Launched in June 2018 at the initiative of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation and Crédit Agricole SA, Solidarity Bankers is a skills volunteering program open to all Crédit Agricole Group employees in support of microfinance institutions and social impact businesses supported by the Foundation.

The objective of the program Solidarity Bankers is twofold: on the one hand, it allows us to promote the skills of Crédit Agricole Group employees who wish to get involved in solidarity projects and, on the other hand, to strengthen support for microfinance institutions and businesses financed by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation. Two years after its launch, discover the testimonials and highlights of the missions in Senegal and Cambodia in 3 video capsules which present the results of the program.

First destination, Senegal

The program's first mission is emblematic: the mission led by Jonathan Michaud, an agricultural engineer from Crédit Agricole Franche Comté in Senegal for the Laiterie du Berger. With the support of the Regional Bank, the Solidarity Banker spent two years helping the Dairy structure the dairy sector in Senegal. Today, he is Director of KOSSAM SDE, the Dairy's subsidiary created following his mission, which is helping to structure the dairy sector in northern Senegal by providing material resources and training to farmers and developing an innovative model of pilot "mini-farms." 1,230 local farmers were supported, whose income increased by more than 50% between 2018 and 2019.

Another mission was carried out in Senegal in 2020. Michèle Kouam, IT Project Manager at Crédit Agricole SA, left at the beginning of the year to support the Société Sénégalaise des Filières Alimentaires (SFA). Her mission was to work on the digitalization of rice collection for SFA, a company that produces white rice from paddy grown by small producers in the Senegal River Valley. By enabling access to credit, providing technical support, and guaranteeing a fair price, SFA now supports 3,200 smallholder farmers and promotes the development of an inclusive rice sector in Senegal.

Heading to Cambodia

A final mission completes this visual overview: the mission of François Galland, International HR Director of Crédit Agricole SA, to the microfinance institution Chamroeun. François worked for two weeks on Chamroeun's human resources strategy. The institution offers financial products and services to more than 33,000 low-income people in Cambodia, who are also supported with a range of training and social support services.

Next steps

Since the program's launch, 20 missions have been launched, 12 of which have already been completed. The selection process for the first missions launched in 2020 has been finalized, but two missions remain to be filled, in Morocco and Egypt.

With Solidarity Bankers, Crédit Agricole's regional banks and entities in France and internationally are increasing their efforts to promote inclusive finance and strengthening the human and societal projects of the Group/PMT 2022 strategy.

Watch the video of the 3 missions

In the current context of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is essential to encourage savings activities to ensure the resilience of vulnerable people. Savings help, among other things, smooth consumption in the face of income volatility, minimize the impact of financial and other shocks, encourage long-term planning, and provide opportunities for productive investment.

The 2020 European Microfinance Award (EMA 2020) will award €100,000 to the organization that best promotes effective and inclusive savings. Among 70 applications from 37 countries, three finalists have been announced: Buusaa Gonofaa Microfinance, Muktinath Bikas Bank, and RENACA, a partner of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation. These organizations offer savings products and services based on a true understanding of client needs and behaviors, reach underserved populations, and ensure that savings are accessible, affordable, and useful.

RENACA is a union of Beninese cooperatives supported by the Foundation since 2013, targeting low-income and vulnerable populations in rural areas. RENACA offers a wide range of savings products (door-to-door "tontine" models, term deposits, and demand deposits) and promotes community savings and credit groups. Its savings offering is based on a mobile application and the use of tablets, for secure and reliable customer transactions. RENACA also provides training on financial education and other non-financial services.

Following the announcement of the finalists, Luxembourg's Minister for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs, Franz Fayot, said: "The extraordinary response to this year's award is a strong testament to the impressive reputation it has earned for its rigor and the quality of the benefits that can be reaped by exposing those who perform well in the process. The diverse applications highlight not only the importance of responsible inclusive financial services during crises, but also how savings can strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in particular."

The winner will be chosen from among the three finalists by a Jury and their name will be announced on November 19, 2020 during an online ceremony to be held during EMW 2020.
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More information on e-MFP

SOLIDARITY CENTS

Launched in 2018 by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, Crédit Agricole SA and CA Centre-est, Centimes solidaires aims to finance entrepreneurial projects by mobilizing Crédit Agricole employees who are invited to make a donation of 50 cents when paying for their meal in the restaurants on the Crédit Agricole Campus.

Entrepreneurs du Monde, an NGO also funded by the Crédit Agricole Solidarité et Développement Foundation, has been a beneficiary of the initiative since its first edition. The NGO has already received €15,651 to strengthen the ICI (Incubation, Creation, Inclusion) program, which supports entrepreneurship projects for refugees, single parents, and homeless people in Lyon. In two years, more than 100 people have received guidance to structure their entrepreneurial projects.

2020 will be the 3rd^e and final year of support for Entrepreneurs du Monde, which will receive an additional €11,000 in subsidies.

MEETING WITH LIDIA

To close the 3^e edition of Centimes solidaires, the Foundation and Crédit Agricole welcome Lidia, an Italian entrepreneur supported through the operation, on October 29, 2020, to the Montrouge Campus.

Having arrived in France 12 years ago, Lidia is an Italian entrepreneur, mother of three, and recipient of the RSA (Responsible Income Support). Thanks to the support of Entrepreneurs du Monde through the ICI program, she was able to create her own catering business. The next step: bringing a former grocery store in Lyon to life, on a street steeped in Italian history.

Come chat with Lidia and taste her culinary specialties!

Event reserved exclusively for Crédit Agricole group employees.

To register, contact carolina.viguet@credit-agricole-sa.fr