2026 Annual Report: Savings Groups

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A woman standing outside a small wooden building holds up a cellphone.

As crises around the world deepen, community savings groups remain one of the few sources of support women can count on.

Over the past 35 years, we’ve seen savings groups reach 31 million members across 67 countries. Together, they saved $1.8 billion in the past year alone.

This success is a testament to the governments, businesses, partner organizations, and, of course, community-based leaders who are committed to bringing the power of savings groups to more people.

But savings groups are just the starting point. In 2025, we highlighted the many women who are shaping local markets and economies through their savings groups. In 2026, we’re focused on what’s needed to help them go further: the right business support, visibility, and capital to turn their ambitions into reality.

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Our reach and impact in 2026

31M

members since 1991

67

countries since 1991

$1.8B

saved last year

Meet the women in the report who started with a savings group and now are building something bigger

Josselyn is a farmer in Ecuador who is scaling savings groups across her community.​
The image shows a smiling woman standing behind a market stall made of bamboo, displaying various goods in blue plastic bags.
Luyando is a leader in Zambia who sees the problems facing her community and turns her savings group into the solution.​
Maha is a Syrian living in Lebanon who has turned her savings group into a business creating jobs for others.
What started as a small savings project grew into something much bigger.

Maha first joined a savings group for stability amid conflict. Now she helps lead a chicken-selling business that has grown steadily.

The image shows a group of young people sitting indoors, engaged in conversation.
Lavine is one of a growing number of young people in savings groups starting their own businesses in a tough job market.
The image features a woman smiling while kneeling beside a sewing machine in a cozy, cluttered room.
Helen is a tailor in the Solomon Islands who is growing a thriving business using digital marketing.
A woman standing outside a small wooden building holds up a cellphone.
Marguerite is a savings group member who started selling phone credit in her village. Now, she's a mobile money agent.
I want to build a shop to set myself up properly, rather than do my money transfers at home, and also expand it to sell SIM cards and phones.

Marguerite's phone-credit business started with a loan from her husband, then her savings group, and now a local microfinance bank.

Savings groups are just the beginning

Savings groups are where they start. See how women around the world are turning their loans into something bigger.

2026 Annual Report on Savings Groups

A New Report | Release Date

As crises around the world deepen, savings groups aren't just a source of support, they're the starting point for women who dream of doing more than just getting by. Together, we're building the partnerships to help make that possible.

Download the full report