What is financial inclusion anyway?
Are Self-Help Groups (SHGs) SGs?
Emphatically “yes” - when members write the group rules and follow the principles of fairness and transparency. And, emphatically “no,” - when group are formed for the purposes of commercial or political interests, or for any agenda not created by group members themselves.
We are so certain that interest must be either related to investment or time, that we neglect to see local interpretations of interest as more relevant to local people.
“Waiting for Rain, Reaching for Mangoes,” a paper by Julie Zollman on savings groups in rural Swaziland is filled with surprises.
“Linking Poor Rural Households to Microfinance and Markets in Ethiopia,” (John Burns and Soloman Bogale). There may be some golden nuggets for those interested in livestock, savings groups, and crop value chains.
Where the Benefits Come From
The more communities have been given free stuff, the less they’re able to benefit from savings groups.
Haiti - Saving Despite Crisis
January 12, 2010 was an unforgettable day for the members of the Brave Warriors, a savings group based in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Members lost their homes, businesses and loved-ones to the earthquake that tore through their city. Despite the devastation, this group continues to meet every week....