MERS Case Study: Applying the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards Dashboard Tool

This case study examines how the CARE teams in Ghana, Somlia, and Lebanon used the MERS Dashboard Tool in their programming.

MERS in Practice: Using MERS to work within Nexus, During COVID and Beyond

Check out this TEDx style video that discusses bridging the humanitarian-development divide using the Minimum Economic Recovery Standards (MERS).

Evidence Review of Women’s Groups and COVID-19: Impacts, Challenges, and Policy Implications for Savings Groups in Africa

Developed by the Evidence Consortium on Women’s Groups, this brief presents emerging evidence from studies in diverse African contexts— with a deep dive into Nigeria and Uganda&mda…

Compendium Of Good Practices On Conducting MEAL in Partnerships With International Actors And Local Faith Actors

MEAL and faith in the development and humanitarian sector
Faith actors have long been involved in initiatives aimed at improving the wellbeing
and health of communities. While much of…

Quick Digests from Markets in Crises Community LIVE Markets & COVID Online Discussion

Amélioration des pratiques de protection des clients dans les institutions de microfinance: perspectives du Rwanda

Cette note de synthèse a été éclairée par des études de cas d’IMF ainsi que par un examen approfondi de toute la documentation du programme pert…

Mise en œuvre d’une approche de développement de systèmes de marché pour la finance responsable: enseignements tirés du Rwanda

Ce document a été élaboré à partir d’un examen approfondi de la documentation du programme et d’entretiens avec le SEEP Network, l’Associat…

Collecte de données a distances pendant la COVID-19: enseignements tirés du Rwanda

Ce document explique l’approche virtuelle utilisée pour élaborer la synthèse d’apprentissage de fin de programme en raison du confinement dû à la…

Remote Data Collection During the Time of COVID-19: Lessons from Rwanda

This learning brief explains the virtual approach used to develop the end of program learning synthesis due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Rwanda and travel restrictions in many other countries.…

Implementing a Market Systems Development Approach for Responsible Finance: Lessons from Rwanda

This learning brief has been informed by an in-depth review of the program documentation and interviews with The SEEP Network, the Association of Microfinance Institutions Rwanda (AMIR), a…

Improving Client Protection Practices in Microfinance Institutions: Perspectives from Rwanda

This learning brief has been informed by MFI case studies as well as an in-depth review of all the other relevant program documentation. In addition, it draws on the Key Informant Intervie…

Savings Groups and Social Protection: Graduation from Safety Nets

In 2019, SEEP convened a Peer Learning Group (PLG) comprised of both government and civil society social protection programs to explore the Role of Savings Groups in Supporting Graduation from…

Mentoring and Coaching: Supporting Graduation from Social Safety Nets through Savings Groups

In 2019, SEEP convened a Peer Learning Group (PLG) comprised of both government and civil society social protection programs to explore the Role of Savings Groups in Supporting Graduation from…

Savings Groups in Graduation Programs: A Pathway to Inclusive Markets

In 2019, SEEP convened a Peer Learning Group (PLG) comprised of both government and civil society social protection programs to explore the Role of Savings Groups in Supporting Graduation from…

A Market Systems Approach to Savings Groups

Over the last 25 years, development actors have trained approximately 700,000 Savings Groups, comprised of 14 million members, across 75 countries. Despite the seemingly large number of Saving…

A Decade Later: The Long-Term Outcomes of Savings Groups

Over the last 25 years, Savings Groups have emerged as a key financial inclusion strategy in underserved markets, and development organizations have formed about 700,000 groups composed of 14…

The Long-Term Performance and Evolution of Savings Groups

Over the last 25 years, Savings Groups have emerged as a key financial inclusion strategy in underserved markets, and development organizations have formed about 700,000 groups composed of 14…

Markets in Crises (MiC) Statement on COVID-19

Savings Groups and COVID-19

Savings Groups are one of the most consistent and sustainable platforms for community development worldwide. Currently, there are more than 15 million members in Savings Groups in more than 73…

Digital Savings Groups

The SEEP Network defines digital savings groups (DSGs) as “technologies and systems that digitize savings group records, procedures or transactions.” What is most exciting about th…

MERS Guidance in Response to COVID-19

Certification Smart au Nigeria: Enseignements tirés pour les institutions de microfinance

Cette note de synthèse commence par un aperçu des principes de protection des clients, du programme de certification de protection des clients, et du processus de certification Smart. Elle m…

MERS Personal Case Story: Can Livelihoods and Protection Get Along?

The case study explores, from a personal perspective, the relationship between Protection and Livelihoods interventions in a refugee context in Chad. The study uses three standards from the Mi…

MERS Case Study: Using the MERS for Participatory Market System Analysis in a Protracted Refugee Situation

This case study lays out the plan for a participatory market system analysis in the Sahrawi refugee camps in southwest Algeria. The analysis is informed by the guidance articulated in the Mini…

Smart Certification in Nigeria: Lessons for Microfinance Institutions

This learning brief starts with an overview of the client protection principles, the client protection certification program, and the certification process. It then showcases the experiences o…

Savings Groups for Refugees: 10 Tips for Development and Humanitarian Actors

These 10 tips are a product of the SEEP Network’s peer learning group on Savings Groups for Refugees – composed of representatives from the Danish Refugee Council, the Fletcher Sch…

Where are the Men? How Male Engagement in Savings Groups Can Contribute to Financial Inclusion and Women’s Empowerment

Worldwide, about 80 percent of Savings Group members are women (SAVIX 2019). Gendered participation rates in Savings Groups mirror those of the microfinance sector, which set a precedent of em…

Practical Tools and Frameworks for Measuring Agency in Women’s Economic Empowerment

There is increasing interest from economic programs to better understand, measure and capture agency across interventions in order to more deliberately pursue women’s economic empowermen…

Women’s Empowerment and Savings Groups: Monitoring and Results Measurement Toolkit

As Savings Groups increasingly serve as a pillar of gender-focused programs, there is a need to better understand the pathways between Savings Groups and women’s empowerment. The purpose…

Savings Groups and Consumer Protection: Government Regulation, Rules and Guidelines

What role do governments play in protecting Savings Groups as financial service providers and their members as financial consumers? This brief paper assesses emerging government efforts to reg…

Savings Groups and Consumer Protection: Risk Mitigation through Community-Based Structures

Over the last two decades, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has promoted Savings Groups – referred to as Savings and Internal Lending Communities, or SILCs – reaching about 3.8 milli…

Savings Groups and Consumer Protection: How Savings Groups Responded to Insecurity and Theft in Madagascar

For millions of financially excluded individuals worldwide, Savings Groups offer the opportunity to save and borrow small amounts of cash in a convenient, accessible and generally safe manner.…

Women’s Empowerment and Savings Groups: What Do We Know?

This learning brief examines the pathways between Savings Groups and women’s empowerment, the evidence with respect to various outcome areas, and how women’s empowerment outcomes c…

Promotion de la Finance Responsable et la Viablité en Azerbaidjan: Leçons pour les associations de microfinance émergentes

Le présent document se base sur les leçons tirées à l’occasion du voyage d’étude réalisé par une délégation rwandaise…

MERS Case Study: Applying MERS to a Market Study in Congo-Brazzaville

This case study shows how the MERS were applied to a 2018 market study conducted by Catholic Relief Services, following displacement in Congo-Brazzaville.
In May of 2016, conflict triggered by…

MERS Case Study: Using the MERS to Rapidly Identify Quality Improvements for Market Interventions in Fragile Development Contexts

In December 2018, Global Communities began the formation of a multi-country team of twelve MERS ambassadors through a SEEP-facilitated MERS training event for selected individuals from across…

MERS Case Study: Mainstreaming MERS within Smaller Organizations

This case study focuses on Bonyan, a local NGO based in Syria, and how they adapted the MERS to help with market-based program interventions.
In early 2018, the SEEP Network partnered with the…

Promoting Responsible Finance and Sustainability in Azerbaijan: Lessons for Emerging Microfinance Associations

This learning brief begins by providing an overview of the key players in the Azerbaijan microfinance sector, followed by more detail on the approaches used by AMFA to build its sustainability…

State of Practice: Savings Groups and the Role of Government in Sub-Saharan Africa

Savings Groups are community-based financial service providers that deliver basic financial services to millions of members in underserved markets worldwide. Traditionally, the promotion of Sa…

State of Practice: Savings Groups and the Dynamics of Inclusion – Main Findings

This state of practice report provides a comprehensive overview of the inclusion of vulnerable populations in Savings Groups. Over the past 25 years, development organizations have mobilized m…

An Empirical Risk Assessment of Savings Groups

The purpose of this risk assessment is to identify and assess the main risks that affect Savings Groups – based on the frequency and severity of negative outcomes – and ultimately…

State of Practice: Savings Groups and the Dynamics of Inclusion

This state of practice report provides a comprehensive overview of the inclusion of vulnerable populations in Savings Groups. Over the past 25 years, development organizations have mobilized m…

Shifting Social Norms in the Economy for Women’s Economic Empowerment

Insights from a Practitioner Learning Group
This document is a summary of the process and insights from the participants of a 2017 Practitioner Learning Group (PLG) on “Shifting Social N…

Un Écosystème Pour Une Finance Responsable: Leçons tirées de la Conférence Internationale sur la Finance Responsable et Inclusive

Le présent document décrit les observations et les leçons partagées par les participants au Sommet régional des Réseaux (RNS), qui s’est tenu le…

Finance Responsable grâce au Leadership Local et à l’Apprentissage: Associations de Microfinance Africaines

Ce rapport présente les enseignements tirés de la Conférence internationale sur la finance responsable et inclusive (ICRIF), organisée par l’Association des i…

An Ecosystem for Responsible Finance: Lessons from the International Conference on Responsible and Inclusive Finance

This report provides lessons learned from The International Conference on Responsible and Inclusive Finance (ICRIF), hosted by the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR), ai…

Création de mécanismes de résolution des plaintes gérés par les associations: Expériences d’AMFIU en Ouganda et du Consortium ALAFIA au Bénin

Un mécanisme de résolution des plaintes (MRP), qui peut aussi etre appele mécanisme de recours ou médiation, désigne un système de collecte, de r&eacu…

Responsible Finance through Local Leadership: African Microfinance Associations

This document captures the experiences and lessons shared by participants during the SEEP Regional Network Summit, held on March 20th, 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, about their own experiences promo…

المعايير الدنيا للانتعاش الاقتصادي الطبعة الثالثة

والمنظمات الحكومية الدولية ، والسكان المحليين والإدارات الحكومية لتعزيز فعالية ونوعية المساعدات الاقتصادية المقدمة ، وبالتالي إحداث فرق كبير في حياة الأشخاص المتأثرين بالكوارث. يقدم MERS إرشاد…

Normas mínimas para la recuperación económica

El MERS ofrece herramientas para agencias humanitarias, organizaciones intergubernamentales, poblaciones locales y departamentos gubernamentales para mejorar la efectividad y calidad de la asi…