Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) is a network working in ten countries where local projects and priorities are identified by local chapters.  PNB strategically matches them with US and international partners.

PNB is supported by a global coalition of prominent business and civil society leaders who are committed to building effective partnerships that:

• Promote Economic Opportunity: Increase employment, improve access to finance, and build business capacity and development services to enhance livelihoods. 
• Foster Advances in Science and Technology: Improve infrastructure, address natural resource challenges, enhance research capabilities, and fund cutting-edge capabilities to support innovation and economic growth.
• Enhance Educational Opportunities: Broaden access to education and enhance the quality of facilities and equipment.
• Catalyze Exchanges: Foster physical and/or virtual exchanges in a variety of fields, including education, interfaith, business, and research, while developing programs to enhance human connectedness and build mutual understanding.

Secretary Clinton with former Secretary of State and Chair of PNB, Madeleine Albright, as well as Vice-Chair, Walter Isaacson of The Aspen Institute, Barclay Resler of Coca-Cola, and other members of the PNB team from the State Department and The Aspen Institute.

Ten locally-owned and locally-driven PNB Chapters have been launched, including a regionally focused partnership in North Africa.  Local Chapters include: Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey, and the Palestinian Territories.  The establishment of a local PNB Chapter in Libya is currently underway.

PNB also launched a regionally focused partnership known as the US - North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity (NAPEO) on December 1, 2010 with a mission to foster entrepreneurship and job creation in North Africa with a focus on youth.  In the aftermath of the historic events in the region, it is both important and opportune for PNB to contribute to creating jobs and fostering entrepreneurship in the region. 

PNB and its partners have launched, expanded, or pledged support for more than 120 new projects since the partnership began in September 2010.  In turn, these projects will have impacted over 330,000 people, result in job training for over 43,000 individuals, and will initiate over 19,000 new businesses.

PNB was announced by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in April 2010 as an effort to develop collaborative networks that foster economic growth in emerging markets.  It was publically launched by PNB Chair and Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in September 2011. While not a US Government program, The US Government supports PNB by coordinating with US Embassies as necessary, brokering relationships with partners, and hosting government-to-government policy dialogues to facilitate information sharing.

The Aspen Institute serves as the PNB Secretariat and is responsible for driving, expanding and sustaining the PNB network.  The Secretariat maintains communication between stakeholders, identifies strategic partners and brokers partnerships that support project development and expansion.

For a more detailed overview of PNB, please click here.

This video above debuted at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting as part of the PNB 2011 Progress Report.