Report finds poverty "trending downward" in Africa
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We Can End Poverty: First Millennium Development Goal
Africa's poverty rate dropped by nearly 10 per cent over a three-year period, according to a report launched on Tuesday by the United Nations and regional partners.
It finds that Africa is making steady progress on the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) although some indicators remain off-target.
However, the good news includes a decline in the poverty rate from 56 per cent to 47 per cent from 2005 to 2008, says Bartholomew Armah from the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
"The trend in terms of poverty is a positive one. Poverty is trending downwards for the latest figures we have on poverty for the $1.25 a day. What is remarkable is that for the first time since poverty data was counted, or taken into account, both the poverty rate and the number of poor declined." (Duration: 22″)
The MDG report was one of three studies released in connection with Africa Week in the UN General Assembly which runs through Friday.
The other reports cover Africa's common development and the effectiveness of development support to the continent.
