Financial Resilience

DMDO Savings Groups offer a reliable, community-based way to mobilise capital, manage risk, and grow small-scale income. With minimal external input, groups self-govern their financial activity, building the habits and discipline that support resilience, investment and liquidity in rural communities.

Learn about how Savings Groups are changing lives here.

How it Works

Each group includes 10–25 members, usually from the same village. They save weekly by purchasing shares at a set value. These pooled funds are used to:

  • Issue Loans: Members borrow up to three times their shareholding and repay with interest, usually 10%.

  • Manage Emergencies: Each group sets aside a social fund for members facing unexpected costs.

  • Run Business Ventures: Many groups invest in trading, agriculture, or livestock and reinvest the profits.

  • Apply Penalties: Members pay fines for missed payments or meetings, which go into the group fund.

At the end of a 12-month cycle, all profits are distributed based on shares held. The group then reconstitutes for the next cycle, often with growing membership and capital.

DMDO’s Role

DMDO does not operate savings groups. Instead, we:

  • Establish new groups and help communities define practical rules.

  • Train local facilitators to manage meetings, loans, and record-keeping.

  • Introduce digital tools like the DreamSave App for financial tracking, visibility, and security.

  • Support long-term performance through occasional check-ins, re-training, and peer exchanges.

Photos from the Field

Success So Far

  • 15+ groups active across Mandwanga and Mnara

  • High repayment rates and strong financial discipline

  • Increasing digital adoption across all new groups

  • Inclusion by design, with participation by members of different literacy levels and physical ability

  • Growing demand for new groups in neighbouring areas

Impact Tracking

DMDO tracks all active savings groups via DreamSave. This enables real-time insight into:

  • Group membership and shareholding

  • Weekly savings performance

  • Loan volume and repayment

  • Annual profit distribution

The public dashboard is available here (username: office@dmdo.org password: Dmdo2025!), allowing us to see which savings groups are performing well in terms of member engagement and loan and enterprise activity.