Lundin for Africa (LFA) is the philanthropic arm of the Lundin Group of Companies. LFA was founded in 2006 by the Lundin family, with a view to contributing toward improvements in the lives of Africa's most impoverished and vulnerable populations. The Lundins are mining and natural resource entrepreneurs who have enjoyed considerable success in Africa and have recognized the need to ensure that benefits received from the resource sector are shared with host countries local communities. Working together with Canadian and international NGOs, LFA supports participatory grassroots initiatives that encourage sustainable community development.

Africa support is organized into three programmatic areas.

Agriculture

Historical evidence shows that it is agricultural growth, through its leverage effects on the rest of the economy, that typically enables poor countries, poor regions, and ultimately poor households, to take initial steps toward improved productivity and incomes. The importance of agriculture for poverty reduction goes well beyond its direct impact on rural incomes; agricultural growth, particularly through increased productivity, also reduces poverty by stabilizing and lowering food prices, increasing employment for the rural poor, and increasing the demand for non-farm goods and services.

Financial Services for the Poor

Among the poorest segments of Africa's population, less than ten percent have access to formal financial services. Access to such services both reduces the vulnerability of impoverished families to setbacks and opens opportunities to increase income. With a view to supporting the development of innovative credit, savings, and insurance products to under-served rural and peri-urban populations, LFA supports the capitalization of micro-finance and insurance facilities, village savings and loans associations, and technical assistance in credit and portfolio management.

SME Venture Capital

In developed countries, SMEs account for over 57% of employment and 50% of GDP. But in the developing countries, they contribute only 18 percent of employment and 16 percent of GDP, respectively. Removing barriers to SME growth is critical to sustained economic development by providing jobs and income, expanding the middle class, broadening the tax base and ultimately decreasing poverty levels.

Lundin for Africa sits on the Investor's Council of the Global Impact Investing Network (www.globalimpactinvestingnetwork.com) and is a Member of the Aspen Network of Development Entreprenuers (ANDE) (www.aspeninstitute.org/policy-work/aspen-network-development-entrepreneurs)