Episode 5: From McKinsey to the Congo – Jérôme Gabriel's vision for conservation, peace, and prosperity
Discover the podcast : Episode 5
Welcome to our podcast series
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation continues its podcast series featuring stories of Grameen family leaders who are reshaping the landscape of inclusive finance and social business worldwide. In this fifth episode, we meet Jérôme Gabriel, head of economic development at the Virunga Foundation, to explore his remarkable journey, from management consulting to the creation of a revolutionary model that unites conservation, peacebuilding and inclusive finance in one of the world's most challenging regions.
What you'll discover
Jérôme Gabriel shares how the Virunga Foundation has evolved., moving from managing Africa's oldest national park to being a pioneer in integrated conservation and economic development. Discover how innovative approaches to renewable energy, smart meter technology and inclusive microfinance are creating decent livelihoods, reducing deforestation and directly contributing to peacebuilding in North Kivu, one of the most fragile regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key Highlights
· The power of inspiration: How a Netflix documentary transformed a McKinsey consultant's career path towards conservation and social impact
· Understanding the interconnected crisis The complex challenges facing North Kivu range from volcanic eruptions and floods linked to climate change to deforestation caused by poverty and armed conflict.
· An innovative integrated model How the Virunga Foundation combines conservation and economic development, recognizing that the park's survival depends on the ability of local communities to have decent livelihoods
· Innovation through smart technology The revolutionary use of smart meters as the foundation of financial services, enabling microfinance without traditional banking infrastructure
· From electricity to entrepreneurship How electrification has catalyzed the creation of SMEs (93% of SMEs were created after electrification) and opened pathways to formal employment for former members of armed groups
· Direct impact on peace The measurable link between job creation and peacebuilding – 10,130 jobs created by Virunga-supported businesses are held by former members of armed groups
· Agroforestry as a transformation An innovative approach combining microfinance for reforestation with the development of value chains in palm oil and cocoa, where payments for environmental services can cancel debt and create sustainable incentives for conservation
Why this matters
In a region where poverty, environmental degradation, and armed conflict are deeply intertwined, Jérôme Gabriel's approach demonstrates that Inclusive finance, when strategically designed and grounded in an understanding of local realities, can be a powerful tool for peacebuilding, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Perfect for
Impact investors, social entrepreneurs, development professionals, policymakers, non-profit leaders, peacebuilding advocates, climate action champions, and all those passionate about creating meaningful change through finance, conservation and social business in challenging contexts.
Key quote
«The survival of the park and everything else depends on the ability of local communities to have decent livelihoods. When we invest in infrastructure, renewable energy, and empower people to start their own businesses, we create a real and positive impact on the armed groups in the region.» – Jérôme Gabriel
Listen now and be inspired by a leader who truly makes a difference in one of the world's most complex environments.
«"A path to change in inclusive finance and social business"» – Where impact meets innovation.
Subscribe Subscribe to our podcast series to stay informed about upcoming episodes featuring other transformative leaders from the Grameen family who are creating change across continents and sectors.
Transcription in French
English Transcription
Episode 5: From McKinsey to the Congo – Jérôme Gabriel's vision for conservation, peace, and prosperity
Podcast: A Journey for change in Inclusive Finance and Social Entrepreneurship #5
Episode 5: From McKinsey to the Congo – Jérôme Gabriel's vision for conservation, peace, and prosperity
Discover the podcast : Episode 5
Welcome to our podcast series
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation continues its podcast series featuring stories of Grameen family leaders who are reshaping the landscape of inclusive finance and social business worldwide. In this fifth episode, we meet Jérôme Gabriel, head of economic development at the Virunga Foundation, to explore his remarkable journey, from management consulting to the creation of a revolutionary model that unites conservation, peacebuilding and inclusive finance in one of the world's most challenging regions.
What you'll discover
Jérôme Gabriel shares how the Virunga Foundation has evolved., moving from managing Africa's oldest national park to being a pioneer in integrated conservation and economic development. Discover how innovative approaches to renewable energy, smart meter technology and inclusive microfinance are creating decent livelihoods, reducing deforestation and directly contributing to peacebuilding in North Kivu, one of the most fragile regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key Highlights
· The power of inspiration: How a Netflix documentary transformed a McKinsey consultant's career path towards conservation and social impact
· Understanding the interconnected crisis The complex challenges facing North Kivu range from volcanic eruptions and floods linked to climate change to deforestation caused by poverty and armed conflict.
· An innovative integrated model How the Virunga Foundation combines conservation and economic development, recognizing that the park's survival depends on the ability of local communities to have decent livelihoods
· Innovation through smart technology The revolutionary use of smart meters as the foundation of financial services, enabling microfinance without traditional banking infrastructure
· From electricity to entrepreneurship How electrification has catalyzed the creation of SMEs (93% of SMEs were created after electrification) and opened pathways to formal employment for former members of armed groups
· Direct impact on peace The measurable link between job creation and peacebuilding – 10,130 jobs created by Virunga-supported businesses are held by former members of armed groups
· Agroforestry as a transformation An innovative approach combining microfinance for reforestation with the development of value chains in palm oil and cocoa, where payments for environmental services can cancel debt and create sustainable incentives for conservation
Why this matters
In a region where poverty, environmental degradation, and armed conflict are deeply intertwined, Jérôme Gabriel's approach demonstrates that Inclusive finance, when strategically designed and grounded in an understanding of local realities, can be a powerful tool for peacebuilding, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Perfect for
Impact investors, social entrepreneurs, development professionals, policymakers, non-profit leaders, peacebuilding advocates, climate action champions, and all those passionate about creating meaningful change through finance, conservation and social business in challenging contexts.
Key quote
«The survival of the park and everything else depends on the ability of local communities to have decent livelihoods. When we invest in infrastructure, renewable energy, and empower people to start their own businesses, we create a real and positive impact on the armed groups in the region.» – Jérôme Gabriel
Listen now and be inspired by a leader who truly makes a difference in one of the world's most complex environments.
«"A path to change in inclusive finance and social business"» – Where impact meets innovation.
Subscribe Subscribe to our podcast series to stay informed about upcoming episodes featuring other transformative leaders from the Grameen family who are creating change across continents and sectors.
Transcription in French
English Transcription
Inclusive Insurance in Rwanda: A Model for Africa
Inclusive Insurance in Rwanda: A Model for Africa
Inclusive insurance in Rwanda: a model for Africa
In Rwanda, inclusive insurance is not a theory, it is an operational lever protecting farmers against climate and economic shocks. In the framework of a programme conducted in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and financed by Proparco, a field exchange brought together 17 practitioners from 12 organisations across 9 countries to observe how a structured ecosystem, where public authorities, insurers, and microfinance institutions collaborate, makes insurance protection accessible to vulnerable populations.
Radiant Yacu, Rwanda's first dedicated microinsurance company, illustrates this dynamic: growing from USD 8,000 in premiums in 2019 to USD 6.7 million in 2024, it demonstrates how adapted products, innovative distribution, and a supportive institutional framework can transform insurance into a real lever for local development. The Rwandan government plays a key role by subsidising 40% of agricultural insurance premiums, removing a critical access barrier.
But Rwanda is not the only country facing challenges. Participants from West Africa shared different realities: insecurity in Mali and Burkina Faso destabilising portfolios, growing climate risks in Togo and Benin, and limited comparable public engagement. These field experiences reveal that the success of inclusive insurance depends on five essential conditions: simple and affordable products, innovative and proximity-based distribution, financial education, transparency in claims payment, and a supportive institutional framework.
Discover how these lessons redefine the conditions for success of inclusive insurance in Africa and how to adapt the Rwandan model to different contexts.
🔗 Full article via this link.
A strategic partnership to transform agricultural finance in Africa
Mobilizing French expertise in the service of rural resilience
During the Business Forum of the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, the French Development Agency (AFD), the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, Crédit Agricole Assurances, ZEP-RE and ACRE Africa have announced the signing of a structuring partnership aimed at facilitating access to agricultural financing in Africa.
This strategic alliance addresses a major challenge: millions of African smallholders remain exposed to climate shocks without adequate financial protections. Every year, drought, floods or crop diseases threaten crops and the livelihoods of entire families.
An integrated and innovative approach
The partnership combines three complementary pillars to create a resilient ecosystem:
An ecosystem of expertise mobilized
This initiative mobilizes a set of actors recognized for their expertise in agricultural finance, climate insurance and digital solutions. Crédit Agricole Assurances is particularly committed by seconding a project manager and providing experts for specific missions.
ZEP-RE and its subsidiary ACRE Africa, key players in the regional insurance and reinsurance market, guarantee a deployment adapted to local realities and in close collaboration with banks, microfinance institutions and agricultural value chains.
Towards a more resilient African agriculture
As stated by Véronique Faujour, General Secretary of Crédit Agricole S.A. and General Delegate of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation: "There can be no sustainable agricultural financing without sustainable protection. By mitigating risk, we make the investment possible and sustainable.”
This partnership demonstrates how French expertise can catalyze concrete, replicable and high-impact solutions. By combining insurance, data, and financing, it creates the conditions for smallholders, especially women entrepreneurs, to access the credit they need to thrive.
In a context where African agriculture concentrates a significant share of economic resources and jobs, this innovative approach paves the way for a sustainable transformation of agricultural markets and increased resilience to climate challenges.
Link to the press release
Grameen Family Gathering
Proparco and the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation strengthen their historic partnership
A partnership of more than 15 years that continues to grow stronger. The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation teams welcomed at the Foundation the one from Proparco to celebrate and deepen this strategic collaboration in the service of financial inclusion in Africa and Asia.
A meeting rich in exchanges and results
This meeting allowed both organizations to capitalize on their common successes and share the progress of high-impact projects: financial inclusion of displaced populations in Uganda, the support of microfinance institutions on gender issues and climate change adaptation, as well as the development ofoffers innovative microinsurance offerings..
The signing of a 9th ARIZ guarantee
The highlight of this visit was the signing of the ninth ARIZ portfolio guarantee for an amount of 25 million euros. This guarantee, granted by PROPARCO, will enable the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation to continue and expand its activity in riskier geographies where access to financial services remains limited.
Françoise Lombard, CEO of Proparcostressed the importance of this partnership: 'GCA is a valuable partner for Proparco, thanks to its recognized expertise and ability to innovate to meet the needs of financial inclusion, particularly of women and people in rural areas. Today, we are very pleased to strengthen our partnership with the signing of this ninth ARIZ portfolio guarantee.’ »
Beyond the signature, the real impact
For Véronique Faujour, Secretary General of Crédit Agricole Group, this signature has a profound meaning: ‘What matters to us is not the signing of a guarantee, but what it makes possible on the ground: resilience, dignity and opportunities where they are most lacking.’ »
This renewed partnership between Proparco, and the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation reflects a shared conviction: financial inclusion is a major lever for sustainable development and social transformation.
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation joins FAIR
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation announces its integration into FAIR, THE French collective of social and ecological impact finance. This membership marks a strengthening of its commitment to solidarity finance and transparency.
FAIR: a collective dedicated to impact finance
Founded in 2021, FAIR brings together more than 150 committed stakeholders Financial institutions, management companies, social enterprises, NGOs, universities, and prominent figures. Recognized as the French center of expertise FAIR, a social impact finance company, is committed to a world where finance is a major lever major to transitions, giving priority social and environmental impact. The collective works towards building a more humane economy, a more united society and a fairer world.
By joining the collective, members benefit from regular expertise, advocacy with public authorities, increased visibility, funding synergies with other social and solidarity economy actors, as well as the opportunity to contribute to discussions on financial innovation and impact.
A strengthened positioning to enhance impact
This membership in FAIR strengthens the position of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation as a’trusted player in socially responsible finance and financial inclusion. It demonstrates its commitment to using finance to achieve social and climate impact on a global scale.
Through this approach, the Foundation reaffirms its commitment to responsible, transparent finance that is truly oriented towards social and environmental change.
Learn more on the FAIR Finance website via this link.
Podcast: A Journey for change in Inclusive Finance and Social Entrepreneurship #4
Episode 4: Building Empires from Dreams – Dolores M. Torres' Blueprint for Poverty Eradication
Discover the podcast: Episode 4
Welcome to our podcast series
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation continues its podcast series that brings you transformative stories of leaders from the Grameen family who are reshaping the landscape of inclusive finance and social business across the globe. In this fourth episode, we sit down with Dolores M. Torres, president emeritus of CARD (Center for Agriculture and Rural Development), one of the one of the world's largest women-focused microfinance institutions , to explore how a vision born from personal commitment has transformed the lives of more than 10 million Filipinos.
What you'll discover
Dolores M. Torres shares her remarkable journey from a young volunteer with the Philippine Business for Social Progress to co-founding CARD with just 20 pesos and a dream. Discover how she developed a business that now operates through 3,700 offices, and how the Grameen model inspired her to create institutions owned and governed by the women they serve. Learn how listening to clients transformed a single microfinance organization into a group of 34 interconnected institutions serving insurance, education, healthcare and financial services to over 33 million Filipinos.
Key Highlights
Why this matters
As the world faces rapid technological change and shifting development priorities, Dolores M. Torres' story demonstrates that sustainable poverty alleviation requires more than financial innovation. It demands genuine commitment, client empowerment, and the courage to dream big while staying grounded in core values.
In an era where AI and digital tools are reshaping financial services, CARD's experience shows how technology can enhance rather than replace the human touch that defines transformative microfinance. The emotional connection between staff and the communities they serve remains the true engine of change.
Perfect for
Impact investors, social entrepreneurs, development professionals, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, women leaders and activists, technology innovators, and anyone passionate about creating meaningful change through client-centered finance, women's empowerment, and social business.
Key quote
" We dream big, just like Grameen Bank. When we started CARD as an NGO, we dreamed of establishing a bank that would be owned by the poor women. At that time, it looked impossible. We only had 20 pesos. But we promised them we will build a bank that you will own, and we realized it. » – Dolores M. Torres
Listen now
Be inspired by a leader who has dedicated her life to proving that poverty is not inevitable, it is a choice we can collectively reject through inclusive finance, women's empowerment, and unwavering commitment to social mission.
________________________________________
A Journey for Change in Inclusive Finance and Social Business : Where impact meets innovation.
Subscribe to our podcast series to stay updated on upcoming episodes featuring other transformative leaders from the Grameen family who are driving change across continents and sectors.
Discover the podcast via this link
French transcript
English transcript
Episode 4: Building Empires from Dreams – Dolores M. Torres's Action Plan for Eradicating Poverty