Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation is a non-profit foundation created in 2008 as a joint initiative of Crédit Agricole and Professor Muhammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank and 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation’s mission is to finance and support microfinance institutions, businesses and projects that promote inclusive finance and the development of rural economies everywhere in the world.
As an investor, lender, technical assistance co-ordinator and fund advisor, the foundation supports microfinance institutions and social impact companies in some 30 countries. The foundation promotes female entrepreneurship and rural economies through the institutions it supports: 75% of microcredit beneficiaries are women and 80% live in rural areas.
Official website: www.gca-foundation.org
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation provided USD 15.3 million for development in 2020 through its lending activities. Compared to 2019, this amount represents a decrease of 68% in real terms.
In 2020, USD 5 million (33%) of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation’s development finance was provided in the context of its COVID-19 response.
In 2020, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation provided all of its development finance bilaterally through the private sector in recipient countries.
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation’s development finance was primarily focused on Africa (USD 7.3 million) and Europe (USD 5.3 million), accounting respectively for 48% and 35% of gross bilateral contributions. The top recipients of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation’s grants were Moldova, Zambia and Mali.
The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation’s lending activities in 2020 targeted economic infrastructure and services, notably financial and business services.
In terms of the 2030 Agenda, all loans of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation were aimed at contributing to SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and SDG 13 (climate action).