The dramatic surge in food prices has plunged millions of poor people and many net food importing poor countries into a food crisis. Consequently, it has also put at risk their chances of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Whilst the focus has been on the impact on the MDG1 of reducing poverty and hunger, given the close inter-connectedness between all the 8 MDGs, the impact on these sections of the poor on health, education and livelihoods more broadly, cannot be underestimated.
Under the heading “Deepening local democratic governance to eradicate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals," the delegates to the Forum discussed potential ways of strengthening the role of Local Authorities both in the North and the South in the achievement of the MDGs.
For when the sounds of the ‘vuvuzela’ start blurring across four South African cities, MDG campaigners will also stand up to make a point in order to be heard.
A few days ago, the clock chimed a 100 days left before the global curtain is raised on the first-ever World Cup on African soil and for a continent where the poverty situation has almost adorned a lifestyle status, the soccer balls that will be kicked around in Johannesburg’s Soccer City and other stadiums during the World Cup in South Africa will not be far-off from this sad reality.
Nairobi, January 11, 2010: Youth from eleven African countries will be joining their colleagues from Japan aboard the 68th Voyage of the Peace Boat scheduled to arrive in Africa on January 19, at the Kenyan harbour of Mombasa.
The Peace Boat, a Japan-based international non-governmental initiative, carries out annual cruises that sail from Yokohama through ports around the world promoting human rights, sustainable development and respect for the environment.
The Deputy Director of the UN Millennium Campaign for Africa has urged campaigners attending a retreat in the Malawian city of Lilongwe to make 2010 a major turning point for the continent.
“In the coming year, let us reignite the wind of change that swept across Africa during the 1960s; the change that freed African people from the bondage of colonialism, apartheid and slavery,” Charles Abugre said.
Nairobi, November 30, 2009: The United Nations Millennium Campaign in Africa is delighted to announce the recent appointment of Charles Abugre as its new Deputy Director for Africa. The The position of Deputy Director for Africa was formerly held by Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, who passed away in a road accident in Kenya on May 24.
This year, people from all walks of life stood united in Mabvuku, a high density suburb about 22km east of the capital, on October 17 in the scorching sun to pray for relief for people living in poverty and hunger around the world.
The hosting of the “Stand Up and Take Action” campaign in this sprawling township was befitting and showed solidarity with masses in the area who have borne the brunt of a devastating cholera outbreak, water crisis, mountains of uncollected garbage, housing woes, maternal deaths, unemployment and myriad other social problems.






