“Alleviating poverty around the world by enabling the access to financial services to those who are excluded therefromâ€, that is PlaNet Finance’s mission. By offering to the poorest the means to develop a generating revenue activity and to benefit from various financial services, Microfinance is a particularly pertinent tool. PlaNet Finance has thus for objective to accelerate the development of Microfinance and to reinforce its efficiency, in accordance with Human Rights and the main principles of Democracy, as defined in the Preamble of the United Nations Charter, the international financial institutions and the various protocols of the International Labour Organisation.

PlaNet Finance aims to expand progressively its scope of activities to all fields of Microfinance. The entities MicroCred, FinanCités, Planet Rating, PlaNet Guarantee, PlaNIS responsAbility, PlaNet Finance Social Business, MicroWorld, PlaNet Finance France and PlaNet Venture have been created for that purpose, and consolidated within PlaNet Finance Group. Most of these entities combine both a financial and a social role, as will any entity created in the future, and share the same goal. They ensure their economic balance and their development by generating surplus, which is partly reinvested in PlaNet Finance’s mission.

Faithful to the ethical dimension of its activities, PlaNet Finance Group has defined the Values and the Principles that must guide the behaviour of all its partners and stakeholders, that is to say all parties contributing to PlaNet Finance’s mission. This Code of Ethics, adopted by the Fondation PlaNet Finance, expresses them.

Ethics is an essential dimension of the success of Planet Finance Group’s action, and this Code of Ethics aims at guaranteeing it. Every staff member, employee or volunteer of PlaNet Finance Group must adhere to the present Code and contribute to its implementation in day-to-day operations.

Respect of Human Rights and Human Dignity

PlaNet Finance Group guarantees to its entire staff equal treatment and the absence of any form of discrimination.

PlaNet Finance Group seeks the best possible integration of its activities in the local context of the countries where it operates. In each of these countries, it shall ensure of the respect of its local partners and of their cultural and social traditions.

None of PlaNet Finance Group partners or beneficiaries shall implement or finance activities that involve forced or child labour or any other activity in conflict with International Treaties, International Labour Organisation guidelines or any other relevant national legislations.

Remuneration of Services and Social Impact

PlaNet Finance Group cooperates exclusively with partners complying with its own rules notably with regards to the remuneration of services rendered. It is specifically the case with Microfinance Institutions, which agree to:

  • Provide full information related to their products and services,
  • Charge interest rates compatible with their clients’ financial capacities,
  • Prevent any form of overindebtness,
  • Implement respectful collection procedures of Human Rights principles.

The social impact of the services rendered shall be regularly evaluated.

Respect of Law

PlaNet Finance Group operates in many countries, representing various legal and political environments. The Group thus ensures to respect these countries’ local legislation, provided they comply with the ethical values of the present Code.

PlaNet Finance Group shall notably ensure that the origin of the funds collected and their use is in compliance with international treaties regarding money laundering and terrorist financing.

Environment

The respect of environment is an important ethical value. PlaNet Finance Group endeavours to measure the environmental impact of its activities and calls on its staff to be vigilant on that point.

Anti-Corruption

PlaNet Finance Group undertakes to ban:

  • Any form of corruption in order to receive a competitive advantage or to influence any kind of decision,
  • Any act of favouritism from any member of PlaNet Finance Group or from its partners.

Prevention of conflicts of interest

PlaNet Finance Group shall take all necessary measures to avoid any conflict of interest among its diverse activities, as well as between its own interests and those of its staff. Staff members shall not take advantage of their link with PlaNet Finance Group for personal gain.

Those staff members involved in political or community services shall do so exclusively in their own name and for personal interest, and shall in no way act in PlaNet Finance Group’s name, or allow these activities to undermine PlaNet Finance Group’s mission or image.

Confidentiality

PlaNet Finance Group undertakes to preserve the confidentiality of all information collected by its staff within the implementation of PlaNet Finance Group’s activities, and shall not disclose or share said information without the consent of those concerned.

Transparency

PlaNet Finance Group shall provide a complete and transparent account of all its activities and financing, to all its partners and to the general public.

All parties contributing to PlaNet Finance’s mission shall acquaint themselves with the present Code of Ethics and shall undertake to respect it.

PlaNet Finance, or any of its entities, may cease any cooperation with any partner, institution, organization, or staff member, who should fail to respect the present Code of Ethics.