ADIE AND BNP PARIBAS GROUP trough 6 historical archives

ADIE: THE ASSOCIATION THAT WANTS TO ENABLE EVERYONE TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR

Inspired by the experience of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, which lends to landless peasants, the Association pour le droit à l’initiative économique (Association for the right to economic initiative) has been working since 1989 to provide practical and different solutions to the problems of unemployment, business financing and social inclusion. It was founded by Maria Nowak, an economist committed to the right to economic initiative and a pioneer of microcredit in France and Europe. She worked as an economist in the field of development in developing countries at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), BDPA and SATEC.

In the 1990s, Adie received financial and technical support from a number of French banks, including Caisse des Dépôts, Crédit mutuel, Crédit agricole, as well as BNP and Paribas, which joined forces in 2000 to create the BNP Paribas Group. In addition to pure financing, Adie benefits from the advice and expertise of bankers from the two forerunners of BNP Paribas, either still working or retired, who work for the association on a voluntary basis.

Between 1993 and the present day, the links between the two partners have grown steadily, and Adie has also become a key association for the Banlieue project. Launched in 2005 at the instigation of Michel Pébereau, Chairman of the bank at the time, this global solidarity programme supported by the BNP Paribas Foundation and run by its networks aims to reduce social exclusion and the obstacles faced by people in disadvantaged areas.

DISCOVER THE DOCUMENTARY SELECTION ILLUSTRATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BNP PARIBAS AND ADIE

In 1998, BNP dedicated an article in its in-house magazine “Dialogue” to Adie. This was an opportunity to present its vocation, missions and results. Reference : BNP Paribas historical archives, PER2_1998_15 and 16.

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On 21 February 2001, Adie and BNP Paribas signed an agreement under which the bank became one of the Association’s financial partners for the creation of a solidarity loan fund. The agreement, which sets out the terms and conditions of BNP Paribas’ involvement was signed by Michel Pébereau, Chairman of BNP Paribas at this time, and Maria Nowak, Chairman of ADIE. Reference : BNP Paribas historical archives, 10Fi914-3.

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Advertisement produced with the support of BNP Paribas, highlighting entrepreneurs who have benefited from a solidarity loan from ADIE. Reference : BNP Paribas historical archives, 5AF407, june 2003. Photo credit: Maud Chazeau.

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On 24 October 2004, “La Tribune” (a French economic newspaper) reported on the new agreement between Adie and BNP Paribas, under which the bank undertook to provide the association with a credit line of two million euros, intended to finance at least one thousand business start-up projects undertaken by unemployed people and people receiving minimum social benefits. Reference : BNP Paribas historical archives, 117AH80.

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In 2012, BNP Paribas produced the photographic exhibition “Les Audacieux” (The Audacious) by Alex Majoli and Jonas Bendiksen, aimed at highlighting the entrepreneurs supported by Adie. 36 portraits of men and women supported by Adie are exhibited in Paris. Reference : BNP Paribas historical archives, 4AF671.

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BNP Paribas Foundation advertising campaign highlighting Adie’s support for micro-entrepreneurs. Reference : BNP Paribas historical archives, 2AF381.

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On 26 February 2021, Frédéric Lavenir, Chairman of Adie, and Michel Pébereau, Chairman of the BNP Paribas Foundation, renewed the partnership agreement between the two parties. The aim is to finance and support 20 active Adie branches in priority urban policy areas and to finance 13,000 entrepreneurs over the period 2021-2023. 

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