Savings groups are a platform for delivering multi-dimensional programming that has reached over 10 million people in Africa. Savings groups are community-managed, savings-led groups that use pooled funds for internal loans through either rotating savings and credit associations or accumulating savings and credit associations. Examples showed how health products, services, and information can be integrated into savings groups through unified, parallel, or linked models between organizations to improve health while empowering communities through financial inclusion.

1. Savings Groups as a Platform for Multi-dimensional Programming
CORE Group Global Health Practitioner Conference
May 2016

2. Speakers
Moderator: Bobbi Gray, Research Director, Freedom from Hunger
Jennifer Orgle, Program Director, Nutrition at the Center, CARE USA
Dennis Mello, Global Associate Technical Advisor, Women Empowered Initiative,
Project Concern International
Jennine Carmichael, Deputy Director, Accelerating Strategies for Practical Innovation and
Research Economic Strengthening (ASPIRES), FHI 360
Paul Rippey, Cofounder and Editor, Savings Revolution

3. Financial Services for the Poor
At the end of 2013, microfinance institutions (MFIs) reached 211 million
clients, 114 million of whom were living in extreme poverty.
MFIs have served as
a sustainable platform
for the delivery of
health products,
services, and
information for decades.

4. MFIs
Offering
Health
Products
and/or
Services

5. Types of
Health
Products and
Services
Offered by
MFIs

6. Savings Groups
It is estimated that 10 million+ people are participants in Savings Groups. Africa accounts for
the majority of these Savings Groups.
Savings Groups are:
community managed. No external organizations necessary.
Savings-led; uses group funds to make internal loans.
Can take one of two forms:
• Rotating savings and credit associations (ROSCAs): each member of a group contributes the
same amount at each gathering and that total amount is given to one member on a rotating
basis until all members have had their turn;
• Accumulating savings and credit associations (ASCAs): whose members manage their
accumulated savings and lend it out to individuals in the groups based on needs or business
opportunities

7. Example: Saving for Change
15-25 members
Management Committee
Internal Rules
Annual share-out of savings and
earnings
Internal loans
Oral record-keeping
Education on health, business and money
management
Pay it forward replication

8. Pathways to Integration
Unified
(1 organization)
Parallel
(1 organization, multiple
staff)
Linked
(2+ organizations, multiple
staff)

9. Example: Saving for Change & Health

10. Example: Savings Groups as Partners in Health

11. Thank You