
December 22, 2021
Research›Papers/Reports
Understanding Farmers' Needs Project - Final Endline Research Report
The CRS Understanding Farmers' Needs (UFN) project, implemented in Senegal, sought to identify the value added for farmers of improved last-mile service delivery by Private...More

December 8, 2021
Tools for Field Staff›Learning Briefs
SILC Pro-Poor Strategy
The SILC Pro-Poor Strategy seeks to promote the inclusion of poorer community members in SILC. The strategy comprises promotional approaches, new group savings policies and SILC...More

November 19, 2020
Research›Case Studies
Developing Smallholder Group Agroenterprises through Savings and Internal Lending Communities
This publication summarizes the principal findings of a study undertaken to examine the use of Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) as a platform for the development of...More

September 30, 2020
Research›Case Studies
How SILCs Have Responded to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Learning from surveys in Latin America and Africa
This study presents the results of two surveys conducted with representatives of 844 CRS Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILCs) in 18 countries in Africa and Latin...More

June 25, 2020
Research›Papers/Reports
Results from a multi-project survey of Savings and Internal Lending Community members
This study examines the views of members of CRS’ Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) and Mercy Corps’ Youth Savings and Lending Associations (YSLA) in Guatemala,...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

August 5, 2019
Research›Evaluations/Assessments
Savings Groups and Consumer Protection: Risk Mitigation through Community-Based Structures
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Savings and Internal Lending Communities, or SILC, model is based on an innovative fee-for-service delivery channel that trains and certifies...More

August 5, 2019
Research›Evaluations/Assessments
Savings Groups and Consumer Protection: How Savings Groups Responded to Insecurity and Theft in Madagascar
For millions of financially excluded individuals worldwide, Savings Groups offer the opportunity to save and borrow small amounts of cash in a convenient, accessible and generally...More

July 11, 2019
Research›Evaluations/Assessments
Earning a living from SILC: PSPs in Madagascar
This study was conducted to evaluate the sustainability of CRS’ Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC), fee-for-service, Private Service Provider (PSP) model in...More

June 11, 2019
Research›Evaluations/Assessments
Ex-post evaluation: Expanding Financial Inclusion in Africa - Final Report
This report describes the findings of an ex-post evaluation of the Expanding Financial Inclusion (EFI) program, delivered by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and implementing...More