35 years of social finance in favour of solidarity
As the creator of the first income-sharing fund in Europe in 1983, Crédit Coopératif Group was a pioneer in this field and still ranks as leader.
In 1983, the Catholic Committee against Hunger & for Development (CCFD), with support from Crédit Coopératif and our firm, Ecofi Investissements, initiated social finance favouring solidarity in France through the launch of a first income-sharing fund, called "Faim et Développement" (Hunger and Development). The idea was to share the fruits of savings with a humanitarian NGO to help finance development projects in disadvantaged countries, in particular the growth of small and micro- businesses in Africa. For 35 years, Faim et Développement has helped raise almost €26 million in donations for the NGO SIDI. This offshoot of CCFD-Terre Solidaire brings financial and technical support to “local financial structures” that offer financial services to persons excluded from traditional banking circuits.