Economic Empowerment of Rural Women? Make Sure That She Controls the Income

For rural women in Africa—many of whom are deeply engaged in farming—behaviorally informed financial strategies can significantly improve outcomes. Designing savings promotion efforts around "teachable moments", such as post-harvest periods when women have greater access to cash from selling crops or livestock, can enhance financial inclusion and long-term resilience.

The rural finance sector—including microfinance institutions (MFIs), savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs), and village savings and loan associations (VSLAs)—has a unique opportunity to drive change beyond financial access. These institutions can leverage their community engagement to facilitate gender dialogues, promote greater trust and collaboration between couples (e.g., in labor division and income use), and implement household methodologies such as the Gender Action Learning System (GALS). Unfortunately, such gender-focused initiatives remain underexplored in the sector, and many institutions face significant capacity challenges in addressing these issues effectively.

This paper presents findings from a comprehensive qualitative research study, including focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and an extensive literature review. It offers practical recommendations for stakeholders working in rural finance and gender empowerment.

• Chapter 1 provides an in-depth background on the relevance and feasibility of savings services for vulnerable rural households, particularly for empowering women in patriarchal systems.
• Chapter 2 explores the vast potential of harvest-time savings, highlighting opportunities to tailor financial products to seasonal income flows.
• Chapter 3 offers actionable recommendations on effective promotion and communication strategies to enhance the adoption of savings services.

This research underscores the critical need for gender-responsive financial inclusion strategies and calls for greater attention to savings as a pathway to women's economic empowerment.