Self-Reliant Village Banks, Mali (Case Study)

This case details the macro socioeconomic and financial sector of Mali, before focusing on the myriad issues that affect the working of the village banks. It also:

• Undertakes an institutional analysis of CVECA (Caisses Villageoises d'Epargne et de Credit Autogerees - Self-reliant Village Savings and Credit Banks), particularly of its characteristics, institutional type, governance and organizational structures;
• Examines the integration of savings services into the loan program, CVECA, in the Pays Dogon, Mali;
• Explores its savings products and technologies. It specifically looks at the characteristics of CVECA savings products, reasons for mobilizing savings, the savings capacity of the poor, costs of mobilizing savings, and regulation and supervision.

Finally the case study draws conclusions on:

• Reasons for mobilizing savings;
• Savings capacity of the poor;
• Savings products;
• Regulations and supervision;
• Cost of mobilizing savings.

The case ends with macroeconomic, financial and social data of Madagascar, and institutional and performance related indicators of Mali.