Peer Learning Group: Commercial Relationships between Savings Groups and Financial Service Providers

What We Aimed to Achieve

Over the last decade, there has been a proliferation of initiatives to expand access to formal financial services in underserved markets through Savings Groups (SGs). Initiatives to link SGs with financial service providers (FSPs) have resulted in improved access to finance for SG populations as well as new markets and increased deposits for financial institutions. Several challenges still remain however, before these efforts can reach scale. Product development, delivery channels, customer engagement, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and evidence on the demand and supply of financial services for SGs remains thin. Diverse market actors have piloted various approaches to address some of these issues, and while financial service providers have an important wealth of experience and knowledge they often lack facilitated spaces for mutual learning with other FSP practitioners during critical moments.

This Peer Learning Group (PLG) focused on addressing challenges and opportunities faced by financial service providers in working with Savings Groups. This initiative was facilitated by The SEEP Network as part of the The Mastercard Foundation Savings Learning Lab — implemented by Itad in partnership with SEEP.

Customer Journey Mapping

Members from SEEP's PLG were featured in an engaging webinar presenting the Customer Journey Mapping (CJM) methodology developed by 17Triggers and the PLG's use of the tool in exploring commercial relationships between Savings Groups and Financial Service Providers.

Featured Resource

Throughout the course of the PLG, from June 2017 to January 2018, members explored the different mechanisms, or “bridges,” that can be used to provide formal financial services to Savings Groups. Sharing years of insights and experience, the group developed a guide of considerations in developing a business model for linkages.

Organizational Participants