International Development

From the beginning, it was obvious that the caisses populaires would have a global reach. Alphonse Desjardins didn't hesitate to use German and Italian cooperatives as models for his concept of a caisse populaire that was well-adapted to the Québec of the era. His work and ways of thinking were respected by people all over the world, a fact that is thoroughly documented by the frequent correspondence he had with cooperators from a dozen different countries.

This open-mindedness is still evident today. Through various activities, Desjardins Group is making its presence increasingly known on an international level: participating in world organizations, carrying out international cooperative mandates and accompanying members, both individuals and businesses alike, abroad.

Timeline

Well before the 1960's, Desjardins had ties with teachers, farmers and missionaries located in developing countries. The Group paid financial contributions, sent documentation, and arranged for interns to come to Canada from those countries.

From 1963 to 1970, the Institut coopératif Desjardins (cooperative training centre) welcomed more than a hundred interns, and established relationships with similar institutions, especially in Africa.

In 1970, the Group decided to institutionalize its commitment to developing countries by creating the Compagnie internationale de développement régional (CIDR – Canada).

From 1970 to 1980, the first experiences of sharing Desjardins' philosophy and cooperative practices were carried out in Cameroun, Zaïre, Rwanda and Upper-Volta (Burkina Faso).

In 1980, CIDR – Canada became the Société de développement international Desjardins (SDID). During the decade, (up until 1990), it extended its activities into other African countries (Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Ivory Coast ), as well as in Haïti, in Central America and South America. Especially associated to rural development projects, SDID was also familiar with farm credit problems.

In the early 1990's, after the fall of the communist regimes, it was called upon to intervene in Poland, Romania, Hungary and Lithuania, in order to restructure savings and credit cooperatives. Over those same years, it extended its expertise to South-East Asia (Philippines and Vietnam).

In 1994, SDID adopted the name of Développement international Desjardins (DID).

The Group welcomed a growing number of visitors and interns from abroad: more than 230 came in 1994 alone.

In 1995, DID associated with the Concours des jeunes Desjardins youth contest in order to make the population aware of the advantages of international development.

In 1996, DID expanded its services by setting up the Partnership Fund, designed to strengthen cooperatives, mutuals and community finance institutions in developing countries.

In 1999, DID set up the Guarantee Fund, which provides financial leverage for these institutions to assist them in obtaining financing from other sources. In 2000, DID established the Investment Fund for International Development (FONIDI), which is backed by several components of Desjardins Group and intended to encourage the growth of cooperative financial institutions.

Present in some 20 countries and including 200 employees, DID is recognized for its expertise in microfinance. It enables Desjardins experts to share and enrich their knowledge in the four corners of the world.

Seeking to respond to the need of financial cooperatives in developing countries or those in transition, DID has long been a partner of CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency), the World Bank and several government and multilateral organizations.

To find out more about Développement international Desjardins