La Poste to be a new EDM patron for the next 3 years!

The French postal service has committed their support to EdM for the next three years for microcredit programmes in India, Cambodia, Ghana, and the Philippines.
Two pacts were signed: a patron agreement and a partnership agreement.

1 - Patronage

Their patronage will provide 7,500 families living in the slums with access to microcredit and savings accounts over the next three years.
For our first year together, we foresee:

• Opening two new loan agencies in Cambodia: funding for the initial investment, operational overhead, and credit reserve necessary to guarantee loans.
  Number of new families affected annually: 800

• IT upgrade of 5 of the 7 agencies in Accra, Ghana; development of training activities and social follow-up for the poorest families; and funding for a portion of the credit reserve used for loans.
  Number of new families affected annually: 500

• Support for the development of SEED in the Philippines: funding for the 4th and 5th agencies; development of non-financial services; and funding for a portion of the credit reserve.
  Number of new families affected annually: 700

• Support for the financing of the next multi-service community centre in the Philippines: equipment and operational overhead.
  Number of new families affected annually: 700

2 - Partnership

The French postal service has implemented a permanent study of the quality of service of Courrier Industriel (its commercial post department). This study is undertaken by a survey organisation,Research International, with a panel of roughly six thousand individuals.
In order to compensate these people for their participation, the postal service usually offers them the choice of a gift from a pre-prepared catalogue.
For 2007, 2008, and 2009, by means of this “panel catalogue”, the panellists will be able to transfer the points they have acquired to ENTREPRENEURS DU MONDE; these “points” will go directly to microcredit projects in Cambodia, India, the Philippines, or Ghana.