The 2024 edition of the Foundation’s integrated report has just been published. Discover the highlights of the year :
As of December 31, 2024, the Foundation managed €82 million in assets for 67 microfinance institutions and 10 social enterprises in 36 countries. Women’s entrepreneurship and the development of rural economies remain at the heart of our action: 75% of the 6,7 million beneficiaries are women, and 76% live in rural areas.
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How has the reduction in international aid impacted your work? Share your experiences, challenges, or adaptations
This survey is initiated by Grameen Crédit Agricole in partnership with CERISE+SPTF and the Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC), two networks who gather many field practitioners among their members.
It aims at assessing the impact on the financial inclusion sector of the downsizing and redefinition of international assistance following the USA and other countries’ aid contribution shrinkage to development programs worldwide.
Even though inclusive finance is essentially based on self-sustainability, Financial Services Providers (FSPs) and many of their clients may rely directly or indirectly on aid-supported programs in the areas of economic stability, access to essential services in health, education, infrastructure and energy.
The survey will take 5 to 10 minutes of your time. You can answer it until August 18th. We will share the results with you by October 2025. Thank you to contribute!
International assistance[1] has been reduced since 2024 (source: OECD, June 2025) and even more dramatically following the USAID abrupt shutdown (from programs worth 120 bn USD in Jan 2025 down to 69 bn USD in May 2025 (source: NY Times, June 2025). “There is not a single area of development and humanitarian assistance USAID has not been involved in,” said Oxfam America’s President and CEO Abby Maxman. Following this path, many countries are reducing their budget dedicated to foreign aid.
[1] International assistance is understood as aid, support, or resources provided by one country, international organization, or non-governmental entity to another country or population in need. often coordinated through multilateral organizations like the United Nations, the World Bank, or regional bodies, as well as through bilateral agreements between countries.
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Comment la réduction de l’aide internationale impacte-t-elle votre travail ? Partagez vos expériences, vos défis et vos adaptations.
Cette enquête est entreprise par Grameen Crédit Agricole en partenariat avec CERISE+SPTF et le Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC), deux réseaux qui rassemblent de nombreux acteurs de terrain parmi leurs membres.
Elle vise à évaluer l’impact sur le secteur de l’inclusion financière de la réduction et de la redéfinition de l’aide internationale suite à la diminution de la contribution des États-Unis et d’autres pays aux programmes de développement dans le monde.
Même si la finance inclusive est essentiellement basée sur l’autosuffisance, il se peut que les fournisseurs de services financiers (FSPs) et une grande partie de leurs clients et bénéficiaires dépendent directement ou indirectement de programmes soutenus par l’aide dans les domaines de la stabilité économique, de l’accès aux services essentiels en matière de santé, d’éducation, d’infrastructure et d’énergie.
L’enquête prendra 5 à 10 minutes de votre temps. Vous pouvez y répondre jusqu’au 18 août. Nous partagerons les résultats d’ici octobre 2025. Merci pour votre contribution !
L’aide internationale [1] a été réduite depuis 2024 (source : OECD, Juin 2025) et encore plus drastiquement suite à l’arrêt brutal de l’USAID (passant de programmes d’une valeur de 120 milliards de dollars en janvier 2025 à 69 milliards de dollars en mai 2025 (source : NY Times, Juin 2025). “Il n’y a pas un seul domaine de l’aide au développement et humanitaire dans lequel l’USAID n’a pas été impliquée”, a déclaré Abby Maxman, Présidente et PDG d’Oxfam America. Dans cette lignée, de nombreux pays réduisent leur budget consacré à l’aide étrangère.
[1] L’aide internationale est définie comme l’aide, le soutien ou les ressources fournies par un pays, une organisation internationale ou une entité non gouvernementale à un autre pays ou à une population dans le besoin. Elle est souvent coordonnée par des organisations multilatérales comme les Nations Unies, la Banque mondiale ou des organismes régionaux, ainsi que par des accords bilatéraux entre pays.
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¿Cómo ha impactado la reducción de la ayuda internacional en su trabajo? Comparta sus experiencias, desafíos o adaptaciones.
Esta encuesta es iniciada por Grameen Crédit Agricole en asociación con CERISE+SPTF y el Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC), dos redes que reúnen a muchos profesionales de campo entre sus miembros.
Su objetivo es evaluar el impacto en el sector de la inclusión financiera de la reducción y redefinición de la asistencia internacional, tras la disminución de la contribución de EE.UU. y otros países a los programas de desarrollo en todo el mundo.
Aunque las finanzas inclusivas se basan esencialmente en la autosostenibilidad, los proveedores de servicios financieros (PSF) y muchos de sus clientes y beneficiarios pueden depender directamente o indirectamente de programas apoyados por la ayuda en las áreas de estabilidad económica o del acceso a servicios esenciales de acceso a la salud, a la educación, a infraestructuras y a energía.
La encuesta tomará de 5 a 10 minutos de su tiempo. Ud. puede responder hasta el 18 de agosto. Los resultados de la encuesta se compartirán con usted en octubre 2025. ¡Gracias por su contribución!
La asistencia internacional [1] se ha reducido desde 2024 (fuente: OCDE, Junio de 2025) y aún más drásticamente tras el cierre abrupto de USAID (de programas por valor de 120 mil millones de USD en enero de 2025 a 69 mil millones de USD en mayo de 2025 (fuente: NY Times, Junio de 2025). “No hay una sola área de asistencia para el desarrollo y humanitaria en la que USAID no haya estado involucrada”, dijo Abby Maxman, Presidenta y CEO de Oxfam America. Siguiendo esta tendencia, muchos países están reduciendo su presupuesto dedicado a la ayuda exterior.
[1] La asistencia internacional se entiende como la ayuda, el apoyo o los recursos proporcionados por un país, una organización internacional o una entidad no gubernamental a otro país o población necesitada, a menudo coordinada a través de organizaciones multilaterales como las Naciones Unidas, el Banco Mundial u organismos regionales, así como mediante acuerdos bilaterales entre países.
At Grameen Crédit Agricole, we believe that local financial inclusion can and must be a powerful lever for social transformation. It is this strong commitment to sustainable impact that we wanted to illustrate through this video, which brings our mission to life in the field, alongside our partners who support women entrepreneurs and vulnerable populations.
Far from abstract discourse, this film immerses you in the daily lives of those who, thanks to tailored financial services, are improving their future. Because behind every professional project we support, there is a person, an ambition, a fight against economic and social inequality.
Our mission?
To promote women’s empowerment through tailored financial services and by supporting female entrepreneurship, for, by and with women.
This involves deploying concrete, financial, technical, and comprehensive local solutions in developing regions to solve global problems by collaborating with actors rooted in the realities on the ground (personalized support, technical assistance, listening to local realities, capacity building).
We finance microfinance institutions and social enterprises so that they, in turn, can support women in their quest for economic independence. Together, we build sustainable, humane, and impactful solutions.
Because beyond the numbers, it is the stories, the journeys, and the successes that matter.
On April 23, 2024, Grameen Crédit Agricole organized a conference bringing together more than 130 participants at the Village by CA Paris.
The goal? To explore the links between financial inclusion, climate change, and the role of women.
Investors, NGOs, foundations and Crédit Agricole Group employees attended the event to discuss ways of working together. The event highlighted the key role played by women, particularly in developing countries, in responding to climate challenges such as access to drinking water, clean energy and sustainable agriculture.
Committed speakers shared their practical experiences:
All of them showed how financial inclusion can be a powerful lever for strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable communities.
This highlight was also marked by the presentation of the Women Empowerment for Climate fund, an investment tool designed to support projects led by women in sectors affected by climate change.
Finally, actress and director Aïssa Maïga gave a deeply moving testimony that touched the audience. In a discussion led by Véronique Faujour, Managing Director of Grameen Crédit Agricole and Secretary General of Crédit Agricole S.A., she highlighted the real consequences of climate change on emerging countries.
Philippe Guichandut recently spoke at the Uniglobal Conference on March 13-14, 2025, an international event bringing together major players in inclusive finance in Berlin. At this year’s conference, he shared his expertise on key issues for Grameen Crédit Agricole.
As part of a presentation on financial inclusion for refugees, Philippe highlighted initiatives in Uganda, emphasizing the importance of strategic partnerships in meeting the specific needs of this vulnerable population. He also addressed the challenges associated with country risks in unstable contexts such as Myanmar, Mali, Burkina Faso, Palestine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Among the innovative solutions presented, the guarantee scheme run by DAMAN in Palestine, supported by SIDI, illustrated the adaptability and resilience of microfinance actors.
This participation was an opportunity to reaffirm Grameen Crédit Agricole’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable and solidarity-based finance for the most vulnerable populations.
The FIR Fund (Inclusive Finance in Rural areas) was created in 2018 by the Foundation to provide entities of the Crédit Agricole Group with a dedicated fund for inclusive finance worldwide. From the start, 21* Regional Banks took part, along with Amundi and Crédit Agricole Assurances, in financing 8 rural microfinance institutions operating in 8 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
In 2023, the FIR Fund increased its investments to finance micro-entrepreneurs. Seven new loans were granted to MFIs, enabling the fund to reach a strong asset deployment rate of 80%. As of December 31, 2023, the total outstanding loan portfolio stood at €8,350,000, representing 80% of the fund’s deployed assets. These microfinance institutions in turn finance micro-entrepreneurs, 67% of whom are women, 75% located in rural areas, and 37% are farmers.
By the end of December 2023, the FIR Fund was supporting 8 microfinance institutions: Mikra in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lazika in Georgia, Asian Credit Fund in Kazakhstan, Oxus in Kyrgyzstan, Prima Finantare in Moldova, Furuz in Tajikistan, AMZ in Zambia, and Pahal in India.
Solidarity Bankers is a skills volunteering program launched in 2018 by Grameen Crédit Agricole and open to all Crédit Agricole Group employees. It invites professionals from various Group entities to work for several weeks, alone or in groups, in support of microfinance institutions and impact enterprises supported by the Foundation.
Beyond the usefulness of their missions for their beneficiaries, the Solidarity Bankers evoke three-way positive effects for Crédit Agricole and the volunteers as well.
Anne Duval, HR Performance and Organization Leader, CA-TS, Delphine Testemale, Talent Careers and Diversity Manager, Crédit Agricole Centre Est, François Galland, retired from Crédit Agricole S.A. and back from Benin, and Pénélope Cellier, Audit Manager – General Inspection, CACEIS, and Thierry Boîte, Development Director, LCL, after their mission in Togo shared their experiences.
Since 2018, there is no doubt that the missions carried out by the Group’s employees have met the expectations and needs of the beneficiaries. More than 70 missions have been carried out by more than 60 Banquiers Solidaires for the benefit of 45 partners in 24 countries. More than 750 active contacts within the group, eligible for skills-based sponsorship, have also been identified, particularly through the J’agis platform since 2023.
For the Banquiers Solidaires, as Pénélope Cellier explains, a mission involves much more than just discovering the country, the workings and the culture of a microfinance institution and the people who run it locally. A personal contribution “far beyond my expectations”, emphasizes Thierry Boite.
Whether the mission is related to human resources, compliance or any other area of expertise, it is essential for a socially responsible banker to have a broad range of skills related to the theme of the mission, says François Galland, in order to be able to use them and benefit from them in a completely different context.
“Initially, I didn’t necessarily expect the mission to challenge me on my own daily practices and attitudes. Once I got there, I was surprised: the mission offered me concrete lessons on how to work with people from very different cultures and backgrounds. It was an enriching experience that now helps me do my job better,” says Delphine Testemale.
All are convinced that this produces a kind of mirror effect that contributes to their personal development, which they then pass on to their teams when they return.
And this is all the more true as the preparatory work can be very comprehensive and time-consuming, encouraging people to take a step back, reflect and even innovate.
These missions create very strong human bonds that last both professionally and personally. Anne Duval, who completed her second mission, maintains relationships with the people she met in Senegal and Benin. In particular, she plans to return to Benin to see them again and is currently organizing a clothing drive for the children.
“We were welcomed with open arms. Carrying out missions like these enables us to establish strong human relationships, authentic communication and real sharing, including on a personal level,” explains Anne Duval.
In many ways, these missions serve the Crédit Agricole Group’s purpose and are part of its Human and Societal Projects. Usefulness, inclusion, innovation and personal development can easily be associated with them. Their added value is not limited to the beneficiaries alone but also serves the Banquiers Solidaires, more indirectly their teams and stakeholders, but also the image of Crédit Agricole and even, according to Thierry Boite, “its influence”.
