The Foundation is a partner of the 2018 Microfinance Barometer

The Grameen Credit Foundation is strengthening its efforts to promote the sector by becoming a financial partner of the Microfinance Barometer. A flagship publication of the Convergences association, the Barometer presents key figures for the sector and traces its main trends in France and internationally. The Foundation participated in the launch of the 2018 edition at the 11th Convergences World Forum.

A partnership to promote microfinance

The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation is a long-standing partner of Convergences, a platform for mobilization and advocacy around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A member of the Microfinance Barometer Steering Committee since its inception, the Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to Convergences by becoming a financial partner of this leading industry publication. With the theme "What are the profitability levels of microfinance?", the 2018 Barometer explores the multiple facets of microfinance profitability.

This 9th edition was unveiled at the 11th Convergences World Forum held in Paris on September 3, with the participation of Philippe Guichandut, Director of Inclusive Finance Development at the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, and other experts and committed stakeholders in the sector.

The 2018 Microfinance Barometer

This year, the Barometer announces an annual growth of 15.61 T/T in the credit portfolio of microfinance institutions and 5.61 T/T in the total number of borrowers. The microfinance sector contributes significantly to financial inclusion in rural areas: two-thirds of borrowers of institutions in Africa and Asia live in rural areas. Women continue to be a prime target of the sector worldwide, with coverage of 821 T/T in 2017.

Also featured in the 2018 edition of the Barometer are two articles from the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation. During a joint interview on the sector's profitability, Eric Campos, the Foundation's Managing Director, presents the Foundation's positive results, which finance and support more than 60 MFIs with high levels of social performance. "We operate in more than 30 countries, where our partners serve more than 3.5 million beneficiaries. Being both financially balanced and sustainable and having a social impact is entirely possible," says Eric Campos.

In an article co-written with Sébastien Duquet of Symbiotics, Philippe Guichandut highlights the new challenges of financial inclusion: "Being more efficient requires institutions to be able to adapt to the new challenges of digital technology to cope with increased competition and the emergence of new players, while adapting to the diverse needs of their clients." To meet these challenges, microfinance institutions will need new investments and enhanced technical support, two levers that will continue to be at the heart of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation's work.

The results of the 2018 Microfinance Barometer reaffirm the sector's dynamism and its role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation is proud to support the Barometer to highlight the actions of microfinance stakeholders and promote sustainable finance and a more inclusive economy.

Download the Barometer here