Created in 1989 by Maria Nowak, Adie (Association pour le Droit À l'Initiative Économique) is a non-profit association, recognized as a public utility, that helps people outside the labor market and the banking system to create their own businesses and employment through microcredit. Adie helps individuals who are excluded from the labor market to create their own profitable job, and regain independence and dignity. As a founding member of the European Microfinance Network, Adie a leading Institution of Microfinance in France and in Western Europe.

Using an established network of branches across France and French oversea territories, Adie enables individuals who are not eligible under the traditional banking systems to start up or expand their own companies through small business loans. Adie also provides pre and post loan business support throughout the period of reimbursement. Its missions to provide open access to credit to persons in a precarious situation, and assist them step-by-step in their activity, are shared by 432 staff and 1,245 volunteers. Many of Adie’s loans are to trade and service sectors—website developers, home decorators, florists, grocers, electricians, artisans, bars and restaurants, architects, photographers, itinerant sales, farmers, plus many other fields. Since its inception, Adie has helped to finance over 60,000 enterprises, which have helped to create over 70,000 jobs. Adie strives to be a social laboratory while using its experience and knowledge to improve the existing regulatory framework governing microfinance and microenterprises.