Created in 2008, at the joint initiative of Crédit Agricole’s Directors and Professor Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, the Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation is a cross-business actor committed to promoting a better-shared economy.

Investor, funder, technical assistance provider and fund advisor, the Foundation has more than 70 partners (microfinances institutions and social business) and operates in more than 30 countries with nearly 80 million euros in commitments. The Foundation focuses on microfinance institutions that serve women and rural people. These institutions support approximately 3 million clients.

Mission

Their mission is to fund and support microfinance institutions, businesses and projects that promote inclusive finance and the development of rural economies around the world.

Principles of action

• Responsibility - High standards for social and economic performances management: because meeting their social and economic commitments towards institutions and companies they are financing is at the heart of their priorities.  Thanks to strict eligibility criteria and a systematic analysis of economic and social performances, they are promoting responsible finance.
• Adaptability - Proximity and humility to better support their partners: because they establish a close relationship, aware of their partners and territories. With agility and flexibility, they adapt their support offer to their partners’ needs.
• Complementarity -  Working together, forging links: because the battle against poverty cannot be carried out alone, they act alongside other committed actors. With openness, will and listening, they call for the convergence of actions and agendas for a better shared economy.

The Foundation and the Social Development Goals

The Foundation has from the outset been committed to women, community-based - in particular rural - economies, and a responsible approach to finance. Its mission refers to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework defined by the United Nations. They are intended to build a more sustainable world by 2030. The Foundation makes a concrete contribution to the achievement of 8 of the 17 SDGs.