How Savings Groups Can Address Gender Inequality Through Dialogue

Unequal power dynamics and discriminatory social norms can stand in the way of women gaining full control of their financial resources.  However, recent analysis from CARE shows how savings groups can address these root causes of gender inequality. It takes more than just being a member of a savings group – it takes engaging in dialogue. Through our work in 10 countries, we found dialogue – from household to systems levels – to be an important social norms approach that can help overcome barriers to women saving, earning and investing. 

There are four key types of dialogues that we have seen make a difference for women in savings groups around the world: 

Household dialogue 

Dialogue between couples or other family members within households ensures women can make decisions about how to use their income. “I had to convince my parents-in-law and my husband to support me with the plan. It took time – a lot of time and effort – to make them believe in me. Once he’s onboard, I feel more confident in making the decision,” says Dang, a savings group member and entrepreneur in Vietnam.  

From a do-no-harm perspective, having other family members on board is particularly important so women do not face sanctions or violence at home if they start attending savings groups or spending money on new business activities.  

Beyond preventing harm, couples report many positive impacts from discussing financial goals and making decisions together as equals, from  greater household income to reduced conflict and increased resilience. For example, when savings group members in Rwanda who participated in household gender dialogues were interviewed four years after the project ended, they reported that the increased gender equality within their families was helping them deal with the food crisis more proactively and equally.  

Community dialogue 

For women to leave their homes to earn income and invest in new endeavors, they need to be able to move around their communities safely, take on roles which may go against cultural stereotypes, and participate in spaces which are traditionally dominated by men. Husbands may also take on new roles which go against prevailing norms. 

Engaging men as active supporters and champions of gender equality is a powerful way to ensure women are not just participating, but leading decision-making and thriving.  Proactive dialogue between men as individuals, and within groups as part of a broader community dialogue, can prevent social backlash and shift attitudes by highlighting the positive effects of women participating in economic and social development.

Structured dialogue tools such as Social Analysis & Action (SAA) offer a participatory approach that encourages communities to analyze their own social and economic realities. In Nepal, SAA dialogue groups were formed in communities which also had savings groups, providing opportunity for women savers in each village to identify the specific norms holding them back. This highly contextualized approach is having an impact. 

“Community members used to stigmatize women for going out of their house. We had to think about what society would say with each and every step,” says Sharada, a savings group member in Nepal. “Now, people in the community look up to us with trust and hope.”

Market dialogue

To get a fair deal, women must have a meaningful voice when buying or selling. They also need opportunities to improve and grow. Savings groups offer an ideal forum for women to develop the skills and confidence to successfully engage in dialogue with private sector actors such as suppliers and distributors. 

In Vietnam, women used their collective voice and negotiation skills to ensure they receive a fair price for their tea. Engaging in dialogue with the tea processor helped them understand the factory’s quality standards to ensure they could supply consistent quality and quantity of product. 

In Tanzania, one cooperative formed of savings group members now co-owns a specialty tea company with social enterprise Kazi Yetu, while others have formal agreements to supply herbs and spices to private companies.

Systems-level dialogue with power-holders 

The best advocates for what female entrepreneurs need are the women themselves. Savings groups offer opportunities for women to gain leadership skills while also providing a forum for women to identify the specific challenges they face and raise them with people in positions of power.  

Dialogue on women’s collective experience can influence systems in a number of ways. For example, highlighting the business challenges of rural women entrepreneurs can persuade private sector companies to create mobile or financial products tailored to their needs. Sharing the administrative challenges they face can enable women to gain better access to government services and support. Engaging in dialogue with those in power – who are often men – can lead to policy changes which affect whether savings group members are recognized as farmers or have ownership of their land. 

In Côte D’Ivoire, VSLA leaders have built a network across savings groups to bridge the gap between communities and government ministries. These leaders are known as Amazons. “Having the government as a partner is important for our legitimacy in the community, for our growth and our access to the market,” says Gladys, VSLA member and Amazon leader.   

Towards greater engagement and dialogue

Through facilitated conversations at various levels, women are gaining confidence, challenging norms and accessing resources to earn, save and invest. We want to see a move away from standalone savings programming, towards promoting savings groups which are engaging in dialogue at all levels to shift the harmful social norms holding women back.   

Learn more in CARE’s learning report: Beyond Money: Savings Groups as a Platform for Addressing Root Causes of Gender Inequality