The Solidarity Bankers program, launched in 2018 by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation and Crédit Agricole SA., allows the group's employees to contribute to socially useful projects through their skills. A variety of missions are offered, in person or remotely, to support microfinance institutions and socially and environmentally impact companies that are partners of the Foundation.

In this context, Anya Lounis of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring in 2022 and today at Crédit Agricole Insurance And Anne Elizabeth Starr of Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank traveled to Georgia in 2022 for a two-week mission to Lazika Capital, a microfinance institution. Their goal was to analyze existing marketing initiatives, collaborate with local teams to develop the 2023 marketing plan, and improve financial product sales management. Their testimonials reflect the positive impact of this experience.

Discover the daily life of their mission in video through 3 vlog episodes:

• Episode 1: Arrival in Georgia.

• Episode 2: Immersion.

• Episode 3: Leaving Georgia.

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Anne Elizabeth Starr, Head of Trade Finance Sales to Financial Institutions at Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, emphasizes the importance of the human aspect of this mission: “Anya and I had a shared vision for this mission in Georgia: to support Lazika Capital in its objectives as best we could and to fully experience this human adventure!” She also mentions the inspiring meetings with Lazika Capital’s farmer clients, which enriched their understanding of local needs and culture.

Anya Lounis, a solidarity banker at Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring in 2022, now Operational Marketing Manager at Crédit Agricole Assurances, shares her enthusiasm for this professional and personal experience, which allowed her to put her skills to work for financial inclusion: "This opportunity allowed me to take a step back and be open-minded. Anne Elizabeth and I had to adapt since we were unfamiliar with the microfinance sector."

Lazika Capital, founded in 2000 in Georgia by Oxfam Great Britain, is a Tier 2 microfinance institution (an organization with a portfolio of between $10 million and $100 million). Based in Zugdidi, it operates through 18 branches in western Georgia and provides financial services to mainly rural low- and middle-income entrepreneurs. Lazika Capital has 280 employees and 77 loan officers.