The WELL-BEING BANK PROJECT of SOCIETE GENERALE aims to help Cameroonian farmers to get rid of the financing hurdle which they have been facing for years...

1. THE WELL-BEING BANK (WBB)
PROJECT
SOCIETE GENERALE, the future’s bank…At the service of
sustainable development…And local communities…

2. THE CONTEXT
The challenge of finance exclusion
The WELL-BEING BANK PROJECT aims to help
Cameroonian farmers to get rid of the financing hurdle which they
have been facing for years. Though the share of bank loans given
to the agricultural sector in the country is on the rise (only 7.6%),
however these financial supports are still majorly focused on food
industries and not on small producers.
The latter, though representing over 80% of the
agricultural landscape and with a matching national production,
unfortunately do not have the guarantees required by banks. All
of which keeps agriculture among the lesser sectors to receive
bank financing in Cameroon. Thus, farmers are used to turn to
microfinance establishments, who are more likely to grant loans
to operators in the agricultural sector. However, the usurious rates
used by these establishments end up deterring many.

3. THE CONTEXT
Promote the best advantages…
Paradoxically, while the financial sector is characterized by great dynamism and innovation, the
level of profitability required in a highly competitive environment makes it more difficult for
part of the population whose activities do not appear to be sufficiently profitable to access
financial services.
So there is a risk of social exclusion in some communities. Access to financial services is
recognized as a factor of social cohesion. Finance inclusion is a particular issue for banks.
THUS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LESS ADVANTAGED CLASSES
APPEARS TO BE A COMPETITIVE ASSET, A SOURCE OF ADDED VALUE!!!
Agriculture is the linchpin of most of sub-Saharan economies. The role of agriculture in human
development highlights the importance of relationship between agriculture and nutrition;
hence the need to promote productive capacities of its soil and people. Actions in agricultural
sector could directly lead to changes in diet in quantity, quality and variety available, as well
as contribute to sustainable development.
Ensuring food security is therefore a pillar of improving the well-being of the community. The
activities of fruits and vegetables sector respond by nature to the most pressing need of all
humanity, that of food, play a major and beneficial role in the planning of the territory, in the
maintenance of the landscape...... much more:
it is A SUCCESSFUL MODEL OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT !!!

4. THE SOLUTION
Support the fruits and vegetables sector…
WBB Project will create support programs for local producers to help them meet the
needs of the fruits and vegetable sector, enable them to increase the quality
standards of their products, while:
- Preserving environment and rural heritage. Through the diversity and varieties of
fruits and vegetables, the sector guarantees the maintenance of landscapes, the
maintenance of biodiversity;
- Improving competitiveness and dynamism of rural areas: the sector, characterized
by a web of small and medium-sized enterprises, contributes to the maintenance
of jobs in rural areas and promotes the integration of low-skilled people;
- Training farmers on economically sustainable, environmentally sound and socially
responsible practices;
- Improving product accessibility: a better presence in markets, to improve food
security, by promoting local production and consumption.

5. THE SOLUTION: To be engaged with local
stakeholders…
•WBB Project will support small and medium-sized
producers of the main supply basins of the cities of Douala
(Coastal Coast, South-West and Western Highlands),
Yaoundé (the department of Lekié and Dja-et Lobo in the
forest area of South) and the Far North, with plots of 0.5 to
5 hectares.
•The producers concerned will be accompanied at all stages
of their activities until they acquire knowledge and
experience to continue their activities fully independently.
•The support will be through associations of promotion of
agriculture (NGOs and local associations...). The operation
is supervised by local agricultural experts who supervise
actions on the ground, relying on small groups of
producers, and of cours experts of SOCIETE GENERALE!

6. THE SOLUTION:
A successful development model
The organization…
• A multidisciplinary committee of experts in
charge of all aspects of program management
and coordination (finance, banking, marketing,
etc.).
• Permanent consultants, local agronomists, and
local NGOs (who will be the on-site relays) will be
involved in the programme for producer training
and monitoring.
Training and educational actions …
• Economically viable, environmentally sound and
socially responsible practices;
• Risk prevention: insect pests, birds, other pests,
limiting pesticide use;
• Preservation, packaging, safety and hygiene;
• Biomass valuation (use of waste to make
compost);
• Once trained, beneficiaries will begin to seed to
reflect the expected harvest season. producers
will have to set up simplified projects to
extend their operations.
The financing…
•SOCIETE GENERALE will contribute to
the National Government's goal of
poverty reduction, the Agricultural
Credit Support Project toward
increasing investments, creating new
job opportunities, and improving
agricultural productivity in rural
areas. SOCIETE GENERALE will provide
credit support to agriculture and agri-
related projects within a value chain;
•The amount of funding will be
included between 1,000,000 and
20,000,000 CFA francs depending on
the relevance of the projects.
•All will be done to improve
creditworthiness and the viability of
crop production.

7. THE STRATEGY
Risks minimized
• To acknowledge the major
challenges associated with WBB
Project, SOCIETE GENERALE will
include issues like population
displacement, social conflicts
and environmental protection.
The bank will work on
successful land management to
allocate land in such a way as to
integrate both small and large
producers into agropole
projects, as well as to promote
agricultural aggregation.
Oversight
•Land issues must be managed
carefully so that no one is harmed.
Another essential point is to make
sure that “high-quality” feasibility
studies, as well as environmental
and social impact assessments, are
conducted before any decision is
taken. And after, impact studies will
be conducted.
•Project oversight is also key, and
that will require the right
institutional framework in place, as
well as the involvement of
Ministries of Agriculture and Rural
Development and other institutions
(civil society, private sector ).

8. THE RESULTS
A social innovation…Profitable for local communities…
• After the harvests, these are collected at the level of the farmers' groups,
products will be packaged, branded with the label of the region of origin,
then transported and distributed to markets, and "fruit and vegetable"
shelves.
• The society will benefit from an improved food security, the availability and
accessibility of products with significant public health benefits;
• The bank’s perception will certainly be strengthened!!! As well as be
ensured of investing in a profitable and useful sector.
SOCIETE GENERALE will:
• Contribute to Finance inclusion and strong relationships with local actors,
through dialogue and consideration of their expectations;
• Broaden community investment acumen;
• Build an original social advantage. Through a detailed communication of its
commitment, the company will develop its reputation and brand image,
which will allow it to attract new customers.
Let the WBB Project of SOCIETE GENERALE help you meet your financial
needs in agriculture, be it for your additional capital, production increase, or
operational expansion.
IMMEDIATE INVESTING. IMPROVE LOCAL ECONOMY. ATTRACTION OF INVESTORS.

9. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
ATTENTION !!!
SOCIETE GENERALE, the future’s bank…At the service of
sustainable development…And local communities…