1. Objectives
   To promote the mobilization of grass-roots savings and access to credit by establishing an independent network of savings cooperatives and credit unions.
2. Activities / contents
   Establishment of 35 new credit unions in the Bamako and Ségou regions; training for credit union managers; establishment of a Common Services Unit to gradually take over the project; easier access to credit for women (ACFRED); creation of a savings and credit union for small businesses.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   Establishment of 40 credit unions (including the 5 in the pilot phase) with 16,500 members, 362 million CFA francs in savings, and 110 million CFA francs in credit. An independent evaluation in 1997 showed that all of these initial objectives will largely be exceeded.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   By giving the poor easier access to credit, the project can help to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of its target clientele (social development). By being introduced to the principles of cooperation, members learn the basics of democratic organization (good governance). Furthermore, over half of the project's recipients are women (Gender and Development component).

Lise Lamontagne / Gino Poulin