Women, microfinance and savings: lessons and proposals

Publication Date: 2001
Published by: St. Louis, USA: Microfinance.com

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What informal savings mechanisms do women use?

Microfinance—both credit and savings—has potential to improve the well-being of poor women in developing countries. This paper explores practical ways to achieve that potential. Based on lessons from informal saving mechanisms that women already use, the paper proposes two savings services designed to address the development issues that confront women. The proposals call for safe-deposit boxes and for matched savings accounts for health care or education.