Madagascar: Credit with Education in the TIAVO Savings and Loan Network

This document presents the case study of the network of savings and loan associations (SLAs) in Madagascar, known as the TIAVO network. The TIAVO network is one of four networks supported under the 15-year Microfinance Program, which is financed by the Government of Madagascar and donors, including the World Bank, through its Adaptable Program Credit.

The document highlights some of the driving factors for the success of TIAVO:

• Commitment and political economy for change;
• Institutional innovation;
• Learning and experimentation.

It concludes that:

• Microfinance institutions require financial and technical support to establish programs for the very poor;
• Programs that reach the poor need time to yield results;
• Staff incentives work;
• Monitoring impact on poverty is difficult;
• Government has a role in supervising the performance of microfinance institutions.