According to last UNDP report, it is crucial to intensify the fight against poverty in Africa

The 2014 Human Development Report ‘Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience’ was launched on 24 July in Tokyo. According to the report, Africa is experiencing high levels of economic growth and higher welfare, but for this improvement to last, it is crucial to intensify the fight against poverty.

The report states that nearly 585 million people, equivalent to 72% of the continent's population, live in multidimensional poverty with overlapping deprivations in education, health and living standards. These groups usually face no improvement in their standard of living because of their low political participation, livelihoods and limited access to basic social services. Despite the current economic boom, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most unequal region in the world.

SMEs are key players to create local jobs and turn the growth into a sustainable and equitable development. I&P’s mission is to finance and support theses SMEs and help them maximize their social and environmental impact.

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