November 5, 2024
Research›Papers/Reports
How Classroom SILC Helps Young People Succeed
CRS staff in Central America developed the classroom Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) approach to help children and adolescents learn how to use money responsibly...More
June 13, 2024
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
CRS and Savings-led Microfinance: Our Approach and Strategy
CRS’ Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) methodology is a holistic, savings-led microfinance approach that provides a safe place for poor households to save and borrow...More
June 5, 2024
Research›Papers/Reports
How Classroom SILC and Financial Education Help Students in Central America
Classroom SILC and financial education were developed to help children learn how to use money responsibly and develop organizational and leadership skills and empathy in a safe...More
January 1, 2024
Tools for Field Staff›Manuals
Value Chain Toolkit
The Value chain tool kit provides methods to support male (♂) and female (♀) farmers in the “Build to Grow to Prosper” phases of the CRS Pathway to Prosperity (Figure 1). Through...More
December 6, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
The Value of Sharia-Compliant Savings Groups
Conventional savings groups (SG) consist of 15-30 self-selecting members and provide their members with two means for obtaining useful lump sums of money to invest in business or...More
December 5, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Manuals
SILC Field Agent Guide 5.1.1S-Sharia-compliant
The SILC FA Guide Version 5.1.1S is fully compliant with the Sharia (Islamic Law). It is grounded in the experience of pilot deployments in Mauritania and Sudan. It is suitable...More
August 12, 2022
Research›Case Studies
Impact of the Child-optimized Financial Education (COFE) curriculum among savings group participants in Uganda
This publication highlights the joint collaboration between CRS Uganda and multiple PIQA teams (microfinance, social services and MEAL) to adapt, revise, research and support the...More
June 28, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
The Case for Inclusive Agricultural Development
With this policy brief, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs aspires to add to the growing conversation about inclusive development through the lens of agriculture and food...More
May 25, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Manuals
Child-Optimized Financial Education (COFE) manuals
CRS’ curriculum, entitled Child-Optimized Financial Education (COFE): Moving Families from Vulnerability to Thriving, is unique among financial education curricula. It helps...More
April 4, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
How SILCs in Africa and Latin America have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic: One year later
This study presents the results of focus group discussions with 110 CRS SILCs and individual interviews with 415 SILC members administered in seven countries in Africa and two in...More
