In 2009, CGI introduced special Annual Meeting programming on the topic of Investing in Girls and Women. President Clinton and CGI members have shown an ongoing interest in this important issue, which cuts across the global challenge areas of education, energy and climate change, global health, and poverty alleviation, and also provides an entry point into CGI's four Action Areas – Harnessing Innovation for Development, Financing a Sustainable Future, Developing Human Capital, and Strengthening Infrastructure. Through a series of events and sessions, the 2009 Annual Meeting program examined how solutions that support girls and women around the world can improve entire communities and drive economic progress.

Innovative businesses and organizations have recognized that investments in girls and women foster and maintain stable societies and successful markets for the future. Research shows that this is not just a women's issue. Each year of schooling increases a woman's income by 10 to 20 percent and closing the gender gap in education adds .5 percent to a country's per capita GNP – benefits that are shared by boys and men

Program Offerings: Investing in Girls and Women

CGI's 2009 Annual Meeting provided a forum for those interested in working on projects involving the various stages of a woman's life – from infancy to adulthood – to come together to collectively address challenges and solutions.

Topic Dinner
Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Highlighting the ExxonMobil Women's Initiative and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative along with CARE, Camfed International, and Vital Voices, this evening celebrated outstanding individuals committed to addressing the challenges and accomplishments faced by girls and women around the globe. We also recognized the exemplary work of businesses, nonprofits, and governments that support these efforts.

Plenary Session
Wednesday, September 23, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Every problem in the world is exacerbated by gender inequality. Even though women make up 50 percent of the world's population, girls and women continuously lack the same access as men to education, health care, jobs, and the political arena. Yet each year of schooling increases a woman's income by 10 to 20 percent, and closing the gender gap adds 0.5 percent to a country's per capita GNP. Smart businesses appreciate that increased support for girls and women is integral to fostering successful markets for the future. Innovative programs are already producing remarkable results, and far-seeing countries and organizations are finding that reaching out to girls and women deepens confidence, creates opportunity, and raises profits. This panel examined a few notable success stories.

Action Network: Investing in Women
Wednesday, September 23, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Girls and women still lack equal access to education, healthcare, jobs, and political participation. This session brought together CGI members working on issues related to the empowerment of women to discuss best strategies, identify gaps in member work, and catalyze new collaborations and partnerships.

Action Network: Investing in Girls
Wednesday, September 23, 2:45 PM - 4:30 PM 

All over the world, young girls are denied the same opportunities as boys: an education, a job, a life free of abuse. In the world's poorest countries, 46 percent of girls lack any access to primary education. Half of sexual assaults are against girls younger than 15, and in sub-Saharan Africa, 75 percent of HIV-infected youth are female. Many CGI members are focused on investing in girls' education, health, and social development. The session brought together these members to share their strategies and identify new investments that need to be made.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Sessions at the Annual Meeting are facilitated discussions that explore how to work within the CGI Action Areas to reach tangible solutions. Throughout the various discussions regarding education, energy and climate change, global health, and poverty alleviation, CGI incorporated issues pertaining to girls and women.

Reading Materials

Click Here to view reading materials for Investing in Girls and Women.