What are Digital Savings Groups?

Digital Savings Groups (DSGs) refer to a broad set of technologies and systems that digitize Savings Group records, procedures or transactions.

A Framework for Product and Business Development

A growing range of Digital Savings Group solutions has the potential to increase the scale and deepen the impact of Savings Groups. Effective solutions reduce the cost of group training, mitigate risks to the security of group funds, facilitate access to financial and non-financial services, support low-cost long-term monitoring, and create new incentives for market actors.

Based on a survey of 12 DSG solution providers, this learning brief examines key design options for product and business development.

Meg Bearor

Sr. Advisor, Livelihoods & Economic Opportunities
Pact

“Savings Groups have always strived to be an inclusive space for women and communities to come together and learn and grow. Digital Savings Groups open up a new frontier through digital platforms for more flexible engagement, educational material, and linkages to financial service providers - previously out of reach. This learning brief brings together the many products available and should be an inspiration for future product development.”

Dr. Tosan Oruwariye

Director of Strategic Partnerships
MaTontine

“This report is an invaluable resource for stakeholders that promote resiliency through digital tools. The sense of urgency created by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it imperative that sector stakeholders come together to accelerate the development of cost-effective solutions.”

Wes Wasson

Chief Executive Officer
DreamStartLabs

"This learning brief from SEEP is must-reading for anyone involved in the sector. A new generation of Digital Savings Group solutions is changing the game, offering an exciting opportunity for practitioners to dramatically increase their impact. This learning brief couldn’t have come at a better time for organizations feeling the urgency to seek more resilient and scalable solutions for the post-COVID era."