UNCDF's mission is to reduce poverty in the world's 48 least developed countries (LDCs). Promoting financial inclusion is one of its key strategies for doing so. UNCDF works first and foremost in the LDCs to ensure that more households and small businesses gain access to credit, savings, insurance and other financial services that expand opportunities and reduce vulnerabilities. UNCDF's ability to provide risk capital directly to the private sector is helping bring new financial products to underserved markets and spurring innovations. By ensuring formal financial systems include poor people - with savings, credit, payments, insurance, and remittances - UNCDF helps poor families and small businesses generate income, build assets, invest in opportunities and strengthen resilience to setbacks.