Evidence & Impact
14 Resources
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Brief
Comparing “Born Digital” and “Paper-to-Digital” Groups
DreamStart Labs
2020
Comparing “Born Digital” and “Paper-to-Digital” Groups
This research brief highlights key insights from a study of digital savings groups (DSGs) conducted in rural Tanzania from August 2019 through February 2020. The research was led by the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) working with savings groups supported by Project Concern International (PCI), a Global Communities Partner, and their Women Empowered […]
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Research
Research
Digital Savings Groups: Evidence from Tanzania
By Julia Arnold
Project Concern International (PCI), International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), DreamStart Labs
2020
Digital Savings Groups: Evidence from Tanzania
This report provides some of the first insights into how savings groups can successfully transition from paper to digital ledgers and examines some key hypotheses about digitizing savings groups. Specifically, the report presents findings from an evaluation of a pilot test of DreamSave—a digital savings ledger—conducted by Project Concern International (PCI)—A Global Communities Partner, DreamStart […]
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Article
Digital Savings Groups can Help Women Finally Bridge the Financial Gender Gap
By Sushmita Meka, Sally Ross & Daryl Collins
BFA Global
2018
Digital Savings Groups can Help Women Finally Bridge the Financial Gender Gap
This article discusses the persistent gender gap in access to financial services and digital technologies. The key to closing both gaps may be found in savings groups, according to BFA, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Financial Sector Deepening Trust Tanzania (FSDT), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Most savings groups are cash-based. But if […]
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Research
From Cash to Digital Savings Groups
Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), BFA Global
2018
From Cash to Digital Savings Groups
This study presents findings about the effects of digitization on women’s savings groups from a randomized control trial in Southern Tanzania. The trial was implemented in 2016-17 by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Selcom, and BFA Global. The product tested was a software platform built by AKF and Selcom that allowed group members to save, […]