CARE and Mars’ Women for Change program works with women and their families in cocoa-growing communities to improve livelihoods so that communities can thrive. The program started in Côte d’Ivoire in 2016, founded on CARE’s Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) approach. The program aims to increase gender equity in households and communities, while supporting increased savings, improved skills, income growth and diversification, improved school enrollment rates and increased nutrition. The program also works to shift social norms and reduce gender-based violence by engaging men to encourage joint saving and decision-making. This innovative approach uses a smart mix of solutions to reinforce women’s role in the cocoa supply chain.
This report shares case studies from six countries that detail how advocacy, partnerships, and tailored regulatory frameworks have fostered supportive legal environments for Savings Groups (SGs), promoting their growth, sustainability, and integration into formal financial systems while preserving their essential informality. Read More
This snapshot captures highlights from our FY24 VSLA Annual Report, marking significant progress towards our goal of reaching 62 million people—50 million of whom are women and girls—with VSLAs by 2030. Read More
A two-page brief from the CARE-WWF Alliance that covers integrated water and land management through participatory resource management in Tanzania. This brief also addresses challenges, innovations, results, and upscaling of Village Land Use Planning (VLUP) in Tanzanian resource management. Read More