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Women, Microfinance, And Savings: Lessons And Proposals, Rebecca Vonderlack, Mark Schreiner

Center for Social Development Research

Microfinance—both credit and savings—has potential to improve the well-being of poor women in developing countries. This paper explores practical ways to achieve that potential. Based on lessons from informal saving mechanisms that women already use, the paper proposes two savings services designed to address the development issues that confront women. The proposals call for safe-deposit boxes and for matched savings accounts for health care or education.