Dr. Kumi Naidoo is one of the founders of GCAP in 2005 and now a
Co-Chair. Since 2005 the alliance has grown into a coalition of
anti-poverty campaigners from over 100 countries engaging the public
to maintain pressure on leaders to fulfil their promises on aid,
trade, debt, climate change and gender equality.

Born in South Africa, Kumi Naidoo became involved in the South African
liberation struggle at the age of 15. He was deeply involved in
neighbourhood organization, youth work in his community, the
underground movement, and mass mobilizations against South Africa's
apartheid regime. Kumi holds a D.Phil in Politics from Magdalen
College, Oxford and has published and spoken widely on issues relating
to civil society, education and resistance to apartheid. Kumi holds
board and advisory positions with renown institutes such as the
Clinton Global Initiative, Amnesty International, the World Economic
Forum, and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Blog Entries by Kumi Naidoo

The Summit of our Campaign.Taking a Stand on Poverty to Show we Mean Business

Posted October 16, 2009 | 07:01 AM (EST)


To watch the world's leaders meet in at this year's G20, G8 and EU, AU and other regional forums, has been to witness a great neglect of people who suffer poverty in the world.

Over the course of the past year, I have been in l'Aquila, Pittsburgh, Brussels, Washington,...

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A Call for Courage: the Upcoming UN Summit on the Economic Crisis

Posted June 18, 2009 | 05:00 AM (EST)


I think what is keeping most of us occupied right now is the forthcoming summit at the UN in New York, later this month, which will be an important attempt to hammer a way out of the economic crises. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, along with other...

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Yes We Can, Yes We Must, and Yes We Will

Posted April 1, 2009 | 12:35 PM (EST)


Today, the leaders of the world's 20 largest economies are meeting in London. While the G-20 constitutes a significant expansion from the unrepresentative G-8 cartel, we must recognize that the majority of countries in the world, where the poor reside in large numbers are excluded. We must also acknowledge that...

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If You are a G-20 Finance Minister, it's Crunch Time

Posted March 13, 2009 | 04:22 PM (EST)


Last week I found myself discussing overseas development aid on BBC TV here in London. Walking in front of next month's G20 summit venue, the Exel Centre, with the City of London over my shoulder, I tried to convince viewers of the importance of maintaining overseas development aid amid the...

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Hunger Strike Day 20: Hope in transition

Posted February 10, 2009 | 02:50 PM (EST)


Tomorrow, I will break my fast. The last few days have been challenging, but incredibly inspiring.

On Saturday, I had the privilege of meeting with someone who has inspired me since I was 15 years old - Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Given my waning energy, it was incredibly...

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Hunger Strike Day 15: Global Solidarity at the African Union

Posted February 4, 2009 | 10:41 AM (EST)


I keep reminding myself that there are people in Zimbabwe who have had to get used to living for more than ten days without food.

My energy is beginning to wane -- and my concentration is erratic. Yet, the messages of support I have received from all over the...

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Hunger Strike Day 9: Resolve for Change

Posted January 29, 2009 | 06:39 AM (EST)


I woke to grey skies over Johannesburg this morning, and drumming rain. It has been stiflingly hot over the last week, and the sharp drop in temperature is welcome - although I am feeling the cold more acutely than usual. I feel that the rain brings with it some promise...

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Hunger Strike Day 6: Disappointment and disregard

Posted January 27, 2009 | 03:42 PM (EST)


I began yesterday, hopeful that the leaders of Southern Africa would demonstrate the integrity to lend a hand to the people of Zimbabwe, but by the end of the day I was proven wrong.

We gathered - 500 concerned citizens - on the steps of the Union Buildings, to...

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I won't eat while Zimbabwe starves

Posted January 23, 2009 | 12:10 PM (EST)


I truly believe that given the current situation in Zimbabwe, silence, or a lack of action is equivalent to complicity.

On Tuesday night, the latest round of talks between the MDC and ZANU-PF broke down.

On Wednesday morning, I chose to have my last meal for 21 days. And...

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Time for global civil disobedience?: Five things to Advance the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Posted December 10, 2008 | 06:05 PM (EST)


Today, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, should be a day of celebration. Sadly, the litany of continuing human rights abuses does not afford us a second of self-congratulation. There are at least five things that should be done to advance the Universal Declaration in the...

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Lament for G20 Failure to Help People Worst Hit by Crisis

Posted November 15, 2008 | 07:43 PM (EST)


The G20 has failed to consider the plight of the people who have been least responsible for this global financial crisis but who are suffering the most, men women and children in developing countries. While the leaders seemed to share common ground on issues related to financial growth, they failed...

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What Obama Needs to Do to Tackle Global Poverty

Posted November 5, 2008 | 10:21 AM (EST)


As much of the world celebrates the dawn of a new era in US politics, what we need from your presidency, Mr. Obama, is a vision of how every man woman and child on our planet is connected and poverty can be changed.

The days of relegating global poverty programmes...

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It's Time to Set Them Free

Posted October 17, 2008 | 11:43 AM (EST)


Every generation has a responsibility. Some are timeless, but some have a specific moment. This is the moment in which we have a chance to meet our responsibility and in so doing make history.

Human and civil rights leader, Martin Luther King III, grandson of Martin Luther King, has spoken...

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