An Empirical Risk Assessment of Savings Groups

Nov 19, 2018 | by The SEEP Network

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Do Savings Groups expose members, individually and collectively, to risk? What are those risks? And what impact do they have?

These are questions that the SEEP Network set out to address through a risk assessment of Savings Groups conducted in 2018. Together with three research partners – the Aga Khan Foundation, Catholic Relief Services, and World Relief –1,600 surveys were conducted with groups, individual members, trainers and community stakeholders in four Sub-Saharan African countries, to uncover key risks affecting Savings Groups.

During this webinar, we shared some of the key findings of the study. Learn more about group survival, member turnover and multi-group membership. Find out how many groups received ongoing support from trainers and discuss the implications on group performance. Hear about the extent of theft and loan default and how they have impacted groups.

This will also be a valuable opportunity to share what you know about the risks facing Savings Groups and exchange ideas and experiences on how to prevent and address these risks.

Speakers

Ashley Wheaton, The SEEP Network

Ashley is co-facilitator of SEEP’s Savings-Led Working Group and leads the working group’s activities in two key thematic areas: consumer protection and gender. Ashley has over ten years of experience developing and managing a broad range of international development programs ranging from alternative urban sanitation to micro-franchising. After being introduced to Savings Groups while working in Bangladesh, Ashley was inspired to seek opportunities to promote and strengthen Savings Groups programs. Prior to joining SEEP, Ashley worked as an Economic Development Consultant at World Vision Australia where she supported their global scale-up of Savings Groups.

Courtney O'Connell, Senior Program Advisor, Savings for Life, World Relief

Courtney O’Connell is World Relief’s Senior Technical Advisor for its global Savings for Life program. She has over 10 years of experience living and working in Sub-Saharan Africa and earned a Masters in International Development from Eastern University. Courtney wrote World Relief’s Savings for Life manual which combines the best practices of VSLA and the faith-based beliefs and values World Relief stands upon. Additionally, Courtney has helped World Relief pilot new innovations for savings groups including “Deciding Together,” a couple’s guide to making financial decisions, a financial literacy and business development training, a pictorial training guide to be used in low literacy contexts, e-Recording, and Text-it, a longitudinal data collection mechanism.

marc bavois, Senior Technical Advisor, Microfinance, Catholic Relief Services

marc bavois has worked in pro-poor microfinance for 15 years, with field experience in over 20 countries. As Senior Technical Advisor for Microfinance, he leads CRS’s work on the SILC-PSP methodology and has written the manuals and trainer guides used in SILC programs across the agency. In addition, he has designed CRS’s master trainer program and was the technical lead for the EFI project which reached over half a million members, two-thirds of them from the poorer half of their communities. Previously he worked with Freedom from Hunger, where he supported MFIs and contributed to the development of the Saving for Change methodology.

This webinar is hosted by The SEEP Network in partnership with FSD Africa.