Podcast: A journey with changemakers 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.
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