In 2017, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation continued its growth

© Philippe Lissac

At the end of December 2017, the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation had recorded €64.1 million in commitments, including €57.5 million in financing to microfinance institutions and €4.8 million in investments in social businesses, representing a year-on-year increase of €451 million. In 2017, 44 funding applications were approved for a total of €49.3 million. Since its creation in 2008, the Foundation has granted 250 financings for a cumulative amount of €196.5 million.

The Foundation has expanded its area of intervention with new partnerships in Montenegro, Kazakhstan, and Burma. It now has 69 active partners and operates in 28 countries, 86% of which are among the world's poorest. 48% of the funding is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and 23% in South and Southeast Asia; these two geographic areas each account for 35% of the Foundation's commitments at the end of the year. Women and rural populations represent 76% and 81% of the 3 million clients of the institutions funded by the Foundation. The average loan they grant is around 550 euros.

In 2018, the Foundation will continue its development in new countries by seeking to expand its network of partners whose commonality will continue to be a high level of social performance, the financial autonomy of women and the economic development of rural areas.