5 Min Inspiration:- Women build solutions

“Mata Masu Dubara [VSLA] members take their social responsibility very seriously towards their community. Let this crisis be a moment that can bind us in solidarity with each other.” – Mariama Gambo, Niger

“We have faced so many challenges that we have overcome. We’re convinced that our collective determination will beat COVID too.” -Hawa Guindo, Mali

Any time I start to feel overwhelmed by COVID 19 and all of its challenges, I take a minute to find out what women in VSLAs are doing to fight back. In true VSLA tradition, they are finding ways to take the smallest investments and use them to change the world. As they have done for dozens of crises before COVID, women VSLA members are providing solutions that keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe.

Supporting these women is an enormous privilege for CARE, and an activity that helps us reach more than 10.3 million VSLA members. VSLAs in 9 countries have already adapted what they’re doing to respond to COVID, reaching more than 3.6 million members. Women in more countries are adapting their VSLAs every day to meet the challenge.

What are women accomplishing?

• Lifting up women’s voices: Mali is putting women front and center of the response, helping VSLA women make videos that explain how to fight COVID and what VSLA groups need. Women in Niger negotiated with private sector companies to get more handwashing supplies to use during VSLA meetings.
• Sharing information: CARE Burundi has set up a Whatsapp messaging system that reaches more than 10,000 members, and so far they’ve sent more than 379,000 text messages responding to requests for information about COVID, its symptoms, and how to treat it. They’ve also responded to more than 1,700 requests for specific information and support. Niger has built a Whatsapp model to cascade messages to thousands of members—including considerations to reach women who don’t have phones.
• Protecting their communities: Women in Mali and DRC are They’re also making masks for their own members and the most vulnerable people in their communities. They will sell extra masks to get revenue for their social funds.
• Washing hands: almost every group has started doing more handwashing, including distributing soap, setting up handwashing stations at meetings, and helping women set up handwashing equipment at home.
• Restructuring savings activities: “It’s difficult with COVID-19,” says Marie Rose in Cote d’Ivoire, “but we are learning to reorganize to respect the barriers.” Women in Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Niger are all finding ways to change their meetings.
• Thinking digital: Tanzania, Uganda, and Burundi are all finding ways to encourage groups to switch to mobile money and digital ways to share cash between members, as well as regular savings and loans.

How are we getting there?

• Changing meeting procedures. Groups are changing how, when and if they meet to make sure members can social distance, wash their hands, and stay safe. They are splitting into smaller groups, providing equipment to wash hands, limiting cash handling among members and other measures to make sure their members stay safe.
• Prioritizing information sharing. Groups and CARE are using text messages, WhatsApp, radio, and other technologies to share messages about COVID, health, GBV, livelihoods, where to get extra support, and ways to adapt VSLAs in the crisis.
• Refocusing finances. Many savings groups are focusing on getting cash into the hands of members who will need it to fall back on it to weather this crisis. That includes accelerating share outs, suspending lending, creating “Covid-19” funds, and/or using the social fund to cover costs for group and/or member adaptation.
• Supporting community response. VSLA members have taken on social responsibility to support communities through the pandemic. Many groups are making and/or selling masks, investing social funds in soap and other hygiene products and playing a role in modelling and communicating health messages within their communities.

Want to learn more?
Check out the new brief on how VSLAs respond to COVID. Read the VSLA guidelines about adapting VSLA to COVID-19.