About the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP)

The Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) emerged from a pivotal gathering in September 2003, hosted by renowned activist Graça Machel in Maputo, Mozambique. This meeting sparked the idea of uniting efforts to combat poverty globally. Officially launched in 2005 during the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, GCAP adopted the symbol of the white band and has since mobilized hundreds of millions, notably achieving a Guinness World Record in 2009 when 173 million people stood up against poverty.

Over the years, GCAP has been instrumental in shaping the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2013, we have facilitated community and national consultations in 39 countries, rallying 32 million people in 2015 to address issues of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Our commitment to tackling inequalities is reflected in the establishment of SDG 10, which focuses on reducing inequalities.

In collaboration with the UN SDG Action Campaign, GCAP launched the Global Day of Action—Act4SDGs on September 25, 2017, to commemorate the anniversary of the SDGs. In 2018, this initiative saw participation from a million individuals across 1662 actions in 143 countries, underscoring our dedication to creating a fairer world.