Chapter 2: The Role of INGOs in the Promotion of Saving Groups: Contribution by CARE International

International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) are key in the promotion of savings groups (SGs) as a financial services mechanism in many developing countries. INGOs, leveraging on indigenous community processes, have developed semi-formal mechanisms and technologies to facilitate access to formal financial services in many developing countries. Communities across the world have had ingenious mechanisms to support the less fortunate members. For example, collective action has been used to mobilise resources to secure livelihoods, cultivate farms, construct houses and tend to livestock. Similar collective strategies are being used to mobilise and manage financial resources. INGOs have codified these processes and provided access to new technologies including, safe box, digital and cloud based services.