Institutional Savings Services for Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Appropriate Targeting Strategies

Economic strengthening (ES) can help mitigate the risks faced by orphans and vulnerable children by strengthening their ability to protect against economic shocks associated with HIV and mitigating economic structural barriers to prevention, testing, care and treatment. There is an array of economic strengthening options available for orphans and vulnerable children and their caregivers. This brief focuses on the potential benefits of institutional savings, or savings services available through formal financial institutions, such as banks, credit unions, and other entities legally registered as financial service providers.