Savings Groups at the Frontier

Savings Groups reach those rarely served by mainstream financial institutions. At weekly meetings, members deposit savings and take loans, and in the process build commitment, discipline and mutual assistance. Maximum transparency, a profitable structure for saving, access to small loans and an annual lump sum of capital are the hallmarks of the Savings Group methodology. The outcome: empowered groups, made up mostly of women, who manage themselves as tiny financial institutions. Today there are Savings Groups in 60 countries with more than 6 million members, the result of initiatives carried out by dozens of international and local NGOs.

Savings Groups at the Frontier explores the issues that will shape the future of Savings Groups. What are the costs, required inputs, and anticipated outreach of these groups? How does replication take place? How sustainable are the groups? Is it feasible to integrate financial and non-financial services? Are linkages to the formal system desirable? What is the impact of groups on members and their households? How can performance be managed? Not surprisingly, these issues mirror the preoccupation of the pioneers of microcredit. However, this book addresses them, not from the perspective of the financial institution, but in support of group members and savers who are managing their own financial services.

The discussions in this book carry on those begun at the Arusha Savings Group Summit held in Tanzania in October 2011. The authors of these chapters, including Jeff Ashe, Hugh Allen, Joanna Ledgerwood, and Paul Rippey, solicited input from a wide range of practitioners both during and after the summit. They also are the pioneers of the movement and bring extensive experience to these pages.

This book is essential reading for all those concerned with extending financial services to the poor: NGO and microfinance managers, bankers, policymakers, researchers and students.

The book was launched on November 7 at the 2012 SEEP Annual Conference.

The book serves as a follow-up to the 2011 Arusha Savings Group Summit, and is available in draft form at Savings-Revolution.org. You can order the book here.