Savings-Led Working Group Newsletter
January-March 2018
Register for SG2018: The Power of Savings Groups
Take advantage of the Early Bird Member and Non-Member Rates to join leading practitioners and learn from each other about the challenges and opportunities faced in supporting Savings Groups worldwide at SG2018.
Thank you for your SG2018 Proposals!

SEEP has received 79 session proposals for SG2018. Thank you to all who submitted for the enthusiastic response! The final selection will be announced soon.

Stay tuned for an exciting agenda around the four technical tracks!
Request for Proposals: Evidence and Learning Grant
Submission deadline: March 2, 2018

The SEEP Network is soliciting proposals to address a specific gap in the body of knowledge on the relationship between Savings Groups and women’s empowerment. One evidence and learning grant of up to USD 90,000 will be awarded to a learning partner organization for a period of up to 12 months (from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019).
Learn with SEEP: Resource Spotlight
What We’re Reading

by THE CAMPBELL COLLABORATION

 A Systematic Review Women bear an unequal share of the burden of poverty globally due to societal and structural barriers. One way that governments, development agencies, and grassroots women’s groups have tried to address these inequalities is through women’s SHGs. This review focuses on the impacts of SHGs with a broad range of collective finance, enterprise, and livelihood components on women’s political, economic, social, and psychological empowerment. Read here >>
Research on the impact of Savings Groups on women’s empowerment has produced mixed results. This study examines if Savings for Life - a more holistic approach to poverty alleviation through the Savings Groups and Church Empowerment Zone models – can positively contribute to women’s empowerment.
What We’re Working On in 2018

Applying a Market Systems Approach to Savings Groups (January)
The learning brief proposes the application of the market systems approach to support the development of a well-functioning system where Savings Groups effectively reach all those who seek participation. Equally important, this paper proposes an agenda for the SG community moving forward, envisaging a new role for development agencies through active coordination and proactive experimentation in the formation and operations of SGs.

State of Practice: Savings Groups and Inclusion (April)
The State of Practice aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the participation of vulnerable populations in SGs, barriers and enablers of inclusion, and approaches and tools to increase and measure the outreach of SGs to vulnerable populations.  

A Risk Assessment of Savings Groups (June)
The risk assessment – undertaken in collaboration with the Aga Khan Foundation, Catholic Relief Services and World Relief – will identify and assess negative outcomes associated with participation in Savings Groups. This evidence-based assessment – based on a survey of 500 Savings Groups and key informants in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Rwanda and Tanzania – aims to inform the development of targeted consumer protection initiatives for Savings Groups. Preliminary findings will be presented at the SLWG semi-annual meeting in Kigali on May 24.
Join Us At The Mid-year Meeting

Please join us for a mid-year gathering of the Savings-Led Working Group (SLWG) where we will review progress on this year's ambitious learning agenda. Working group members will share updates and solicit feedback on three initiatives – the Risk Assessment of Savings Groups, Savings Groups and Women's Empowerment, and the State of Practice report on Savings Groups and inclusion. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to engage with the preliminary findings of the Risk Assessment and discuss how they may be catalyzed for internal learning and the development of responsive consumer protection practices. Whether you are a long-time participant in the SLWG, a new member, or just interested to check out our work, we would love to see you there! For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your working group facilitators, Eloisa Devietti ( slwg@seepnetwork.org) and Ashley Wheaton ( ashley.wheaton@gmail.com).
Upcoming Events

Feb 12 – May 11 | Course | Online | Carsey School of Public Policy, University of New Hampshire

May 22 – May 24 | Conference | Kigali, Rwanda | The SEEP Network

The Role of Government in the Savings Groups Sector
May 23 | Meeting | Kigali, Rwanda | The SEEP Network

Savings-Led Working Group – Mid-year Meeting
May 23 | Meeting | Kigali, Rwanda | The SEEP Network

May 25 | Meeting | Kigali, Rwanda | The SEEP Network