Microsavings through Village Savings and Loan Associations

A group of women sitting on the ground facing the ground and a bowl holding items.
Education and Skills

CARE’s Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) help women take control of their money and build better futures for themselves and their communities.

Since 1991, CARE has supported over 8.4 million people to join savings groups, which provide women with a safe place to save money, access small loans, and support each other during difficult times.

In 2018, CARE launched a 12-year plan to scale savings groups. Our goal: support 50 million women and girls—65 million people overall—to form savings groups by 2030.

Savings groups are usually made up of 15-25 people from the same community. They meet regularly to save, lend, and plan together. The groups are self-managed and help women increase their income, gain confidence, and prepare for emergencies.

Results that Last

Since 2020, the Women Respond initiative has surveyed over 17,000 women in 23 countries. Results show that:

  • VSLA members increase their income by an average of 2.75 times over five years.
  • 85% of members stayed active through the COVID-19 pandemic, finding creative ways to keep their groups going.
  • VSLAs help women deal with challenges around income, food, and health.

VSLAs are more than financial tools. They’re a path to long-term stability, especially in times of crisis. In emergencies, VSLAs help women take back control over their lives and meet their own needs.

Since 1991, CARE has helped 8.4 million people join savings groups

Since 1991, CARE has helped 8.4 million people join savings groups

VSLA members experience an average increase in income of 2.75x over five years

VSLA members experience an average increase in income of 2.75x over five years

Celebrating 30 years of VSLA

Scaling for greater impact

Integrating VSLAs into our global development programs.
Partnering with governments to include VSLAs in public policies and services.
Collaborating with companies to connect VSLAs to business supply chains
Adapting VSLAs for crisis situationsso they can be used by more organizations during emergencies.
Using digital toolsto expand financial and social opportunities for VSLA members.
Centering VSLA programs around what women say they need, and ensuring their voices guide the work.

Get in touch!

Interested in learning more? Contact Vidhya Sriram at vidhya.sriram@care.org.

Email us

Highlighted microsavings programs

Her Money, Her Life

The Her Money, Her Life project is maximizing the potential benefits women receive from their crops through a focus on entrepreneurship and collective investment.

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Pennies to Power

The Pennies to Power program will enable women in savings groups to mobilize an estimated $15 billion each year, create new enterprises and dramatically change women’s ability to work together.

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VSLA in Emergencies

This program will ensure that CARE's voucher assistance programming is informed by those who are experiencing crisis in order to meet their immediate needs and transform their lives as the situation stabilizes.

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Women for Change

The Women for Change project empowers female cocoa farmers and women living in cocoa-farming households to increase their participation in community development and in making decisions on business and livelihood management.

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LINK Up

LINK Up connected 10,000 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) with formal financial institutions in order to build financial inclusion in Kenya and Tanzania.

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Journeys of Transformation

Journeys of Transformation works with men and boys to support equality and women’s social, political, and economic empowerment.

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