Community-based Savings and Loans Schemes for Improved Livelihoods and WASH Service Delivery - the Northern Ghana Experience

A CRS project in northern Ghana uses savings groups to help rural communities build useful lump sums of money without excessive debt or interest payments. The groups are organized in areas where financial services are unavailable, to help farmers create and grow livelihoods. CRS' savings groups methodology fosters increased financial inclusion through a market-based strategy led by fee-for-service delivery agents, to create an ideal platform for investment in delivery of other services, including WASH.