GAP Analysis and Linkage Readiness Assessment of Youth/Village Savings and Loans Associations (Y/VSLAs)
Project highlights
Financial inclusion for those at the bottom of the pyramid can be very challenging. Care International and its global network, however, have taken this challenge on. With support from the European Union, the Development Initiative of Northern Uganda (DINU) is implementing an initiative led by CARE Denmark. The aim of this initiative is to increase financial inclusion by increasing access to sustainable financial services in areas where they are scarce.
To deepen the impact of the project, CARE Uganda on behalf of CARE Denmark contracted FRIENDS Consult to assess the readiness of Youth/ Village Savings and Loan Associations (Y/VSLAs) from remote rural areas (11 districts of the Karamoja sub-region as well as Kitgum and Katakwi districts) to link with formal financial institutions.
The project is benefiting about 70,000 smallholder farmer households (60% of them headed by women).
The Client
Care International Confederation supports humanitarian and development initiatives through a wide range of programs using technical support, advocacy, fundraising, and communications.
The objectives of the assignment:
- Assess gaps in readiness of Y/VSLAs to link with formal financial institutions and recommend actions to address
- Evaluate the digital readiness and telephone network coverage of Y/VSLA group members to determine the feasibility of digital linkages.
Intended development impact
Increased numbers of remote rural people will have access to formal financial services through their local financial associations which they trust and run.