The Solidarity Bankers missions are a new type of overseas volunteering missions offered to group employees on behalf of microfinance institutions or impact businesses, partners of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation.
Current missions
Current missions
SMART Crédit – Digital Strategy (Moldova)
Objective:
Smart Credit is a microfinance institution created in 2010 by five local professionals. It operates throughout the country with a particular focus on the central and western regions of Moldova, through a network of eight branches and 42 employees. An Online Solidarity Bankers mission will aim to evaluate the company’s digital strategy and to draw up an action plan for the implementation of a new digital strategy.
Solidarity banker:
- The expert is Credit Agricole Staff with the following expertise/experience:
- Experience in IT project management and ideally in digitalization projects
- Good understanding of the challenges, existing solutions and innovations for the digitalization of financial institutions
- Capacity to provide clear explanations and simplify technical terms, and to train users
- Appetite for questions related to social entrepreneurship and / or microfinance
- Pragmatic and rigorous
- Fluency in English is mandatory
SEF – AML-FT mission
Objective:
SEF is a microfinance institution established in 1992 that provides loans (mostly under the group methodology) to low-income people in South Africa. As of December 2020, the institution serves 225 317 active borrowers (100% women and 100% in rural areas) and manages a portfolio of €45 153 765. It operates in the Northeast and Southeast regions of South Africa, through a network of 98 branches and 956 employees.
Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation (GCAF) has disbursed a senior loan to SEF equivalent to €3.1 million in November 2019. In the framework of Solidarity Bankers by CA, GCAF aims at supporting SEF through a technical assistance mission carried on by one or several experts from Crédit Agricole.
Profile:
The expert is a Credit Agricole staff, willing to engage in the Solidarity Bankers programme, with the following expertise / experience:
- At least 5 years of experience in compliance
- Knowledge of or willingness to self-train AML-FT international guidelines and framework for the microfinance sector (FATF recommendations, potential international and national sanctions…)
- High proficiency in English is required
- Previous experience in delivering trainings on AML-FT topics would be an asset
- Previous experience in technical assistance or advisory work in a developing country would be helpful.
Salym – Social and environmental Performance
Objective:
Salym Finance is a microfinance institution that provides affordable lending and attracting time deposits to support revenue-generating activities and improve living standards of low-income populations. The organisation has 23 branches across Kyrgyzstan and about 180 employees. Currently, it manages a portfolio of €24 million and serves more than 18,000 clients, of whom 52% are women and 70% live in rural areas.
In the framework of Solidarity Bankers by CA, GCAF will grant additional support to Salym Finance through a technical assistance mission carried on by one expert from Crédit Agricole.
Solidarity Banker:
The Solidarity Banker is a Crédit Agricole staff, willing to engage in the “Solidarity Bankers by CA” programme, with the following expertise / experience:
- Expertise in social and environmental performance management
- High proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in Russian would be an advantage
- Knowledge of Central Asia is an asset
- Previous experience in microfinance would be appreciated
- Previous experience in technical assistance or advisory work in a developing country would be helpful
SOLIDARITY BANKER SELECTED
PPSE – Fundraising (Cambodia)
Phare Performing Social Enterprise (PPSE) is a Cambodian social enterprise established in 2013 that produces circus shows and which recently launched an animation and graphics studio. PPSE employs art graduates from PPSA, a non-profit organisation that supports disadvantaged children and youth.
An online Solidarity Bankers mission will aim to consolidate PPSE’s new business plan (developed due to the Covid-19 crisis) and to support the equity raise and merger process. The mission is scheduled for the last quarter of the year.
SELECTION PROCESS COMPLETE
OXUS Kyrgyzstan – Digital Strategy mission
Objective:
OXUS Kyrgyzstan provides loans under the individual methodology. As of December 2020, the institution serves 8,000 active borrowers (48% women and 62% in rural areas) and manages a portfolio of €6.4 million. It is operating in 2 largest cities (Bishkek and Osh) and 3 out of 7 regions through a network of 14 branches, and 125 employees. The average outstanding loan is €798.
GCAF will increase its support to OKG in the framework of Solidarity Bankers, a skill-based voluntary programme open to Crédit Agricole’s employees on behalf of microfinance institutions and social impact enterprises financed by the Foundation.
Profile:
The expert is a Credit Agricole staff, willing to engage in the Solidarity Bankers programme, with the following expertise / experience:
- Experience in IT project management and ideally in digitalization projects
- Good understanding of the challenges, existing solutions and innovations for the digitalization of financial institutions
- Capacity to provide clear explanations and simplify technical terms, and to train users
- Appetite for questions related to social entrepreneurship and / or microfinance
- Pragmatic and rigorous
- Fluency in English is mandatory; knowledge of Russian is a plus.
OXUS – Marketing (Kyrgyzstan)
OXUS Kyrgyzstan is a microfinance institution that provides financial services to people with limited access to banking services in Kyrgyzstan. The institution has more than 7,000 active borrowers with a portfolio worth €6.6 million.
The Solidarity Banker’s mission will be to accompany OXUS in the production of a marketing plan and a customer loyalty programme.
SELECTION PROCESS COMPLETE
OXUS – Guarantees Assessment (Tajikistan)
OXUS Tajikistan is a microfinance institution that has focused on interventions in rural areas where more than 80% of its clients live and work, providing individual and group loans. To date, almost 50% of the clients use their loans for livestock and horticulture.
The Solidarity banker’s mission will be to analyse the existing guarantees assessment, to develop a new methodology and to train managers at headquarter.
SELECTION PROCESS COMPLETE
OSHUN – Logistics / purchasing (France – Senegal)
Objective:
Oshun offers inclusive solutions to provide access to clean water for the most vulnerable populations while encouraging the development of a virtuous local community ecosystem. The company stands out for its innovations in rural development, connectivity and water treatment. The aim of the Solidarity Banker’s mission is to support Oshun Senegal in setting up procedures to simplify and secure logistics, purchasing and supply management, and to strengthen the staff concerned.
Solidarity banker:
The beneficiary organisation is based in Senegal but its headquarters are located in Le Tholonet (France):
- Remote (1/2 day per week for 2 months for a total of 4 days remote)
- In France to Le Tholonet for visiting the Oshun headquarters (1 day)
- In Senegal at Dakar (4 days) and at Thiès (1 day, 1.5 hours drive from Dakar), context permitting (5 days)
Lazika – Marketing
Objective:
Lazika Capital is a microfinance institution created in 2000 by Oxfam Great Britain to facilitate access to financial services for low and middle income entrepreneurs. It is headquartered in Zugdidi and provides financial services to people on low incomes, smallholder farmers and micro entrepreneurs. The company operates through 18 branches in western Georgia. At the end of February 2021, Lazika had 14 046 clients, including 50% of women and 76% living in rural areas, for a total outstanding portfolio of €13 801 615.
In the framework of Solidarity Bankers by CA, GCAF will grant addition support to Lazika Capital through a technical assistance mission carried on by one expert from Crédit Agricole, a leader international banking group.
Solidarity Banker:
The expert is a Credit Agricole staff, willing to engage in the Solidarity Bankers programme, with the following expertise / experience:
- Have a sound field experience in marketing
- High proficiency in English is required. Proficiency in Bosnian, Serbian or Croatian will be an asset.
- Previous experience in Central Asia would be helpful
- Experience working with microfinance institutions would be a plus.
Laiterie du Berger – Audit & Financial reporting (Senegal)
A subsidiary of Laiterie du Berger, Kossam’s mission is to develop an inclusive and sustainable dairy sector in northern Senegal. Created in 2019, after a solidarity banker mission, Kossam collects milk from 450 local breeders, to whom it provides market services (food, fodder) as well as advice and training.
The Solidarity Bankers’ mission [which could be conducted as a pair] aims to support Kossam and La Laiterie du Berger in strengthening teams and financial reporting. Depending on the sanitary context, the mission could be carried out in late 2020 or early 2021 in Senegal.
SELECTION PROCESS COMPLETE
Faten – Financial Management (Palestine)
Objective:
FATEN is a microfinance institution whose mission is to serve the financial services needs of low- and middle-income Palestinian entrepreneurs and individuals. The mission of the Solidarity Banker will be to support the financial department in the update of financial procedures, policies and tools, to provide insights and training for alignment of financial reporting with international financial standards and to provide analytical tools and know-hows on cost allocation and profit generation per operational unit.
Solidarity Banker:
The expert is Credit Agricole Staff with the following expertise/experience:
- Expertise in financial analysis
- Knowledge of the International Financial Reporting Standards and in particular the latest changes on IFRS 16 and IFRS 9
- High proficiency in English is required
- Previous experience in technical assistance or advisory work in a developing country would be helpful.
Missions carried out
SFA – Management information system (Senegal)
Objective:
The Sénégalaise des Filières Alimentaires (SFA) is a social enterprise for the promotion and marketing of local rice in Senegal. In order to improve production conditions, technical and financial monitoring of producers, and its industrial activity, SFA wishes to develop an application for its local teams.
Solidarity banker:
Michèle Kouam of Crédit Agricole S.A.
Result of the mission:
The Solidarity banker carried out an inventory of the existing infrastructure and issued recommendations for the implementation of management information system.
PPSE – Financial Management (Cambodia)
Objective:
The creation and start-up phase of FSDP from 2013 to 2018 has been very successful. The company has now entered a growth phase, and the Solidarity Banker’s mission was to help FSDP strengthen and train the top manager to enable him to adapt to its new phase of growth.
Solidarity banker:
Dominique Rombczyk ose Crédit Agricole Val de France
Result of the mission:
Training was provided to the Chief Financial Officer and her entire team to develop the skills of the finance team at all levels of responsibility, since they can all contribute important information and data to this process.
Partner – IT Strategy (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Partner Microcredit Foundation is a microcredit organization that provides financial services to low-income populations. The institution mainly targets entrepreneurs and rural populations and promotes women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship.
The Banker has made an assessment of the existing IT infrastructure and develop guidelines for a 3 to 5 year IT investment plan.
Palmis Enèji – Business & Fundraising strategy (Haiti)
Objective:
After doubling its turnover, regularizing its bad debts and restricting credit sales, Palmis wants to structure a five-year business plan. The Solidarity banker’s mission was to draw up a business plan and make recommendations for raising funds for the company.
Solidarity banker:
Caman Kamougue from Crédit Agricole CIB
Result of the mission:
The Solidarity banker recommended that Palmis focus on the voluntary carbon trading market, a mechanism whereby project owners can sell verified emission reductions (VERs) to clients wishing to reduce their carbon footprint.
OSHUN – HR Strategy (Senegal)
Oshun proposes inclusive solutions allowing the most sensitive populations access to water while promoting the establishment of a virtuous and community-based local ecosystem. The company distinguishes itself by its innovations in terms of rural development, connectivity and water treatment.
The Solidarity banker’s mission will be to assist Oshun Senegal with the following objectives: organization and training of the team, definition and mastery of HR rules and processes and implementation of monitoring tools.
SELECTION PROCESS COMPLETE
Musoni – Strategic planning (Kenya)
Objective:
Musoni is a microfinance institution (MFI) providing financial services via mobile payments. To strengthen its performance management processes, Musoni wants to implement a balanced scorecard methodology as a strategic planning and performance management system.
Solidarity banker:
Eva Hoglund of Crédit Agricole S.A.
Result of the mission:
A balanced scorecard methodology has been developed to establish a strategic planning and performance management system.
Laiterie du Berger – Digital management tool (Senegal)
Objective:
Support Kossam, a subsidiary of Laiterie du Berger, in setting up a digital tool for managing stores in the bush and preparing for the company’s future developments.
Solidarity banker:
Haoly Basse from Crédit Agricole CIB
Results of the mission:
The Solidarity banker has prepared the specifications for the implementation of the management tool, supported the provider selection process and established control procedures and plans.
Laiterie du Berger – Business & Strategy (Senegal)
Objective:
Participate in the construction of the operational framework allowing the passage from experimentation to the deployment of 15 pilot mini-farms; make an inventory of the existing situation; define the conditions of success of the business model of the “mini-farm”; estimate the needs for the deployment Phase 1 (15 mini-farms).
Solidarity banker:
Jonathan Michaud of Crédit Agricole Franche Comté
Result of the mission:
The Dairy’s livestock development plan is formalised. Supported by CA Franche Comté, the Solidarity Banker left for 2 years to support KOSSAM, a Dairy project which aims at structuring the milk sector in Senegal.
KMF – Portfolio diversification (Kazakhstan)
Objective:
KMF is the largest microfinance institution in Kazakhstan. The institution requested the assistance of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation to structure and diversify its agricultural loan portfolio, which is currently concentrated in cattle breeding. In addition, KMF would like to receive advice on developing non-financial services for agricultural loan clients.
Solidarity bankers:
Olivier Gaubert of Credit Agricole S.A. and Vasyl Bielozerskykh of Credit Agricole Ukraine
Result of the mission:
The Solidarity bankers provided KMF with avenues for development in order to diversify its portfolio while offering new non-financial products designed to support the development of its clients.
Humo – Innovation strategy (Tajikistan)
Objective:
After overcoming the last crisis, Humo strengthens its positioning and launches new products and services. Humo is also facing a competitive environment that integrates more digital models. The mission of the Solidarity Banker was help the institution to optimise the business model and the organisational structure by relying on innovative approaches and the contribution of new technologies.
Solidarity banker:
Julien Leroy of Crédit Agricole CIB
Result of the mission:
The Solidarity banker supported the HUMO management team in optimising its organisational model. He also worked with the management team to develop various strategic options to accelerate HUMO’s growth, in a model that optimises the contribution of digital technology and the human factor.
Chamroeun – Human Resources (Cambodia)
Objective:
Contribute to the organizational restructuring of Chamroeun and to the improvement of its HR management; make an assessment of existing HR tools and procedures; propose a 2-year HR strategy; contribute to the development of new HR tools and procedures; propose ways to promote leadership within the organization.
Solidarity banker:
François Galland of the Crédit Agricole’s BPI
Result of the mission:
The 2-year HR strategy proposed by the Solidarity banker has been formalised and validated by the beneficiary organisation.
Al Karama – AML/FT (Morocco)
Objective:
Al Karama is a Moroccan microfinance institution that provides loans for the development of professional activities, especially among low-income women. The institution wishes to strengthen its procedures against money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/FT), within the framework of funding granted by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation and Crédit du Maroc.
Solidarity banker:
Sarah Belbachir of Crédit Agricole SA
Results of the mission:
The LCB-FT training modules for front-line staff and an action plan for the implementation of a solid LCB-BT system were produced by the Solidarity banker.
ACRE – Strategic planning (Kenya)
Objective:
ACRE, a Kenyan social enterprise in which the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation is a shareholder, has recently changed its business model and undertaken a cost-cutting plan. The Solidarity banker’s mission was to analyse ACRE’s current situation and make recommendations on the company’s strategy.
Solidarity banker:
Bruno Lepoivre of PACIFICA (Crédit Agricole Assurances)
Results of the mission:
A diagnosis and a series of recommendations on ACRE’s economic model and new strategy have been drawn up by the Solidarity Banker.