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
March 2, 2023
Research›Papers/Reports
CRS offers Muslim communities sharia-compliant savings groups
This 3-page summary describes the CRS sharia-compliant SILC approach, as well as results from its implementation since 2019 in the USAID-funded Girma project. In response to...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
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
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
April 4, 2022
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
Challenges facing Savings and Internal Lending Communities in a long-term refugee settlement setting
This study was conducted to understand the challenges and risks that members of Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) and SILC Private Service Providers (PSP) have faced...More
