PRESS RELEASE

United Nations family in Malawi joins the global call for action to eradicate poverty

Over 50 Staff from WFP, UNHCR, IMF, African Union at their stand up event at Kang’ombe House, Lilongwe.

17 October 2008 - Malawians from all walks of life; from NGOs to the private sector to local community members participated in various activities across the country to mark the 2008 Stand Up and Take Action campaign. Malawi joined millions around the world standing up and being counted, to demonstrate their continued call to world leaders to make good their promises in funds and initiatives to eradicate world poverty.

The United Nations family in Malawi were among those that ‘stood up’. At UNDP, twenty four members of staff read a pledge to reiterate their commitment to the fight extreme poverty. The staff members raised their voices and read the pledge out with passion, resonating the global appeal to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Another exciting STAND UP event was organised by the Council for Non Government Organisations in Malawi (CONGOMA) which included the participation of thirteen Community Based Organisations (CBO), village headmen and chiefs from Kauma Area in Lilongwe and its surrounds. The event was marked by traditional dances, drama and performances by school children followed by the reading out of the pledge.

About 30 UNICEF staff reading out their pledge at their offices in Lilongwe

About 24 UNDP staff reading out their pledge at their offices in Lilongwe

For more information, contact:
For more information, contact:
Susan Muguro, Communication Officer, UN in Malawi on (265) 09967 991, susan.muguro@undp.org.