Saving and credit has been a very significant approach in organizing the community. This facilitates the access of financial services to the poor community living in informal settlements, of which majority cannot access the loans from financial institutions like banks due to different reasons including high interest rates and lack of collateral, and creating the solidarity in solving community challenges.
The community savings starts from the organized groups within the settlements which form up a network of many saving groups known as Tanzania Urban poor federation.
The community saving and credit groups enables the access of loans with low interest rates, the convenience to accessing loans even during emergencies cases as members are neighbors. The saving group goes beyond facilitating financial accessibility by creating cohesive community in solving challenges beyond finance such as the challenges of lack of services within the settlements. It also helps the access of information among community members.
