Financial Services Associations

1. Objectives
   (i) Strengthen self-promotion capabilities of women and their participation in decision-making and loan development;
   (ii) facilitate the access to rural financial services to the rural poor, especially women, through mobilizing and allocating local savings for social and investment needs;
   (iii) better value rural production through reducing transaction costs and facilitating market access;
   (iv) improve transparency, professionalism and efficiency of producer organizations and women's groups.
2. Activities / contents
   (i) Support to village-based financial services associations;
   (ii) support to women's income-generating activities and women's groups;
   (iii) rural road rehabilitation and maintenance.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   (i) Strengthened capacity of rural women producers and better participation of women in decision-making and rural development;
   (ii) facilitated and sustainable access to financial services adapted to the target group;
   (iii) secured savings and orientation towards financing investment and social needs;
   (iv) increased market efficiency and more marketing opportunities;
   (v) reduced post-harvest waste;
   (vi) reduced transport costs and better access to markets and social services (primary health and primary education);
   (vii) better quality products;
   (viii) improved entrepreneurship and initiative spirit.

IFAD: Mr. M. Tounessi, Country Portfolio Manager, Benin