NEW YORK — A broad group of 15 non-profit organizations, humanitarian aid agencies and other funders plan to launch the Clinton Global Initiative Monday’s annual meeting concluded with the announcement of new investments to address Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, after more than a year of conflict.
The Coalition for Mutual Aid in Sudan – including The Bill & The Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Giving, Global Fund for Women and The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee — are donating at least $2 million to mutual aid groups in the country by the end of the year and have also pledged to raise an additional $4.5 million for those groups over the next two years.
The pledge is one of more than 100 expected during the two-day gathering of political, business and philanthropic leaders who are convening to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues. Former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton have established this year’s theme as “What’s Working,” a way to look for possible solutions and effective programs in tumultuous times.
First lady Jill Biden said Friday she would announce a new women’s health initiative at Monday’s CGI meeting, but she declined to provide details ahead of her appearance.
“Our country is home to some of the best health research in the world, but women’s health is understudied and underfunded,” Biden said. “And we still know too little about how to impactfully prevent, diagnose and treat a range of women’s health problems, from heart disease to cancer.”
Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program, told The Associated Press earlier this month that “ The almost forgotten crisis in Sudan “and that 25 million people there are already facing acute hunger. Last week, the United Nations’ top humanitarian official said the fighting escalates in the conflict that began in April 2023 when long-simmering tensions between Sudan’s military and paramilitary leaders erupted in the capital Khartoum and spread to other regions. The UN says more than 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 wounded.
“With continued obstacles to a large-scale international aid response, Sudanese community groups have emerged as the primary frontline aid workers and are currently the most effective means of reaching millions of people on the brink of starvation,” Patricia McIlreavy, president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, said in a prepared statement on behalf of the coalition. “With so many lives at stake, the need to support local relief efforts in Sudan has never been more urgent.”
According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, more than 12 million people have been forced from their homes in Sudan, creating what is now the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis. The danger of conflict has prevented most international aid agencies from delivering relief supplies to those in need.
Greg Milne, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative, who convened a panel in April to raise awareness and support for the Sudanese people, said the new coalition is an example of what bringing together organizations from different sectors can do.
“We know that strong, diverse partnerships can help address often overlooked and even serious challenges, and develop unexpected and innovative solutions,” he said.
Philanthropic leaders including Bill Gates, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres, Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee and Rockefeller Foundation President Raj Shah will share information about their work at CGI, as well as Prince Harrywho will discuss the launch of The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, which supports parents of children who have been harmed online. In his appearance on Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex will also discuss his work with the World Health Organization and others to reduce violence against children, an issue he and his wife Meghan have been vocal about at a recent trip to Colombia.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani Sadriu and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics will deliver speeches at the conference, as well as CEOs from Pfizer, Mastercard, IKEA, Pinterest, Sanofi and Chobani.
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