Last week, about 44 Millions people in over 110 countries around the world, among them approximately 7.1 million Africans STOOD UP AGAINST POVERTY and are now ready to Take Action for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Guinness Book of Records announced the staggering figure as the total verified number of people who took part in the STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY , SPEAK OUT AND STAND UP FOR THE MDGs challenge that took place between 9pm (GMT) on Tuesday, 16 th October and 9pm (GMT) on Wednesday 17th October.
Verified figures did not however, represent the total number of people who took part. They mean the participants that made it to the STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY website within the 24 hour limits and also those aware that their events needed to be registered officially in order for them to be counted.

Given the enormous difficulties many faced getting access to the official sites and the spontaneous last minute activities in many countries especially across Africa there is no doubt that the actual final figures will be more than those announced. For instance, reported activities in Kenya are now more than 1 million yet only 924,169 was initially officially captured in the global figures. Uganda's figures are a paltry 624 yet those activities monitored by our local partners had more than 300, 000 participants including the signing of a Pledge by President Museveni. In Nigeria there were many activities held that were not counted due to logistical challenges.
This year Africa more than doubled its contribution of 3.3 millions of last year. More countries and a broader social spectrum of people also participated this year than in the previous year. For an event that started only last year with so many uncertainties and an uncharted territory for all the people involved it is very remarkable that the STAND UP has captured the imagination of many and fast becoming an important index of the growing global movement against poverty and inequality.