CIVICUS, coordinating with the Secretariat staff organised the Johannesburg concert “Africa Standing Tall against Poverty, In Concert with Live8,” which was held on July 2^nd, the same day as the series of Live8 concerts organised in G8 capitals. The reach of the concert was enhanced through the guest speaker Nelson Mandela who delivered an inspiring message. The concert received global audiences through the link with the Live 8 concerts. The following September, CIVICUS Secretary General, Kumi Naidoo, also addressed the Accra concert that was broadcast in several countries across Africa.

At the International Facilitation Group meeting in September 2005 in New York City, it was decided to establish a Future of GCAP Steering Committee, in order to conduct intensive internal and external consultations and to prepare the next IFG meeting which would decide on the shape and the directions of the Call. CIVICUS played the role of Secretariat of this committee, as requested in New York.