June 2020. A group of microfinance lenders and key players of the inclusive finance sector published in May a set of principles to better support the microfinance sector during the Covid-19. Since its publication, six new organizations have signed the Common pledge, for a total of 26 signatories.

In response to the health and economic crisis caused by the Covid-19, a group of lenders, platforms and key players of the inclusive financial sector committed to a common pledge: “ Key principles to protect microfinance institutions and their clients in the Covid-19 crisis ”. Initiated by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, this pledge was built in consensus between all original signatories. The objective is to protect both the microfinance institutions and their clients to ensure the continued access to funding in the best possible conditions and to look out for clients’ and staff well-being.

The pledge aims to guide stakeholders to better support microfinance institutions and vulnerable clients during this crisis . The main principles of the pledge are the pooling of available information, analyses and anticipations, as well as the concerted implementation of shared decisions. The signatories agree to coordinate policies, technical assistance and resources to help microfinance institutions in this unprecedented crisis.

Since its publication in May, five new organizations have signed the pledge. This initiative now counts 25 signatories active in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America:ADA , Alterfin, Azerbaijan Micro-finance Association , Bamboo Capital Partners , Cerise, CIDR Pamiga , Cordaid Investment Management , Crédit Agricole CIB India, CA Indosuez Wealth (Asset Management) , Crédit Agricole S.A., European Microfinance Network , FS Impact Finance , GAWA Capital, Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation , InFiNe.lu,Inpulse, Kiva, Luxembourg Microfinance And Development Fund , MCE Social Capital, Microfinance African Institutions Network , Microfinance Centre,Rabo Foundation, SIDI, SIMA , Social Performance Task Force and Whole Planet Foundation

The signatories welcome additional stakeholders to join this common initiative . The coordination of efforts to support microfinance institutions’ actions is essential to overcome this crisis.