2009 Annual Meeting | Clinton Global Initiative

Much of the inspiration for the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) members’ work happens at our events, where heads of state, government and business leaders, scholars, and NGO directors work together to analyze, discuss, and debate possible solutions to urgent global issues. Each participant is then asked to take action on one or more issues by making a Commitment to Action.

Expanding on the success of the Annual Meetings held in New York, CGI is now reaching even more leaders in diverse regions, future leaders from college campuses, and global citizens through new meetings and projects—such as CGI University—evolving from CGI’s unique model that focuses on taking action.

At each meeting, CGI helps its members form partnerships, develop innovations, and initiate effective projects.

Meeting Format

Each CGI meeting concentrates on challenges to and opportunities for change across several focus areas—from education and global health to human rights and poverty alleviation. Meeting events are arranged around plenary and working sessions, which allow members to interact with one another and formulate plans of action. Led by expert panelist, speakers, and advisory board members, these sessions educate and assist CGI members as they plan their commitments, a requirement of all CGI members. There are also many follow-up and recognition tools built into the meetings as well as to our year-long efforts to help make commitments successful.

Plenary Sessions

The plenary sessions are a central component of the Annual Meeting, designed to help participants gain insights into the larger context of the world’s most pressing challenges. Organized as panel discussions featuring several world leaders and a distinguished moderator, plenary sessions introduce and assess cross-sectoral issues for further examination within the working sessions.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Sessions are facilitated discussions that study how to work within the CGI Action Areas to reach tangible solutions. Based on cross-cutting themes presented in the plenary sessions, they allow participants to develop new and ongoing Commitments to Action and exchange ideas on how they can best be implemented and replicated. Building on the issues presented during the plenary sessions, CGI will conduct interactive breakout sessions in the following new formats.

Townhalls engage both CGI members and a panel of leading experts in an open dialogue about how to address specific global challenges.
Seminars begin with an examination of a topic by a panel, and via varying approaches, allow members, arrayed in affinity groups, to determine opportunities for action and recommendations for tangible next steps.
Action Network Workshops will allow groups of 20 to 40 members to identify points of collaboration on new or ongoing commitments. These moderated sessions will focus discussions on a small number of specific projects that can be instituted in the months following the meeting.

Commitments to Action

CGI members are asked to take action to address global challenges. Members develop their commitments throughout the year. Some are inspired by the ideas and solutions identified during the plenary and working group sessions, while others work with CGI to formulate commitments before, during, or after meetings. Many members also identify other partners through CGI.

Follow-Up

CGI provides ongoing support to commitment-makers before, during and after meetings, reviewing progress reports and, where possible, facilitating partnerships.

Recognition

CGI helps members to highlight their commitments in many ways, including the CGI website, press releases, and printed materials. Each meeting also enables opportunities for recognition.