What kind of savings products do poor women need? The experience of SHDF

Author: Lacoste, Jean-Paul

Source: Small Enterprise Development, Volume 12, Number 3, 1 September 2001 , pp. 59-63(5)

Publisher: Practical Action Publishing

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Abstract:

SHDF's savings clubs have been operating in Zimbabwe for almost 40 years, allowing poor women to place their savings in one bank account held by the club. They are popular for their simple and transparent saving stamp system; however, the average balances in the accounts are very small. This article examines why women tend to save more in kind than in savings accounts in Zimbabwe's current economic climate, and also identifies the limits of the current savings stamps system compared to other types of financial savings. Finally, the author assesses the need for a new voluntary type of savings, and makes some recommendations to SHDF.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/0957-1329.2001.033

Publication date: 2001-09-01

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International journal of microfinance and business development.

Now published as Enterprise Development and Microfinance
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