Savings: Building the Future

This policy statement from Développement International Desjardins (DID) describes the guiding principles for mobilization of savings deposits in rural communities.The guiding principles have been drawn from the experiences of DID partners. They aim to serve as guidelines in outlining strategies and products for disadvantaged populations. The policy statements suggest that savings deposits are the primary need of a vulnerable clientele, and help individuals and institutions leverage development and self-sufficiency. Savings deposit mobilization is based on prerequisites in terms of the economic and institutional environment. DID supports the following;

• Community access to savings services, without restrictions based on client categories;
• Development of flexible products to help achieve sustainability;
• Establishment of prudential norms supervising deposits to ensure security for depositors;
• Savings deposits as a source of funding without eliminating recourse to external financing;
• Proactive management of savings deposits through client education, attractive products and effective marketing;
• Physical installations to collect deposits, as well as mobile collections of savings deposits under certain conditions.