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Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in October 2008. The Government indicates that it has implemented several practical measures to harmonize the country’s economic development and ensure more balanced regional development. These measures concern, in particular, the provisions of Act No. 2001-31 setting out the aims of the regional planning policy, which aims to reduce regional disparities through improved coverage of the essential needs of the population; the creation of a National Institute of Statistics as a tool for improving economic and human development indicators and the special programme of the President of the Republic, which aims to equip rural areas with basic socio-economic infrastructure (schools and health centres). In order to promote the industrialization of rural areas, section 37 of the Investment Code provides for a three-year exemption from duties period for enterprises which are established in certain regions. The Government also indicates that microfinance institutions and cereal-providing banks constitute a tool for local development and for combating poverty. According to the data available, there is persistent poverty, particularly in rural areas (nearly two in three Nigeriens live below the poverty line). The overall rate of underemployment is 34.62 per cent, while the rate for women is 38.33 per cent and that for men is 32.93 per cent. Underemployment mainly affects rural populations. The level of education is low, malnutrition is rife among a significant proportion of the population, mortality rates are high, there is insufficient access to drinking water and limited access to energy, transport and communication infrastructure, as well as to markets. The Committee also notes that, to remedy this situation, the Government has adopted a new accelerated development and poverty reduction strategy (SDRP 2008–12), which focuses on the development of clusters with strong growth potential and which create jobs and the promotion of regional development poles. The Committee requests the Government to include information in its next report on the results achieved following the adoption of Act No. 2001-31 setting out the aims of the regional planning policy, indicating the progress made in reducing regional disparities and improving the standards of living of the population. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved under the SDRP to contribute to the well-being and development of the population and to promote its desire for social progress (Article 1). Please also include information on the steps taken to improve living conditions in rural areas, increase productive capacity and improve the standard of living of workers in the informal economy (Articles 3 and 4).