An Empirical Risk Assessment of Savings Groups

The purpose of this study is to identify and assess the main risks that affect Savings Groups, based on the frequency and severity of negative outcomes, and ultimately inform the development of targeted consumer protection initiatives for Savings Groups. The study – based on a survey of 1,600 groups, individual members, trainers and community stakeholders in four Sub-Saharan African countries – identifies and explores several risk factors related to group survival, membership, training and support, governance, saving and lending, and safety of group assets.

The study examines several observed risks that merit attention from stakeholders who are creating and supporting Savings Groups, and the findings serve as an initial evidence base on which to monitor, investigate and address the risks faced by Savings Groups. It sets out to address the following questions:

• Do Savings Groups expose members, individually and collectively, to risk?
• What are those risks?
• What impact do they have?