Action Networks are small groups of CGI members who meet throughout the year to coordinate action on specific issues. Action Networks allow members to trade ideas, share best practice information, and explore potential partnerships. Ultimately, many members will use Action Networks to enhance their existing commitments or form new ones. Action Networks that demonstrate the most likelihood of action will have a place on the agenda at the 2010 Annual Meeting. The following Action Networks are currently underway; for more information on any of them, please email actionnetworks@clintonglobalinitiative.org.

Addressing Violence Against Girls and Women
Violence against girls and women is a problem of pandemic proportions. The United Nations estimates that at least one of every three women globally will be beaten, raped, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. CGI members in this Action Network will be working to address these issues through the following sub-groups: U.S. Focus; Girls & Violence; Mechanisms for Financing; Gaps in Research; Changing the Normative Climate; Engaging Men & Boys; Violence & Linkages to HIV; and Evaluation and Documentation of Best Practice.

Combating Cancer in the Developing World
Although once considered a problem exclusive to high-income countries, cancer is a leading cause of death and disability in the developing world. Of the 7 million cancer deaths in the world today, approximately 70 percent occur in developing countries, but only 5 percent of global resources for cancer are spent in the developing world. This Action Network is looking at ways to prevent and treat cancer across the globe, with a specific focus on low- and middle- income countries.

Creating Sustainable Livelihoods in the Agricultural Sector
Life is precarious for those who live and work on small farms in developing countries. Smallholder farmers are vulnerable to changes in climate, market vicissitudes, and lack of access to crucial inputs such as seeds and fertilizers. According to the U.N., investing in smallholder agriculture is one of the best ways to create a sustainable safety net in developing countries. CGI members in this Action Network will discuss the best ways to increase food security and improve the lives of small-scale farmers.

Economic Empowerment of Women
Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property. From decades of research, it is clear that empowering women and girls reaps benefits for everyone in a community. This Action Network will consider interventions that could increase women’s economic empowerment around the world. Topics of interest to CGI members include entrepreneurship, land rights, micro-financial services, and technological equalizers like mobile phones.

Focus on Girls: From Education to Economic Empowerment
Adolescent girls are one of the most underutilized resources in the world today. Data from the past three decades show the inextricable link between girls’ education and long-term social and economic benefits; in some cases, closing the gender gap in education can boost per capita growth by .3 percent. Yet, girls still face significant social and economic disadvantages. This Action Network will explore ways to ensure girls have access to high-quality education and economic opportunities.

Girls’ and Women’s Health
Each year, half a million women die from often-preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Cancers affecting women also pose a great risk to women’s health. Health interventions that target girls and women are of critical importance to ensuring successful health outcomes for all members of a community. CGI members in this Action Network will work within the following sub-groups: Maternal & Infant Health; Reproductive Health & Rights; HIV/AIDS; Health & Technology; Health & Education; Health & Violence; and Health & Economic Empowerment.

Green Mobility
Greenhouse gases from the transportation sector contribute 15 percent of carbon emissions worldwide, and 30 percent of emissions in the U.S. CGI members participating in this Action Network are considering the full range of mobility options, as well as the larger supporting transportation infrastructure, in an effort to advance game-changing solutions to reduce emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. Areas of momentum include electric vehicles, using fleet adoption to create market certainty for manufacturers, consumer education, vehicle alternatives, and public policy.

Gulf Coast Oil Disaster
The ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is the worst single-event environmental disaster in U.S. history. This unparalleled tragedy will impact the ecosystem of the Gulf and the livelihoods of those living around it for generations. CGI members will initiate a new Action Network to discuss ideas for stemming the ongoing crisis, finding long-term recovery solutions, and addressing underlying systemic problems.

Helping Haiti Build Back Better
This Action Network builds on the momentum sparked by President Clinton’s “Call to Action” in 2008, after Haiti was devastated by four hurricanes. CGI member organizations responded to the call with over $100 million in commitments, and since that time they have renewed and scaled up their action. Many new projects have been developed through the Action Network and are in various phases of implementation. Focus areas include education, infrastructure, law and human rights, health, and business development.

Higher Education
The median wage for workers in the United States with no college education is now close to the poverty line for a family of four. College is one of the best routes out of poverty, yet higher education is increasingly out of reach in both developing and developed countries. CGI members will be working to address these issues through the following sub-groups: College Success in the U.S.; Access to College; Strengthening Internal Capacity; Market-based Strategies; and Opportunities for Learning through Low-cost ICT.

Investing for Social and Environmental Impact
Increasingly, investors are measuring returns not only in financial terms, but also based on social and environmental impact. This Action Network aims to grow the marketplace of impact investing, which has the potential to spur large-scale and sustainable improvements in countries in all stages of economic development. The group is intended for investors hoping to learn more about impact investing, as well as those seeking to network with others already investing for social and/or environmental returns.

Pathways to Employee Engagement
Today, workers want to work for companies with values that reflect their own. This Action Network, anchored by Edelman and the International Business Leaders Forum, will explore how companies can develop human capital; improve education, economic empowerment, and global health; and provide employees with opportunities to make a difference. The group will develop strategies for building connections between a company and its stakeholders while building employee skills, competencies, morale and motivation.

Post-Conflict Education
With over half of the worlds’ out-of-school children residing in conflict-affected environments, CGI members have joined forces to address educational needs in such settings. Young people can become an incredible advantage to developing nations if their energy and skills are harnessed and directed in productive ways. Members of this Action Network will discuss how to leverage public-private partnerships, technology, and other strategies and resources to improve education in post-conflict communities. In particular, this group will focus on youth education, entrepreneurship, and employment in such settings.

Promoting Safe Roads
Every six seconds someone is killed or seriously injured on the world’s roads; 90 percent of these incidents occur in the developing world. Given that there are 1.3 million road deaths each year, this is a global epidemic comparable to malaria or tuberculosis. Through this Action Network, CGI members from across sectors are working to raise awareness of this critical health and development issue and are aligning resources to create supportive and safe roads for people across the globe.

Rethinking Waste
Every second, 52 tons of waste are landfilled globally. This creates environmental and health problems, and it also indicates that resources and energy are being wasted through the manufacture of products that quickly turn into trash. Members in this Action Network are convening around a desire to eliminate the concept of waste entirely. Corporations and organizations are leveraging their collective resources and influence to challenge current thinking on waste management and to envision creative approaches that encompass producer innovation, supply chain waste reduction, recycling, and waste-to-energy technologies.

Scaling Sustainable Buildings
Each year, an increasing number of commercial and residential buildings are retrofitted and constructed following sustainable standards. Few cities and regions, however, have a high concentration of sustainable buildings. CGI members engaged in this Action Network are working to take the green building movement to scale in specific locations, and also in specific areas such as affordable housing and schools. Participants will be encouraged to share success stories and challenges in the arena and discuss opportunities for action.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education
In today’s knowledge economy, students must be equipped with critical skills in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to meet the demands of the global market. Because the education system is not adequately preparing all students in these subjects, many forward-thinking organizations are investing in STEM education themselves. CGI members in this Action Network will discuss how to improve STEM education in the U.S. by enhancing teacher recruitment and training, developing new curricula and assessments, and rethinking school structure and management.

The Social Web
The rapid pace of innovation in social media has created unprecedented opportunities for people, organizations, and causes to connect and collaborate online. Some CGI members have used the “social web” to create entirely new projects, while others are using it to enhance communications and networking around commitments that already exist. This Action Network will explore how members can leverage their technological expertise and the influence of the social web to deepen their social impact and enhance their CGI commitments.

Strengthening Health Systems
Many health systems around the world are burdened by a lack of resources, poor technology, and a dearth of medical personnel. Members in this Action Network will explore ways in which they can create more effective, integrated, and accessible care, improve lab services and access to medical supplies, and use technology to deliver and scale health services in the developing world.

Technology and Education
Two large challenges in education are access and quality: bringing education to remote communities and displaced populations, and improving the overall learning experience. Technology can be a tool for tackling both of these challenges. Members in this Action Network will explore ways to leverage information and communications technology in the developed and developing world to improve educational outcomes in disadvantaged communities. Possible topics include online education, computer centers, and building curricula customized for different countries and contexts.

Valuing the World’s Forests
Forest removal accounts for almost 20 percent of global carbon emissions—more than the transportation industry. Reforestation sequesters carbon and provides a natural buffer against desertification and other environmental problems associated with changing climates. Furthermore, avoiding deforestation prevents carbon from being released into the atmosphere. CGI members engaged in this Action Network are working to accelerate momentum around this issue by focusing on capacity building, governance, and the need to bring existing solutions to scale.