Group and Savings Mobilization 

HiH begins the mobilization process by consulting with relevant community leaders to ensure local approval and buy-in. With local stakeholder buy-in, HiH works to mobilize people, mostly women, into Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The SHGs, which normally have 15-20 members, are based on poverty level, common demographics and income generation opportunities. The formation of strong groups is one of the keys in the HiH model as our experience shows that strong groups are powerful building blocks for success, especially for women as they find a voice through sharing problems and responsibilities.

Groups have a constitution outlining group rules, behaviours and goals; elected leadership and regular attendance by the majority of the group members are also required. Groups are taught the importance of savings and trained in basic finance and cash management. A culture of group saving and lending is a pre-requisite to moving forward in the program. This is introduced through pooling regular and discretionary savings and using the funds to make short-term loans to individual members. Merry-Go-Round (MGR) and Table Banking activities are the most practised mode of savings amongst group members.

In the MGR, each member of a group contributes agreed amounts on regular basis. The pooled lump sum amount is given to one or more member(s) depending on the arrangement of the group on a rotational basis until each member has received the lump sum once. Then the circle starts again. MGR enables members to build up their contribution as savings and to eventually receive a lump sum to either start enterprises or meet other financial obligations that they would otherwise not been able to afford.

Then the circle starts again. MGR enables members to build up their contribution as savings and to eventually receive a lump sum to either start enterprises or meet other financial obligations that they would otherwise not been able to afford.  

Table Banking involves members contributing discretional amounts on a regular basis. The pooled amount is lent out to members at an interest. As a general rule, all money collected every month must be lent out. The interest earned is accumulated and divided among members at the end of the year together with cumulated savings. The apportionment of the interest income is based on the individual contribution to the Table Banking float.