Campaigns around the MDGs

Because 189 governments have signed on to the MDGs, they offer a strong platform for work on development. Recognising this, a number of international campaigns are monitoring where we are in accomplishing them -- and are working to hold the world's governments accountable for progress made, or not made. The three largest campaigns are the Global Call to Action against Poverty, Micah Challenge, and the UN Millennium Campaign.

Global Call to Action against Poverty

The Global Call to Action against Poverty or the "White Band" campaign brings together more than 100 national campaigning "platforms" -- coalitions of campaigning groups, churches, faith groups, unions and others -- around a set of core demands

In the UK, this campaign is probably best known by the name of the 2005 coalition which was its platform in the UK -- Make Poverty History. Today many of the same agencies that were part of Make Poverty History continue to participate in GCAP campaigning through a broad coalition coordinated by BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development).  The main GCAP event each year is "Stand Up Against Poverty," which takes place in October, though there are also other events, such as 2007's "Your Voice Against Poverty," at which the images above were taken.

Micah Challenge

Micah Challenge UK is part of Micah Challenge International, a Christian campaign located in over 30 countries, from Australia to Zambia. Micah UK, in parallel with its other national counterparts, has two main objectives:

  • To galvanise Christians in the UK towards greater practical and political engagement with the issues and injustice of poverty.
  • To unite Christians to ensure the UK honours its commitments to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Micah UK's main means of campaigning is through "Take Five." Micah offers a briefing pack on the Millennium Development Goals and a range of Christian reflections on the need to act against poverty. Micah International sends a weekly email giving a fact about poverty for reflection, one or two prayer suggestions, and a brief reflection. Many find this a very helpful resource; you can sign up by sending a blank email to regine.nagel@micahchallenge.org with the words 'subscribe prayer' in the subject line.


UN Millennium Campaign

The Millennium Campaign is a UN initiative to gather support worldwide for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals. The Campaign helps to build up campaigns in individual countries as well as linking UN-related MDG campaigns around the world and liaising with other campaigns such as GCAP and Micah. The Campaign was the initiator of last year's Stand Up Against Poverty action in which over 23.5 million people around the globe took part; you can see the results at the Stand Up Against Poverty website.

 

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