Women's autonomy, a priority for the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation

Economic development requires supporting women's entrepreneurial activities. Their income independence is a key factor in reducing gender inequality worldwide.

With 77,000 women served among the active clients of its partner institutions, compared to the sector average of less than 50,000, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation stands out as a committed player. This has been a choice it has made since its inception. It continues to do so today: approximately one-third of the institutions in its portfolio specifically target women.

Zhanna B. Zhakupova, Managing Director of Asian Credit Fund, a microfinance organization supported by the Foundation in Kazakhstan, said: “We know that women reinvest more than 90% of their income into their families and children’s education. Therefore, the more women engage in economic activities, even small ones, the more families in Kazakhstan will be able to achieve a decent standard of living. This reality is at the heart of ACF. Since 1997, we have supported more than 100,000 women by providing them with access to credit and training to start and grow their own businesses.”

Find out more here: Annual Report 2017

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Created in 2008, under the joint leadership of Crédit Agricole SA's management and Professor Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Grameen Bank, the Grameen Crédit Agricole SA Foundation is a multi-sector operator that contributes to the fight against poverty through financial inclusion and social impact entrepreneurship. As an investor, lender, technical assistance coordinator, and fund advisor, the Foundation supports microfinance institutions and social enterprises in nearly 40 countries.

The Foundation is expanding its area of intervention alongside the BPI

By François-Edouard Drion, BPI Crédit Agricole

The Crédit Agricole Group's International Proximity Bank (BPI) joined forces with the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation in 2017, developing a partnership for its two banks in the Mediterranean Basin, Crédit Agricole Egypt and Crédit du Maroc.

The BPI and these two institutions pay particular attention to promoting inclusive finance in their regions, as part of their CSR strategy. The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation contributes its expertise in developing the microfinance sector.

In Egypt and Morocco, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation's recognized expertise has enabled us to offer innovative financing solutions for microfinance institutions, which uniquely position us in the market. They fully support our values of proximity, local utility, and ethical and responsible finance. This allows us to generate a positive social impact while promoting a profitable economic model.

We hope that this partnership model will also be implemented in Serbia. Other countries are under consideration.

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Source : Annual Report 2017

Meeting with Philippe Guichandut, Director of Inclusive Finance

By Flora Helard & Mathilde Thonon, In venture

For 10 years, the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation has been encouraging the development of local microfinance initiatives and social enterprises in the more than 30 developing countries where it operates. We interviewed Philippe Guichandut, who spoke to us about the Foundation's commitments and the results of its work.

Socially responsible, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation was created in 2008 under the joint leadership of Crédit Agricole executives and Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of the Grameen microcredit bank (see his interview here). The Foundation encourages the development of local microfinance initiatives and social enterprises in the 32 developing countries where it operates. In 2017, €49 million was granted to partner microfinance institutions and social enterprises.

We interviewed Philippe Guichandut, Director of Development and Technical Assistance, who told us about the Foundation's commitments and results.

1. The partnership between Crédit Agricole and Grameen will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Based on the Foundation's experience, can Professor Yunus's assertion that the poor are solvent be confirmed?

Indeed, we realized that the beneficiaries of microfinance institutions generally repay their loans well, at better repayment rates than those of traditional banks for this type of client. However, the definition of "poor" must be qualified. To reach the poorest populations, microfinance is not enough. It is necessary to provide complementary non-financial services and personalized support, so that clients do not find themselves in situations of over-indebtedness. MFIs that target the poorest populations thus first offer information sessions as well as individual assistance, then credit intervenes at a later stage when the person is more ready and better equipped to develop their economic activity. So I would say that yes, under certain conditions, the poor are solvent. However, I do not believe that everyone is a potential entrepreneur; many microfinance borrowers are in a survival logic, especially among the poorest. We must carefully select individuals who will know how to use credit wisely, so as not to worsen their situation.

2. Why do you think banks have a leading role to play in solving social and environmental problems?

Banks certainly have a role to play, just like NGOs, the state, and businesses. It is important that they integrate a social dimension into their activities and evolve towards a more inclusive and responsible way of operating, so as not to leave part of the population behind. However, the social problem cannot be entirely the responsibility of banks; we need a real paradigm shift in public opinion. If microfinance emerged, it was to address a market failure that did not meet the needs of the entire population, particularly in rural areas and among populations excluded from traditional banking systems. Unfortunately, I believe that microfinance still has a bright future ahead of it.

3. Like Grameen, you specifically target women for your microfinance activities. Do you see any differences in credit use by gender?

Of course, we know that women are more likely to reinvest the profits from their activities in the family, particularly the education of children, food, housing, health, etc. This does not mean that men do not do it, but we generally see that family awareness is more present among women, which makes it possible to reach a greater number of people with microfinance and participate in improving the living conditions of the targeted people.

4. Is it possible to concretely measure the impact of microfinance on community well-being? What indicators do you use, and do you think impact measurement should be universalized?

Measuring impact is a very complex issue, and for this reason, microfinance has been heavily criticized. We face a methodology problem; there are different schools of thought regarding impact measurement. However, depending on the methodology adopted, we can find very different results. We have therefore chosen to measure the social performance of our projects, working with the SPI4-ALINUS rating tool, developed by CERISE for due diligence and monitoring of social investors. I think it would be too complex and risky to universalize impact measurement because we must take into account local specificities (religion, culture, isolation, level of development, etc.), and these vary enormously from one region to another.

5. Do you think that the MFI models you support can be exported to France, or is microfinance reserved for developing countries?

Absolutely, microfinance is growing in France and Europe. It's not just for developing countries. These are different markets and different costs, but many people who want to develop an economic activity and can't get a loan from a traditional bank are now turning to this solution. The European Microfinance Network (EMN) brings together institutions operating in Europe and seeks to improve the legislative frameworks of Europe and its member states.

6. With this partnership between Crédit Agricole and Grameen, you seem to be reaffirming your commitment to the inclusion of rural areas. What is your agenda for furthering the social inclusion of rural and isolated areas?

There is a huge amount that needs to be done to strengthen the inclusion of rural people, particularly farmers. There are very few microfinance institutions that specialize in this sector because it is very risky and highly dependent on climatic hazards. Microfinance is generally urban or peri-urban, and when it is rural, it is rarely agricultural. Understanding and financing agricultural value chains is a real challenge for us. Crédit Agricole's experience in this area in France is very useful for us. 771,300 of our beneficiaries are from rural areas, and between 20 and 301,300 work in agriculture.

7. The Foundation also invests in social enterprises. What are your selection criteria for the ones you fund? Do you invest in early-stage social businesses or those at a more advanced stage?

We don't invest in startups, but rather in already developed social enterprises, not necessarily economically sustainable but with real growth potential. For us, the most important thing is that the company's main mission is truly social. We have entrepreneurs and shareholders sign a social charter to ensure that social impact is indeed the driving force behind their company's development. Secondly, we study their business plan, the required capital, market relevance, and social indicators. We also place particular importance on the entrepreneurs' personalities because they are the ones who will make the company work or not, and trust is the basis of any partnership.

8. In your advocacy activities, do you feel that there is still a lot of work to be done to reconcile the world of finance with that of social assistance and environmental protection in the eyes of the public?

I had a long career in the non-profit world before joining the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation. There is a real cultural difference, but the traditional opposition between these sectors stems mainly from a lack of mutual understanding and a lot of prejudice. The private and social sectors have never been so close, more and more joint initiatives are developing, and the private sector has acquired a real awareness of social and environmental issues. It's also a generational issue; young people today have a different sensibility, and we are only at the beginning of this rapprochement.

9. As Crédit Agricole savers, what can we do at the individual level to participate in the inclusive finance movement?

There are many opportunities to participate in this movement on an individual basis, but most people are unaware of them. A lot of awareness-raising work is needed to make this information accessible. You can subscribe to Finansol-certified products, invest in social enterprises, and purchase goods or services provided by social and solidarity economy (SSE) companies. If you work for a large company, you can choose to use employee savings plans. Also, contact your bank to find out about your options.

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Source
//www.in-venture.org/fondation-grameen-credit-agricole-1

SPTF Workshop on Social Performance Management

From February 19th to 22nd, The Social Performance Task Force (SPTF), CGAP, Dvara and Leapfrog Investments organized a learning workshop on the theme of Customer Centricity in Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu), in conjunction with the SPTF annual meeting.

The event brought together 280 participants, who shared practical experiences and discussed case studies highlighting how customer value management can best achieve the dual goals of business success and financial inclusion. Current topics covered at the workshop included the opportunities and risks of new technologies and the digitalization of financial services, measuring and managing financial services results at the customer level, customer segmentation to define more tailored products, and the Mimosa India report on loan penetration.

The financial success of the inclusive finance sector is a necessary but insufficient condition for ensuring a positive impact on the lives of its clients through financial services. As the crises of recent years in Bosnia, Morocco, and Bolivia, as well as in some states of India, have shown, rapid growth and high profits are not necessarily indicators of improved living conditions for clients, or even of good long-term financial performance. This is why the inclusive finance sector, through the coordination work of SPTF, has defined a series of best practices accepted by the entire sector to describe and evaluate the provision of responsible financial services: these are the "Universal Standards" (USSPM – Universal Standards for Social Performance Management).

Since its creation in 2008, as part of its mission to support and open up a field of action for responsible inclusive finance, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation has been active in the field of development cooperation; in doing so, it promotes and applies the combined systematic evaluation and analysis of social and financial performance with all its partners. The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation has been an associate member of MFIN since 2017.

Since 2016, the Foundation has conducted an annual assessment of the social performance of a portfolio of representative companies to obtain a comparative measurement of performance compared to the market and to identify areas for improvement as part of the implementation of its annual action plan. Presented to the Foundation's Management and Board of Directors, this analysis allows for more precise monitoring of our actions in order to successfully carry out our mission. It is communicated externally to enable the exchange of knowledge and practices. (To consult the Foundation's benchmarks and other SPI4 benchmarks: //www.cerise-spi4.org/#/benchmarking/.)

Meeting No. 2 of the Circle of Friends of the Foundation

© FGCA

The second meeting of the Circle of Friends of the Foundation, the first of 2018, took place on June 26, and brought together employees of the Crédit Agricole group and the Foundation.

This event provided an opportunity to discuss the Foundation's work and its projects with the Group. The meeting featured three presentations focusing on the Foundation's activities in 2017, the "Solidarity Banker by CA" program, and cooperation plans with the Group's international entities.

Eric Campos, General Delegate of the Foundation, opened the event with a brief presentation of the Foundation and the 2017 Integrated Report. With 49.3 million in financing granted in 2017 and 69 microfinance and social business institutions supported in more than thirty countries, the Foundation posted a good record and reaffirmed its position as a committed player for a more shared economy.

The meeting then turned to the synergies between the Foundation and the Crédit Agricole Group. Carolina Herrera, Director of Communications & Investor and Partner Relations, presented the "Banquier Solidaire by CA" skills volunteer program, recently established between the Foundation and Crédit Agricole SA. This unique initiative in the history of the Group and the Foundation aims to strengthen the Foundation's support for microfinance institutions and social enterprises and to promote the skills of Crédit Agricole Group employees.

This is the case of Jonathan Michaud, an agricultural engineer from Crédit Agricole Franche-Comté, who came to share the experience of his mission at the Laiterie du Berger in Senegal, a social enterprise in which the Foundation and the Regional Fund are shareholders.

During this meeting of the Circle of Friends, Hélène Sananikone, Equity Investment Manager of the Foundation, and Jonathan Michaud presented the Laiterie du Berger, which promotes the development of the dairy sector in northern Senegal using a cooperative production method.

Beyond Crédit Agricole Franche-Comté's social commitment, it was the similarities between the Laiterie du Berger's business model and the Franche-Comté region's development paradigm that motivated the Regional Bank's support for this project. The outcome of this mission resulted in the development of a detailed action plan approved by the Laiterie's Board of Directors. The objective of this plan is to improve the productivity of this social enterprise and ensure the sustainability of its business model.

The final part of this meeting of the Circle of Friends of the Foundation focused on international cooperation between the Foundation and the Group. Caroline Brandt and Violette Cubier, Investment Officers at the Foundation, presented the cooperation schemes implemented in Egypt and currently being negotiated in India, Serbia, and Morocco. These partnerships will promote the financing of local microfinance institutions, allowing the Foundation to expand its activities and the Group's entities to position themselves as financiers of the social and solidarity economy.

The meeting concluded with an invitation to the next Circle of Friends meeting on October 2 at the Crédit Agricole Montrouge Campus. More news will follow on the Foundation's and the Group's commitments to inclusive finance and the development of rural economies around the world.

Microfinance and refugees: a promising association

By Alexia Van Rij & Philippe Guichandut, Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation

© FGCA

What if microfinance was the key to refugee integration?

Often perceived as too risky and unstable a clientele, refugees are generally not or underserved by financial service providers, despite the crying need. However, the few experiments in lending to refugees seem to show satisfactory results[1].

Based on this observation, the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency) launched a program promoting access to financial and non-financial services for refugees in Uganda and Jordan. This is how the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation was selected to support its partner microfinance institutions in reconsidering the refugee issue in their strategy.

An initial study on the needs for access to financial and non-financial services was entrusted to Microfinanza[2]. In this context, we spent three days of exciting discussions and meetings with Burundian, Rwandan and Congolese refugees at the Nakivale camp in southern Uganda.

In the heart of Nakivale, Uganda: a strong need for access to financial services

Uganda is now the third largest refugee-hosting country in the world, with over 1.4 million refugees as of the end of March 2018. Following the 2013 crisis in South Sudan, Uganda has seen a growing number of refugees arrive, with the UNHCR estimating the number at nearly 1,800 per day. The country has one of the most favorable refugee policies in the world, allowing them to receive a plot of land to cultivate, to work, to have free access to Ugandan social services (education, health), to enjoy freedom of movement and to receive identity papers. It is in this very specific context that the Foundation joined the Microfinanza team in Nakivale, one of the oldest refugee camps in Uganda, to support them in their study with refugees.

Nakivale is now home to over 100,000 people, primarily from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, spread across small settlements across 185 square kilometers. Most of Nakivale's residents have benefited from plots of land granted by the government, used for farming and livestock breeding. Others run small restaurants, hair salons, or clothing stores. These are typical activities for microfinance institutions. However, no microfinance institutions operate in the camp, and the refugees can therefore rely only on solidarity within the camp.

Moban Sacco, a savings and loan organization that now has no fewer than 1,449 members, was born from this mutual aid effort in the face of a lack of capital. Thanks to Moban Sacco, refugees can save small amounts and receive some loans, but these are generally considered insufficient to truly develop their businesses.

Prejudices denied

One of the fears microfinance institutions have about refugees is that they will return to their country without having paid their debts. It is clear that in Nakivale, none of the people interviewed plan to return home anytime soon, given the region's insecurity. Some of them have been living in the camp for over 15 years (an average of 7-8 years) with the firm intention of developing their microenterprises there.

Furthermore, all the refugees we met stated that they had a very concrete idea of how they would use a loan. In a nutshell, it's not ideas that are lacking, but capital! How can we forget the story of this woman, who came from the Kivu region of Congo, alone with her three children, a hairdresser by profession, whose 11-year-old son translated her words because she had worked all her life to ensure that her son learned English? Having left her country with no savings, she didn't have the means to set up her hairdressing salon and depended on the food rations provided by the UNHCR to survive, she and her children. Or the meeting with this Rwandan entrepreneur, who with his few savings created a grain milling company 6 years ago? He had managed to employ 3 people to develop his activity, but his small savings did not allow him to expand his business and buy new, efficient equipment.

These examples, among many others, highlight the diversity of situations and the often wasted potential of these men and women endowed with talent, experience and the will to take their destiny into their own hands, as they had been able to do in their country before the situation got out of hand.

At the Foundation, we are convinced that microfinance institutions, by adapting their products and services, have an active role to play in promoting the financial inclusion of refugees. The opportunities offered by digital finance, a sound understanding of the characteristics of each group, and regular monitoring should foster such involvement. Meetings with the Foundation's partner financial institutions suggest that they will be ready to meet the challenge of offering quality, inclusive financial services to these refugee populations and their host communities.

The study currently underway with Microfinanza, which will be made public in July 2018, should provide concrete avenues for our partners to actively engage in, with our support, joint work with the UNHCR and technical assistance funded by Sida.

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[1] Some examples on: New issues in refugee research, Michelle Azorbo, Research paper N.199, UNHCR; Microfinance for Refugees, Thimothy H. Nourse, American Refugee Committee here.
[2] Company selected via a call for tenders.

Open Day at the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation

By Killian Grippon & Chloé Liquard, Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation

© FGCA

On June 8, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation welcomed partners and entities of the Crédit Agricole group to present the Foundation's activities and discuss its actions for a better shared economy.

The day was rich in discussions and lessons learned, with presentations from the team and talks by Jean-Marie Sander, President of the Foundation, Jean-Michel Severino, Administrator of the Foundation and Sébastien Duquet, Director of OXUS, a network of microfinance institutions supported by the Foundation.

The open day served as an opportunity to reaffirm the Foundation's commitment to excellence, commitment, and sharing in support of inclusive finance. Participating in this day allowed us to fully immerse ourselves in the world of the Foundation from the very first days of our internship.

The world of finance shaken by global challenges

Climate change, security, migration… The world of finance is influenced by a complex collection of interdependent attributes. Climate change will continue to transform politics, security and the socio-economic context. Access to resources is becoming more complicated, exacerbating tensions, inequalities and conflicts. The number of refugees is increasing: the International Organization for Migration (IOM) predicts that there will be 200 million refugees by 2050[1]. The world population is growing: several studies predict around 10 billion people on Earth by 2050[2]. Faced with such demographic growth, many questions arise about the capacity to feed, house and guarantee the economic and social integration of these billions of people.

Faced with this worrying situation, what can be done? There is an urgent need to mobilize resources, act in partnership, and integrate these social and environmental challenges into the economy of today and tomorrow. This integrated approach is at the heart of inclusive finance and the work of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation. By joining the Foundation's team, we discovered its approach of partnership, adaptability, and responsibility to better meet the needs of marginalized populations. For us, this is the finance of the future, one that captures the diversity of present and future challenges and adapts to a changing world.

The Foundation, a key player in inclusive finance

Since its creation in 2008, the Foundation has been working to promote the development of inclusive finance by supporting microfinance institutions (MFIs) and social businesses around the world. Foundation President Jean-Marie Sander opened the day by confirming this strong and shared commitment to a more inclusive economy. Throughout the day, all of the Foundation's teams presented the Foundation's businesses, projects, and initiatives. As newcomers to the world of microfinance and social business, we shared the same observation at the end of the day: the sector is far more complex than one might imagine.

For example, the range of financing tools and services offered and developed is very broad and adapted to the specific needs of microfinance institutions. The African Facility, an initiative set up with the French Development Agency (AFD), is an example of the evolution of the Foundation's offering towards more comprehensive support for MFIs. Also, after a first phase which supported 16 rural MFIs in Sub-Saharan Africa, the second phase of the program will be carried out between 2017 and 2020 and will not only finance but also provide technical assistance to more than twenty institutions.

The Foundation has also strengthened its ties with Crédit Agricole entities. Guarantee schemes with the Group's international entities in Egypt, Morocco, Serbia, and India are also being developed. Long-term financing of €14 million from Crédit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank will enable the Foundation to strengthen its work in the coming years. Crédit Agricole Indosuez Wealth (Asset Management) will manage the investment funds for which the Foundation has an advisory mandate. And to name a final partnership, the "Solidarity Banker" skills volunteer program between Crédit Agricole SA and the Foundation was launched just a week before the Open Day. As part of the program, Group employees will be able to go on assignment to support MFIs and social enterprises supported by the Foundation. This is the first time in the history of Crédit Agricole and the Foundation that such a partnership has been launched.

Promoting inclusive finance also requires raising awareness of the challenges posed by climate change in rural areas. Improving the resilience of rural producers is just as necessary as facilitating access to financing to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector. The Foundation adopts this approach, not only through technical assistance, but also through its agricultural microinsurance activities. The Foundation launched a microinsurance pilot project in Mali to support RMCR, one of its partner MFIs, in offering drought risk insurance to its borrowers. The project faces several challenges, but it will continue to evolve to make the product more affordable and appropriate.

Our discussion with Sébastien Duquet, Director of OXUS, a network of MFIs operating in post-conflict areas, allowed us to better understand the synergies between financial inclusion and humanitarian action. Access to microcredit services remains essential in a context of economic recovery. However, disparities in social performance persist, particularly with regard to gender and rural issues, which represents a major challenge.

Perspectives: multiplying impact and working in partnership

What conclusions did we draw from this day? First and foremost, the Open Day allowed us to better understand the Foundation's role and how it is committed to a more inclusive and responsible economy. Similarly, several strategic areas stand out for the coming years: partnerships, support for the agricultural sector, and a responsible approach.

First, the Foundation's work strongly follows a partnership approach. Fighting poverty is a responsibility that must be shared by various stakeholders. The Foundation will continue to work with private, public, and solidarity-based actors to multiply its impact and expand its geographic presence. The development of the agricultural sector will remain a priority for the Foundation, both through support for microfinance in rural areas and through support for socially beneficial entrepreneurship. Finally, the Foundation will continue to promote a responsible approach in all of its activities.

To conclude the day, Jean-Michel Severino, Foundation Administrator, delivered a powerful speech on Africa's development challenges. Food insecurity, rampant population growth, and shifting markets—the African continent will face several major challenges, and the Foundation and its partners have a major role to play.

This Open Day was the first in a series of events that the Foundation will organize throughout the year. These "Meetings for a Shared Economy" will be a platform for exchange and sharing experiences with the Foundation's partners, and we look forward to being part of them.

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Source

[1] //www.unhcr.org/4df9cc309.pdf
[2] //www.un.org/development/desa/fr/news/population/world-population-prospects-2017.html

Read this week: Peace, security and development in the Sahel

From demographic challenges to environmental ones, including the fight against poverty, Jean-Marc Chataigner sets out his vision for the development of the Sahel and calls for "the pursuit of increased international solidarity" through "a joint, partnership-based approach, co-constructed with governments, communities, local associations, and populations." A spotlight on his interview.

What are the challenges and prospects for an integrated approach to returning to lasting peace in the Sahel?

The region's major challenges require continued increased international solidarity because the Sahelian countries do not yet have the capacity to address them alone. A joint, partnership-based approach is needed, co-developed with governments, communities, local associations, and populations. An integrated approach is needed, encompassing the various components of the international community's action, as well as national, regional, and international efforts. Through the mission entrusted to me by the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, France is promoting the idea of a more coordinated approach to the various political and diplomatic actions, particularly for the implementation of the peace agreement in Mali, security efforts, through the establishment of the G5 Sahel joint force, and the relay that will ultimately have to be taken up in renewed approaches to development.

The Sahel Alliance, launched in 2017 by Chancellor Merkel and President Macron, aims to achieve concrete results in a limited number of sectors, on issues essential to the future of the Sahel, which have nevertheless been neglected in recent years by donors, such as agriculture and education. The Sahel Alliance favors an approach in terms of the effectiveness of ODA (Official Development Assistance) and transparency and accountability of the actions implemented, in close collaboration with partner governments and the civil societies concerned. It intends to strengthen the targeting of donor actions on the most fragile and vulnerable areas, peripheral and far from capitals, and to promote better coordination of development programs with humanitarian and security issues.

How can we rebuild a trusting and lasting partnership between France and the African continent?

Relations between France and Africa have always had a special dimension linked to a shared history made up of difficult times, but also of an exemplary community of arms to confront the enemies of freedom. But the world of 2018 is no longer that of 1945 or even that of 1958. International relations have profoundly evolved with the end of the Cold War, the attacks of 2001, the emergence of new powers, and the emergence of global threats that we must face and that can give rise to strong nationalist withdrawal. In this new international concert, France, and through it more broadly Europe, and Africa have common interests to assert.

In his speech in Ouagadougou last November, the President of the Republic clearly laid the foundations for this new relationship to be built, notably through the call for better listening to African youth, a real change in method in the management of public development aid, "no longer building cathedrals to our glory" he even specified, the priority given to education, particularly that of young girls, the common fight against religious extremism and obscurantism, the launch of a reflection on the restitution of African heritage, the conditions of movement of African students and the reception of African talents, investment in the African infrastructure of tomorrow. All these subjects, I will not list them all because the list is impressive, are crucial for the establishment of a relationship of respect, partnership and balance, the only one capable of establishing lasting mutual trust over the long term between our two continents.

What are the challenges of growth, peace and security for Europe and Africa?

Africa is the location of essential economic and security issues for Europe in a geographical area undergoing rapid change and experiencing strong demographic growth.

The takeoff of many African countries is now underway and represents trade and investment opportunities for Europe in rapidly emerging markets. Conversely, the persistence of fragile and failed states poses a threat to both our collective security and the sustainability of African development. Strengthening regional peacekeeping capacities and deploying African military forces, along the lines of the G5 Sahel, capable of addressing the various threats to peace and security on the continent is therefore a fundamental priority.

Find his column here.

The Crédit Agricole group sponsors the Plastic Odyssey expedition

Crédit Agricole SA, five regional banks, and CAMCA Mutuelle are supporting the Plastic Odyssey project, which aims to recover plastic waste from the coasts before it pollutes the oceans and transform it into fuel. What does this project involve?

The Plastic Odyssey project is based on the following objective: to recover plastic waste from the coasts before it pollutes the oceans and transform it into fuel, thanks to an innovative process that consists of adapting pyrolysis technology to navigation. Once this challenge is successful, the Plastic Odyssey team will be able to bring this technology to local populations in emerging countries, with an impact on the environment but also on job creation.

Who is involved?

Crédit Agricole SA, five regional banks* and CAMCA Mutuelle are sponsors for a total amount of €115,000, with the support of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation.

What are the stages of the project?

The first stage includes the construction, the launch on June 15 in Concarneau and the exhibition of a prototype named "Ulysse" for 6 months, a miniature replica of the boat that will set sail in 2020. The second stage of the project will include the construction of the boat, as well as a 3-year voyage, made up of 30 stopovers in South America, Africa and Asia.

* Aquitaine, Finistère, Normandy, Normandy-Seine, Provence Côte d'Azur

>>> Learn more

A partnership to strengthen “climate smart finance”

Family farming in Africa constitutes the bulk of the continent's agricultural production. It is particularly impacted by climate change. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in rural areas must adapt their practices to better manage their own risks as well as those of their clients.

Faced with this challenge, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation and YAPU, a German social fintech company, aim to support partner MFIs in digitizing their operations and updating their information systems to incorporate climate risk. In November 2017, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation and YAPU signed a cooperation agreement to develop services in the field of climate-smart finance. This approach aims to include climate change risks in the product and service offerings of financial institutions so that they can further develop economically viable activities that are resilient to climate change and contribute to the preservation and restoration of ecosystems. Two projects will be launched in 2018 as part of this partnership.

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Created in 2008, under the joint leadership of Crédit Agricole SA's management and Professor Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of Grameen Bank, the Grameen Crédit Agricole SA Foundation is a multi-sector operator that contributes to the fight against poverty through financial inclusion and social impact entrepreneurship. As an investor, lender, technical assistance coordinator, and fund advisor, the Foundation supports microfinance institutions and social enterprises in nearly 40 countries.