Clinton Hunter development initiative launched $100M seeds new approach to fighting poverty
Former US President Bill Clinton and Scottish entrepreneur and philanthropist, Sir Tom Hunter today launch an ambitious and bold poverty initiative.
The Clinton Hunter Development Initiative (“CHDI”) aims to construct a new model of poverty intervention in the world’s poorest countries.
That model will put the emphasis on a holistic approach to development, enabling local populations to define the right approach for their geopolitical circumstance whilst building the capacity to support self-sustainability over time.
Launching at the Clinton Global Initiative (“CGI”), the CHDI has an initial $100m of seed funding pledged by Sir Tom Hunter’s philanthropy, The Hunter Foundation who will work in partnership with The William J. Clinton Foundation to deliver on the Initiative’s goals.
President Clinton commented:
“I commend Sir Tom Hunter and his Foundation for this generous commitment toward the alleviation of poverty,” said President Clinton. “This is precisely the kind of concrete commitment I hoped would arise from the Clinton Global Initiative and Tom has shown remarkable leadership. I’m excited about this commitment and the approach it takes toward the destructive issue of global poverty and I am looking forward to working closely with Tom.”
Sir Tom Hunter added:
“This is about enabling developing communities, empowering them to define and deliver the solutions that best fit their needs. We aim to support communities and large regions in gaining a foothold on the first rung of the development ladder. We hope through the CGI and ongoing consultation, that many others will join us in the CHDI in playing a part in ridding the world of the silent, malevolent horror that is poverty.”
Initially the global CHDI will look to identify two countries where a major regional pilot programme will take place incorporating, as necessary, interventions in education, health, infrastructure, agriculture and entrepreneurial support in an integrated, holistic approach defined and delivered by the local community.
In turn the CHDI will work at governmental levels to help support the necessary policies and structures necessary in enabling such an approach and its potential extension if proven elsewhere.
The funding approach will apply private sector principles whereby business planning and Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) will be set from the outset and funds drawn down against achieving those KPI’s.
Local communities engaging in the pilot programmes will not only design them but deliver them with the CHDI providing funding and enabling expertise that will build in capacity for sustainable development.
The aim of the CHDI is to develop a self-sustaining model of intervention that is scalable for any poverty stricken country through adapting a basic framework. This underscores a passionate desire by both President Clinton and Sir Tom Hunter to see the evil of poverty eradicated through the effective application of aid combined with the necessary debt relief and trade relaxation by the G8 and others.
Not only will the CHDI leverage key benefits from the Clinton HIV Aids Initiative it will seek to secure additional philanthropic funding, corporate support and Governmental/ UN and NGO participation.
Sir Tom Hunter and President Clinton, who stopped over enroute to Asia, signed the CHDI agreement last week in Scotland. The CHDI will have offices in The Clinton Foundation in New York and in The Hunter Foundation’s offices in Ayrshire, Scotland. CHDI will be given its strategic direction by a Board co-chaired by President Clinton and Sir Tom Hunter.
The CHDI is currently recruiting an executive team who will work on a day-to-day basis with the respective CEO’s of both the Clinton and Hunter Foundation’s.
More information can be found at www.clintonglobalinitiative.org or www.thehunterfoundation.org.
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