Help Rural Women Level Up Their Saving Groups

Since 2023, Women for Women Rwanda has been running the Stronger Women Stronger Nations (SWSN) programme across multiple districts, equipping vulnerable women with training in financial literacy, business skills, gender equality, and vocational tracks. A core component of this work is the formation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) through which participants learn to save collectively, access small loans, and build financial independence.

The results from our 2023–2025 cohorts demonstrate what's possible. Across 24 VSLAs in Bugesera, Kayonza, and Gasabo Districts, 567 women saved and shared over 38 million Rwandan Francs - roughly USD 26,000 - which they invested in livestock, small businesses, health insurance, and school fees. Monthly net income among participants more than doubled over the programme period to USD 4.92. Food insecurity was cut by half. Participation in business or social groups rose from 45% to 96%. When we asked graduates which component of the programme made the biggest difference, VSLAs came out on top.

But there's a persistent challenge: almost all of these groups manage their records by hand. Paper-based bookkeeping leads to miscalculations, disputes, and erosion of trust - and limits what groups can do once the programme ends. This project is our response to that gap. We are working with women's savings groups to replace paper records with a simple digital bookkeeping app, supported by smartphone access and hands-on training. The goal is to make the financial infrastructure these women have built more accurate, more transparent, and more resilient - so that the savings culture they develop during the programme continues to grow long after graduation.