With a population of over 700 million, Africa's development represents the greatest of challenges for its people, their leaders and the international community. Home to 29 out of the 31 countries with the lowest levels of human development, Africa is the only continent which has seen a rise in the number of people living in poverty over the past 30 years. More than 25 million Africans are HIV positive, and AIDS is the leading cause of premature death on the continent. Yet, despite these challenges, there are good news stories. According to the World Bank, African countries took the biggest steps in reducing corruption over the past ten years. Sub-Saharan Africa is also seeing its strongest economic growth since the 1970’s, offering millions of people the chance to escape a life of poverty.