Savings Groups promote financial inclusion and build resilience in marginalized communities
In low-income countries, on average only 28 percent of adults have an account with a financial institution, and financial exclusion is more severe among the rural poor, youth, women and other
marginalized populations. Over the last decade, Savings Groups have emerged as a key strategy in advancing SEEP’s goals of promoting access to finance in underserved markets.
Ultimately, Savings Groups represent a powerful economic and social development platform, enabling investments in household assets, sustainable livelihoods, health, education, food security,
and nutrition.
What We Aim to Achieve
SEEP aims to expand the scale, inclusiveness and impact of Savings Groups by supporting diverse stakeholders – including NGOs, financial services providers, local and national
governments, and funders. Through knowledge mobilization, dissemination and actionable learning opportunities, our Savings Groups learning initiatives expand the body of credible evidence,
improve and scale the application of effective practices, technologies, and business models, and strengthen alliances among development and market actors.
Established in 2007, SEEP’s Savings-Led Working Group (SLWG) is at the forefront of the Savings Group movement, facilitating broad-based coordination and learning among SG
practitioners.
The MasterCard Foundation Savings Learning Lab is a six-year initiative implemented by Itad, in partnership with the SEEP Network. The Lab's aim is to support learning within the
Foundation’s savings portfolio through the generation, synthesis, curation and dissemination of knowledge.
Supported by FSD Africa, the initiative aims to facilitate the creation, sharing and use of evidence for and among organizations supporting Savings Groups, to increase access to and use of
appropriate financial services by vulnerable populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Mango Tree is the global resource on Savings Groups. Hosted by the SEEP Network, the knowledge hub is home to the most
comprehensive resource library on Savings Groups, upcoming industry events, latest
news, and discussions on stakeholder priorities and emerging areas of interest.
Recordings of preserved sessions are now publicly availableon the SG2020 website, exploring how best to support Savings
Groups and their members during COVID-19 and how to effectively engage them in community-level response efforts.
