Visa will launch 'Financial Football', an interactive, soccer-based video game developed with FIFA, an innovative new approach for helping children and adults learn about personal finance;

Blue Engine will provide one-on-one direct instruction to both high and low performing high school students in New York City through customized tutorials. This program aims to double the number of students enrolled in advanced coursework while simultaneously increasing the number of students who pass end-of-year examinations, with a focus on helping young people from underrepresented, low-income communities.

The Carnegie Foundation commits to support five African postgraduate training and research networks, involving 16 African universities and research centers, in nine countries. This commitment will strengthen higher education in sub-Saharan Africa by increasing the population of qualified faculty members in the sciences and technology in African universities.

The Lumina Foundation for Education commits to scaling up its campaign of policy advocacy and direct technical support, Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count. This initiative will help community colleges make the institutional changes required to dramatically increase the number of students who succeed in reaching their goals, with a particular focus on low-income students and students of color.

Procter & Gamble will launch Future Friendly, a natural resource educational initiative that will reach 50 million U.S. households by Earth Day 2010. This will promote the adoption of P&G Sustainable Innovation Products in 30 million U.S. households, which will each achieve at least a 10 percent savings in water, energy, or waste, without trade-offs in performance or value.
Duke Energy and ENN, leading energy companies in the U.S. and in China, commit to form a partnership to accelerate development of low-carbon energy solutions. The companies have committed to accelerate clean energy technology development in solar technology and manufacturing, zero emissions coal technology systems, algae for carbon capture and biofuels, and smart grid-enabled energy efficiency.

Solazyme commits to work toward commercialization of its renewable oil that produces advanced oils from cellulosic materials such as algae. This revolutionary technology creates biofuels and edible oils, thereby reducing greenhouse gas impacts while improving the well-being of communities.

Adaptive Eyewear, in line with the government of Rwanda's National Plan for the Elimination of Needless Blindness, will implement a pilot program to perform eye screenings and distribute self-adjusting eyeglasses in the district of Gicumbi. The pilot will hopefully lead to a national rollout, covering the remaining 29 districts of Rwanda by 2014.

Bridge International Academies (BIA) commits to deliver a high-quality education to more than one million students in sub-Saharan Africa over the next decade. Charging less than $4 per child per month, BIA will empower poor families to pursue an education, while enabling local franchise owners to operate their school businesses profitably.

Oxfam America commits to recruit high profile women as Sisters on the Planet Ambassadors to put a human face on climate change and raise awareness about its impacts and solutions. The women will also engage members of Congress on the need for forward-thinking, well-funded climate legislation in the United States.

Paso Pacifico and its partners commit to carry out programs advancing women as environmental leaders across Central America, providing education, training, and opportunities in sustainable tourism and resource management. By linking women's livelihoods to climate change mitigation programs, it will improve the well-being of local communities, and help preserve natural resources and the environment.

His Majesty King Abdullah, on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, commits to pledge $30 million towards the Global Polio Eradication initiative, and to expand the Saudi requirement for every pilgrim entering Saudi Arabia for the Hajj to receive a polio vaccination.

Genzyme Corporation and its partners commit to raise awareness for and support passage of legislation recently introduced in the U.S. Congress for a partial tax credit that provides financial incentive for companies to invest in neglected tropical disease (NTD) research and development. Genzyme will also continue to support new work under existing collaborations for NTDs.
HelloWallet commits to provide a year of free financial advice to one low-income family for every five paying subscribers, and will provide a minimum of 300,000 low-income families in the U.S. with free advice over the next five years. By connecting low-income families to money-saving tools, financial products, and services, this commitment will generate millions in savings.
The Inter-American Development Bank, the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Disease Control at the Sabin Vaccine Institute, and the Pan American Health Organization will raise awareness of NTDs and mobilize resources for treatment and control. These organizations will mobilize new investments, advocate for NTD control among potential funders, create reference guides for policymakers, and launch water and sanitation pilot programs

The Arthur Guinness Fund, a philanthropic arm of Diageo's Guinness brand, working in partnership with EnterpriseWorks, will fund CrystalPur water filters, providing clean water to 250,000 low-income individuals. By creating a private sector supply chain for the filters at an affordable price for communities, this commitment addresses the critical need to create an inexpensive point-of-use water treatment device in developing countries.

Autism Speaks launched the Global Autism Public Health Initiative to enhance public awareness of autism and train community-based providers to screen, diagnose, and treat autism. This commitment advances Autism Speaks' ongoing efforts in Albania, India, Mexico, and Qatar, and includes launching national autism awareness campaigns and training courses. Autism Speaks will also expand these programs into Chile and the Philippines.

The following commitments were announced this morning at a plenary session on Investing in Girls and Women:

Merck and Qiagen are launching a major new partnership to prevent cervical cancer in the poorest countries of the world. The program will facilitate the development of national comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control programs that integrate two breakthrough technologies, HPV vaccines and HPV DNA tests. These programs will benefit at least 1.5 million girls and 1.5 million women.

The ING Foundation and Girls Incorporated commit to expanding the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge, an innovative program giving girls hands-on investing experience while allowing them to keep their gains as college scholarships. Increasing the number of cities participating in the program, this commitment will have a direct impact on 100 young women's lives, while increasing financial literacy in the U.S.

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (CBFW) and Tomorrow's Youth Organization (TYO) are engaging in a new partnership, committing to increase women's participation in the Palestinian labor force and their contribution to the economy of Nablus by offering customized training opportunities and services that will increase participants' business, craft, and innovation skills.
Sustainable Health Enterprise commits to provide access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads, plus health and hygiene education, through sustainable, locally-led businesses, for one million girls and women in Africa by 2012. This commitment will increase school/work attendance, decrease pelvic infections, and drive economic growth.

Plan USA and its partners commit over the next three years to train 140 adolescent girls from Ghana in media production and journalism skills, empowering the girls to advocate against gender discrimination through diverse media. This commitment will increase awareness of the needs of adolescent girls in West Africa by reaching a radio and television audience of approximately 1 million.

The Freeplay Foundation commits to distribute its award-winning, self-powered Lifeline radios and new clean energy Lifelights to poor women and girls in Rwanda, directly benefiting 20,000 people. The Lifelights will enable women to extend their business hours and the radios will enable the women and girls to access health, literacy, and practical skills, as well as agricultural advice.
The Nike Foundation and its partners commit to utilize the Adolescent Girls' Global Health Agenda to advocate around the report's key recommendations to stimulate global attention and investment in adolescent girls' health. The Grameen Nurse Institute in Bangladesh will serve as a sustainable business model to demonstrate how girl-focused innovation improves outcomes for everyone.

Exxon Mobil commits to identify and deploy innovative technologies to advance economic opportunities for women in developing countries, in partnership with the Ashoka Changemaker Campus Initiative and the International Center for Research on Women. The project will improve the quality of life of women in developing countries and enable them to participate more fully in income-generating activities.

Goldman Sachs commits to working with partners including the Inter-American Development Bank to provide women entrepreneurs in Peru with quality business education and enhanced access to capital. Their efforts will offer more than 700 high-potential small business owners with the specialized training, access to capital, networking, and mentoring necessary to significantly expand their businesses.

Hathay Bunano and its partners commit over the next year to develop 22 handicraft production centers in Bangladesh which will provide training and subsequent employment for 2000 destitute women. Hathay Bunano will train the women in hand knitting and hand crochet, enabling them to make high quality, export-orientated children's toys to be sold worldwide.
Pro Mujer commits to provide poor women in Latin America with an integrated package of microfinance, healthcare, and training that will allow them to take an active role in changing their lives and creating a better future for their families. The organization's goal is to expand its reach to 350,000 women and impact the lives of more than 1.7 million children.

General Mills and CARE will launch "Join My Village" which will tap the power of online communities to connect women in the U.S. with families in Malawi, igniting a new level of consumer education and involvement. Ongoing reports from the field will enable consumers to participate in the lives of some of the poorest women and girls in Africa.

Women for Women International commits to improve the livelihoods of 103,000 female survivors of war over the next three years. This will be accomplished by a comprehensive program of rights education and vocational and business skills training. These will give the women access to the resources that allow them to participate in their countries' political and economic decision-making.


New York, NY – Millions of girls and women will have access to improved health care, better education, and increased economic opportunity because of commitments made today at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which brings together leaders from across sectors of society to identify solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. Women perform 66 percent of the world's work, and produce 50 percent of the food, yet earn only 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property," President Bill Clinton said. "Whether the issue is improving education in the developing world, or fighting global climate change, or addressing nearly any other challenge we face, empowering women is a critical part of the equation."Reports show that when women and girls are empowered, entire regions see measurable results. This is especially true for economic empowerment – for example, a woman is likely to reinvest about 90 percent of her earnings into her family's well-being, compared with 35 percent for a man. Increases in access to education among girls accounted for a decline of 43 percent in the malnutrition rates between 1970 and 1995. Investing in women's health, especially reproductive health, not only saves the lives of half a million mothers, but also unleashes an estimated $15 billion in productivity each year.Even in the developed world, decreases in inequality can improve overall productivity. Goldman Sachs has reported that different countries and regions of the world could dramatically increase GDP simply by reducing the gap in employment rates between men and women: the Eurozone could increase GDP by 13 percent; Japan by 16 percent; the U.S. by 9 percent.This year, the CGI Annual Meeting will feature a variety of special programming related to girls and women. Today, th e plenary session "Investing in Girls and Women," moderated by Diane Sawyer, featured Edna Adan, director and founder of the Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital; Lloyd C. Blankfein, chairman and CEO of The Goldman Sachs Group; Zainab Salbi, founder and CEO of Women for Women International; Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil, Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women's issues at the U.S. Department of State; and Robert B. Zoellick, President of The World Bank Group.During the session, corporations, foundations, and NGOs announced more than a dozen new commitments that will improve the lives of girls and women around the world. After meeting at CGI's 2008 Annual Meeting, Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Hani Masri, founder of Tomorrow's Youth Organization, developed a new partnership. This year, this partnership is committing to increase women's participation in the Palestinian labor force by offering customized training opportunities and services that will increase participants' business, craft, and innovation skills.Listed below are 12 additional commitments announced this morning:

Merck and Qiagen are launching a major new partnership to prevent cervical cancer in the poorest countries of the world. The program will facilitate the development of national comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control programs that integrate two breakthrough technologies, HPV vaccines and HPV DNA tests. These programs will benefit at least 1.5 million girls and 1.5 million women.

Th e ING Foundation and Girls Incorporated commit to expanding the ING-Girls Inc. Investment Challenge, an innovative program giving girls hands-on investing experience while allowing them to keep their gains as college scholarships. Increasing the number of cities participating in the program, this commitment will have a direct impact on 100 young women's lives, while increasing financial literacy in the United States.

Sustainable Health Enterprise commits to provide access to affordable, eco-friendly sanitary pads, plus health and hygiene education, through sustainable, locally-led businesses, for one million girls and women in Africa by 2012. This commitment will increase school/work attendance, decrease pelvic infections, and drive economic growth.

Plan USA and its partners commit over the next three years to train 140 adolescent girls from Ghana in media production and journalism skills, empowering the girls to advocate against gender discrimination through diverse media. This commitment will increase awareness of the needs of adolescent girls in West Africa by reaching a radio and television audience of approximately 1 million.

The Freeplay Foundation commits to distribute its award-winning, self-powered Lifeline radios and new clean energy Lifelights to poor women and girls in Rwanda, directly benefiting 20,000 people. The Lifelights will enable women to extend their business hours and the radios will enable the women and girls to access health, literacy, and practical skills, as well as agricultural advice.

The Nike Foundation and its partners commit to utilize the Adolescent Girls' Global Health Agenda to advocate around the report's key recommendations to stimulate global attention and investment in adolescent girls' health. The Grameen Nurse Institute in Bangladesh will serve as a sustainable business model to demonstrate how girl-focused innovation improves outcomes for everyone.

Exxon Mobil commits to identify and deploy innovative technologies to advance economic opportunities for women in developing countries, in partnership with the Ashoka Changemaker Campus Initiative and the International Center for Research on Women. The project will improve the quality of life of women in developing countries and enable them to participate more fully in income-generating activities.

Goldman Sachs commits to working with partners including the Inter-American Development Bank to provide women entrepreneurs in Peru with quality business education and enhanced access to capital. Their efforts will offer more than 700 high-potential small business owners with the specialized training, access to capital, networking, and mentoring necessary to significantly expand their businesses.

Hathay Bunano and its partners commit over the next year to develop 22 handicraft production centers in Bangladesh which will provide training and subsequent employment for 2000 destitute women. Hathay Bunano will train the women in hand knitting and hand crochet, enabling them to make high quality, export-orientated children's toys to be sold worldwide.
Pro Mujer commits to provide poor women in Latin America with an integrated package of microfinance, health care, and training that will allow them to take an active role in changing their lives and creating a better future for their families. The organization's goal is to expand its reach to 350,000 women and impact the lives of more than 1.7 million children.

General Mills and CARE will launch "Join My Village" which will tap the power of online communities to connect women in the U.S. with families in Malawi, igniting a new level of consumer education and involvement. Ongoing reports from the field will enable consumers to participate in the lives of some of the poorest women and girls in Africa.

Women for Women International commits to improve the livelihoods of 103,000 female survivors of war over the next three years. This will be accomplished by a comprehensive program of rights education and vocational and business skills training. These will give the women access to the resources that allow them to participate in their countries' political and economic decision-making.

The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative continues until Friday. For more information or to watch the live webcast, please visit http://whatcounts.com/t?r=1925&c=1807435&l=100017&ctl=26D225B:058C06ED4ED2D11A55A7FF51321F82EEE456CB2947892AA5&.About the Clinton Global InitiativeEstablished in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) brings together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, 10 of the last 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,400 commitments valued at $46 billion, which have improved the lives of more than 200 million people in more than 170 countries.