Md. Ashraful Hassan, Chairman of the Grameen Group, has just been elected to board of directors of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation and takes over the Vice-Presidency of the Foundation. This appointment recognizes his long-standing commitment towards our foundation's mission of financial inclusion and social empowerment.

With more than 40 years of experience professional With Grameen, his professional journey demonstrates a deep understanding of the social enterprise ecosystem of the Grameen Group.

As a board member of over 30 companies, Md. Ashraful Hassan possesses extensive expertise spanning telecommunications, healthcare, education, renewable energy, financial inclusion, and rural development. He ensures that all initiatives remain firmly aligned with Grameen's social enterprise principles and shared mission. Zero poverty, Zero unemployment And Zero Net Carbon Emissions.

Listen to his story in our podcast

Discover how Md. Ashraful Hassan guided the evolution of the Grameen Group, transforming Professor Muhammad Yunus's pioneering microfinance initiative in 1976 into a comprehensive ecosystem of 31 social enterprises. In this podcast, he shares how listening to the needs of borrowers led to innovative solutions covering health, renewable energy and digital financial services, all guided by the vision of the Three Zeros.

Listen to the podcast: Episode 1: From Engineer to Social Leader – Md. Ashraful Hassan's Vision for the Grameen Group

His election to the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation strengthens the link between the two founding organizations of the Foundation and opens of new perspectives to amplify the collective impact in favor of financial inclusion and the empowerment of the most vulnerable populations around the world, particularly women.

THE February 11 and 12 was held in Paris the very First Meeting of the Grameen Family, marking a historic moment in the collective journey towards a world Three zeros: Zero poverty, Zero unemployment And Net zero carbon emissions.

The event brought together more than 60 participants from 25 organizations of 18 countries to strengthen their ties and amplify their collective impact. Participants shared diverse experiences from around the world focusing on financial inclusion, women's empowerment, digital technology, climate action strategies, etc.

This meeting represents the first step towards a more interconnected Grameen ecosystem that honors its shared heritage of Prof. Muhammad Yunus while embracing the innovation needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The workshops and discussions highlighted that cooperation is essential to addressing complex global problems, with participants recognizing that their diversity is also their strength.

The event reinforced Grameen's fundamental conviction: When you trust people, they live up to your expectations.. This principle also extends to institutions, with the meeting serving as a call to transform shared values into common actions.

 

 

 → Video Message from Professor Yunus

 → Opening speech by Mr. Md. Ashraful Hassan

 → Opening speech by Mr. Raphaël Appert

 → Key Note Speech by Abdul Hai Khan

 → Closing remarks for the first day by Ms. Véronique Faujour

 → Closing remarks by Mr. Md. Ashraful Hassan

 → Event presentation

 → Full event document

 → Photos

The global landscape of’international aid is currently undergoing a profound transformation. With a reduction of 7.4 % in 2024 and with even sharper cuts expected in 2025, many development sectors are under strain — but few as much as that of the’financial inclusion.

A new field investigation, led by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in partnership with CHERRY+SPTF and the Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC), sheds new light on the repercussions of these aid cuts. Based on responses from 86 organizations operating in 58 countries, The study highlights both the immediate consequences for Financial Service Providers (FSPs) and the broader impacts on the vulnerable populations that they accompany.

Although the inclusive finance sector was designed to be self-sufficient, The data shows that 58 % of the FSPs still depend — directly or indirectly — on programs or funding supported by international aid. These results mark a turning point for the sector, which now calls for strategic adaptation and strengthened cooperation between stakeholders.

 

Budget cuts hit rural and small institutions the hardest.

According to the investigation, 60 % of the FSPs declare that they are directly affected by the aid cuts. The most affected areas concern the partnerships (70 %), financial resources (53 %) and the quality of the customer portfolio (57 %). Small institutions (Level 3 FSPs) and those operating in fragile countries are the most vulnerable, as are the actors involved in the agricultural and rural finance — a segment heavily dependent on guarantees and programs supported by donors. A worrying fact, 67 % of respondents expect the situation to deteriorate in 2025–2026.

 

The most vulnerable customers suffer the consequences

The investigation highlights that the vulnerable customers are the first to be affected by these disruptions. Access to agricultural financing, green and climate finance, as well as to services intended for the poorest populations is among the most threatened areas. Near the half of the FSPs (49 %) They finance agricultural and livestock activities, sectors essential to rural economies but still heavily dependent on aid programs. The cascading effects on food security, gender inclusion, and community resilience could be considerable.

 

Strategic shifts and resilience test

Despite a challenging environment, the survey paints a picture of a sector of remarkable resilience. 57 % of respondents believe that inclusive finance remains generally sound. 44 % of the FSPs have already adapted their strategies, placing greater emphasis on the quality of the wallet, strategic alliances And customer protection.

The results also reveal a evolution of mentalities : 43 % of institutions are now focusing more on the sustainability, local partnerships And innovation. However, respondents point out that if the impact investors appear as key players in filling the funding gap, their expectations may not always align with the market reality.

 

A call to strengthen cooperation and innovation

The study concludes with a call to action to all stakeholders to:
1️⃣ Strengthen the local cooperation between public and private actors; ;
2️⃣ Promote mechanisms of mixed finance (blended finance) to optimize public and private resources; ;
3️⃣ Develop synergies between FSPs thanks to the pooling of resources and networks; ;
4️⃣ Prioritize the customer protection through the design of innovative and inclusive products; ;
5️⃣ Investing in the impact measurement in order to improve accountability and attract more private investors.

 

As one respondent — the financial director of a bank in the Dominican Republic — summarized:

" The inclusive finance sector is like a rock in the middle of a global storm. Despite aid cuts and geopolitical tensions, it remains incredibly strong because it focuses on what matters most: the financial needs of people in their communities. »

This new reality calls for greater innovation, cooperation, and collective resilience. The study's findings confirm that inclusive finance, deeply rooted in local economies and human needs, remains one of the most resilient and meaningful in the changing context of international aid.

 

➡️ Link to the full report