Advancing Savings Services: Resources Guide for Funders

This technical guide discusses issues that funders need to consider when focusing on voluntary savings mobilization. It is meant as a reference document for donors who are involved in designing, implementing, and monitoring programs to improve poor people’s access to savings services. The guide makes the case for advancing savings mobilization from the perspective of both the client and the financial institution; summarizes the state of knowledge about savings services; offers ideas for what funders can do to support savings services, including actions directly related to client demand, institutional supply, intermediation and enabling environment; and provides a bibliography of resources on savings services for poor people.