Focus Note: Savings Groups – A Sustainable Mechanism for Rural Financial Services in the Solomon Islands
In the Solomon Islands, as elsewhere in the Pacific region, other less appropriate rural finance models have been tried and failed, despite research indicating a high demand for basic savings products coupled with a strong existing culture of saving non-cash resources. As such, there is reason to believe that the Solomon Islands provide a fertile environment for establishing Savings Groups (SGs) to provide access to financial services in rural, underserved markets.
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The following is an operating manual for a permanent Savings Club. The manual has been designed for the remote and distinctive village environments in the Solomon Islands. Practitioners may use this manual as a complete guide to operations, without revisions. This manual is organized so that users can also pick and choose from various components,...
PFIP undertook a study on savings clubs in the Solomon Islands. The aims of the study were to: Reasonably estimate the number of savings clubs, membership and assets size in order to assess any associated risks Understand the various methodologies followed by the savings clubs and identify reasons for the failure of some savings clubs...
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This report comments on all levels of the financial ecosystem in Solomon Islands, with a particular focus on the micro-level, specifically the retail financial services being provided in rural areas. It begins with a brief history of rural finance in Solomon Islands and then outlines the current situation. The general conclusion is that there is...