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FAQ / HELP DESK
Here you will find answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about Ethical and Alternative finance, as well as information about FEBEA and its members. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in learning more about ethical finance, including individuals, policy makers, European networks, FEBEA members and social economy organisations. If you have a question that is not answered here, please feel free to contact us through this form and we will be happy to assist you.
FEBEA – the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers – is a non-profit association based in Brussels. It gathers 33 financial institutions whose aim is to finance social and solidarity economy (SSE) and projects with social, environmental and cultural value in 17 European countries, serving more than 700,000 people. Its objective is to support the exchange of experiences and promote cooperation between social economy and social finance practitioners.
Ethical FInance organisations have the objective of achieving a positive impact on the collection and use of money. They invest in new activities such as organic farming, renewable energies, the Third sector (or nonprofit sector), Fair Trade. They respond more and more to the needs of those who are excluded from the banking system, and to the needs of savers and investors who are increasingly interested in the way they use their savings.
Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) is an economic system that prioritizes social values and community development over financial profit. It encompasses a range of activities, including cooperatives, community-based organizations, social enterprises, and non-profit organizations, that aim to provide goods and services to meet the needs of their members and/or local communities in an equitable and sustainable way. The SSE model is based on the principles of democratic decision-making, participation, and the fair distribution of benefits. Discover more about Social and Solidarity Economy.
FEBEA has 33 members in 17 European countries. 22 full members, 1 partner and 10 associate members.
Malta, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, France, Belgium, Croatia, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Romania, Poland, Ireland & UK and Switzerland.
FEBEA is consistent in the areas of contributing to EU policies, Advocacy, Communication, contributing to different EU projects, collaborating in the Social Economy intergroup in the development of the Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP)
Currently FEBEA is providing a large series of services to its members and also some directed to the open public such as training on ethical finance and social economy, workshops, webinars, communication materials, study visits and the Annual Conference in September 2023.
Here you will be able to access our podcast series Finance4Good
Here you will be able to access our next trainings and workshops. Remember that trainings are open to the general public with a fee of 100€ and that they are free for all FEBEA members
FEBEA is currently involved in several EU-funded projects under different programs such as Erasmus+. H2020, ESF+ and COSME.
Here’s a list of all the projects where FEBEA participates and our specific role in each of them
FEBEA’s positions are according to values of Ethical Finance (check the question above about EF) and Social and Solidarity Economy. But in different matters and policies of the EU we, as a network, have specific opinions.
FEBEA has an ongoing agreement with the European Commission to support our advocacy, research, and capacity-building activities. This 4-years partnership will allow FEBEA to out grow its activities.
FEBEA currently maintains partnerships with a range of public and private entities at the European and international levels. These collaborations include close relationships with organizations such as Social Economy Europe, European Microfinance Network, Microfinance Europe, and the Climate Finance Fund, among others. These partnerships enable FEBEA to advance its mission of promoting ethical and alternative finance while leveraging resources for the benefit of its members and the broader community.
FEBEA has also close relationships with the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund as many of our members are active users of services and guarantees provided by these two organizations.
Here you will be able to find all the publications produced by FEBEA
All FEBEA members are financial insitutions of different kind or organizations working in the field of ethical finance. We are always looking for organizations that share our commitment to promoting ethical and alternative finance. To join FEBEA, please visit our “Join us” page on our website. This page provides information on membership types, criteria, benefits, and the application process.
As a member of FEBEA, you will have access to a range of resources and services designed to support your activities in ethical finance. You will also have the opportunity to connect with a network of like-minded individuals and organizations, both locally and across Europe.
If you are interested in job opportunities within FEBEA, please check our website for any available vacancies. Stay posted at our social media channels where we post every job opportunity or way of collaboration
If you are interested in collaborating with FEBEA on policy matters, it is important to have a solid understanding of our positions and priorities when it comes to ethical and alternative finance. We encourage interested parties to explore our website and get to know FEBEA and our members: their mission, projects, and advocacy activities.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss a potential collaboration, we encourage you to reach out to Valentina Patetta by valentina.patetta@febea.org
If you are interested in attending the FEBEA Annual Conference, please visit our conference website for more information on the event, including the conference agenda, location, and registration details. Remember that the conference is free for all FEBEA members but anyone interested in Ethical Finance in Europe is welcomed to attend.
FEBEA’s Annual conference 2024 will take place in Ireland hosted by FEBEA member Community Finance Ireland in September, but still details to be announced.
Thank you for your interest in our annual conference, and we hope to see you there!
At the moment there’s a series of thing you can participate in or collaborate with as a member of FEBEA:
To request technical assistance, we recommend reaching out to Gian-Luca Gasparini in gianluca.gasparini@febea.org, our dedicated specialist. Gian-Luca will collect the requests and evaluate the needs of our members to be able to help you with any questions or issues you may be experiencing.
To learn more about other members and their experiences within our network, we provide several avenues for you to connect and stay informed:
If you want to learn more about:
Check the Social Economy Gateway launched by the European Commission. We encourage all Social Economy practitioners to enroll!
Many FEBEA members are eligible for the InvestEU program.
In may 2023, FEBEA published some recomendations together with the Eruopean Microfinance Network and Microfinance Center on a call for improvements to the InvestEU programe.
The Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) is part of the InvestEU Advisory Hub, which is managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) It provides targeted, free-of- charge capacity building services for Social Enterprise finance providers in the form of tailored trainings, coaching, workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges, and study visits on a wide range of topics related to financing social enterprises. The Capacity Building and Market Development services are implemented by a consortium of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management, the Microfinance Centre, and the European Microfinance Network. FEBEA also partners with SIFTA and supports the implementation of these Capacity Building services. Furthermore, SIFTA provides rating, assessment, and evaluation services to Social Enterprise Finance providers, implemented by MFR.
Eligible beneficiaries include Social Enterprise finance providers such as Social Banks, Incubators, Accelerators, Private or Public Investment Funds. SIFTA was kicked off in July 2022 and has an initial budget available until December 2024.
After reviewing the application and requesting additional clarifications, if necessary, the application will be Formalised. The EIB will prepare an Advisory Services Agreement (ASA) which covers the SIFTA services for a period of two years with your organisation.
In order to receive analytical support or general guidance on how to apply for financing, contact us (Febea) through Marion Le Boulch, who oversees the SIFTA service to learn more. You can reach her at marion.leboulch@febea.org.
Please note that there are no other official registration channels for SIFTA applications except through the EIB email or FEBEA contact for analytical support mentioned above.
In order to receive analytical support or general guidance on how to apply for financing, contact us (Febea) through Marion Le Boulch, who oversees the SIFTA service to learn more. You can reach her at marion.leboulch@febea.org.
Please note that there are no other official registration channels for SIFTA applications except through the EIB email or FEBEA contact for analytical support mentioned above.
During the first year of their agreement, 2023, FEBEA has collaborated with SIFTA in the organization of an in-person training on Climate Finance in Vienna, Austria
Also, we provided analytical support for two associate members of FEBEA during the course of 2023.
Stay tuned for the upcoming trainings during 2024.
If you are interested in proposing a collaboration with FEBEA, we encourage you to direct your inquiry to the appropriate person, based on the nature of the proposal. Our Secretary General, Daniel Sorrosal, can be reached for strategic partnerships and collaborations at daniel.sorrosal@febea.org.
For matters related to advocacy and policy, please contact Valentina Patetta, our Advocacy Manager. She can be reached at valentina.patetta@febea.org
For matters related to communications, media, and public relations, please contact Maria Elejalde, our Communications Officer, at maria.elejalde@febea.org
For matters related to research papers and training contact Gian-Luca Gasparini, our Training and Capacity BuildingManager, at gianluca.gasparini@febea.org.
For matters related to membership, membership application and collaborations with members and partners contact Aurora Prospero, our Network Manager, at aurora.prospero@febea.org.
Any other generic matters can be proposed via the here below.
We appreciate your interest in collaborating with FEBEA and look forward to exploring potential partnerships that advance our shared goals.
If you would like to know more about FEBEA’s updates you can:
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