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
March 1, 2023
Research›Papers/Reports
Private Agricultural Service Provider (PASP) Model Last-Mile Agricultural Service Delivery for Smallholder Farm Families: 2021 PASP Survey Report
The 2021 PASP survey, whose results are reported here, aims to help CRS understand and measure the value of the PASP model to PASPs and their farmer customers. The survey...More
June 30, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Manuals
Introduction to the SMART Skills for Rural Development
English | Français | Español Farmers in developing countries need a range of skills in order to improve their livelihoods. They need to get organized into groups, understand how...More
November 1, 2019
Tools for Field Staff›Manuals
SILC Field Agent Guide 5.1
This guide describes how to establish Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC). The instructions are intended for two audiences: field agents and those who train and...More
January 8, 2019
Research›Case Studies
Making a Living from Teaching Communities to Save
This study reports results from research carried out by the Expanding Financial Inclusion in Africa project (EFI) to find out how working as an independent trainer of savings...More
November 13, 2018
Tools for Field Staff›Manuals
Grupos de Autoahorro
Grupos de Autoahorro – Guía de Facilitación: Libro de Colorear y Fortaleciendo Competencias El manual del facilitador brinda las indicaciones para usar el manual de Fortaleciendo...More
October 2, 2018
Research›Papers/Reports
State of Practice: Savings Groups and the Dynamics of Inclusion
This state of practice report provides a comprehensive overview of the inclusion of vulnerable populations in savings groups. Over the past 25 years, development organizations...More
July 26, 2018
Research›Papers/Reports
Pricing and Payments in the Private Service Provider (PSP) Model
This report presents findings on pricing and payments observed in the EFI project, as well as CRS’s conclusions on how to implement its fee-for-service strategy moving forward. It...More
July 24, 2018
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
TANGIBLE BENEFITS TO CHILD WELLBEING SEEN AMONG HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATING IN SAVINGS AND INTERNAL LENDING COMMUNITIES (SILC)
This 4-page brief shares data about the effect of savings groups -- which CRS calls "SILC" (Savings and Internal Lending Communities) -- on vulnerable households in Nigeria...More
July 23, 2018
Research›Papers/Reports
Expanding Financial Inclusion (EFI) in Africa Research Program
This page contains links to all of the research studies associated with the Expanding Financial Inclusion in Africa project (EFI), a 4-year effort whose core goal was to ensure...More
