Financial Literacy Training for Members of Savings and Credit Groups

The Catholic Workers Movement of Germany (KAB) established the "Catholic Workers Movement" in Uganda more than twenty years ago. In 2012, the "Catholic Workers – Savings and Loan Association" was founded to give people in Uganda access to microcredit and savings through savings and credit groups, connecting them to the formal financial system. From an initial four pilot dioceses with 320 members, the network grew to 209 savings groups with a total of 3,243 members by 2021. The savings have enabled families to build financial buffers for unforeseen events and to develop income-generating activities for members and their families.

With the support of the GESTE Foundation, these savings groups are being helped to consolidate and professionalize. This is achieved through training in financial literacy, basic bookkeeping, efficient monitoring, and reporting using digital technology. For this purpose, volunteer trainers from the church environment are being trained. In addition, reporting from the savings groups to the headquarters in Kampala via Field Secretaries for internal control purposes is being improved through digital media.