“The vision of social and economic justice is achievable”
Anton Krone:
Founder and Executive Director
Savings groups are a simple and effective way to fight poverty and build sustainable livelihoods through empowering women and vulnerable groups.
R644m/US$36m
Savings per year
115 000 +
Saving Group Members
R5600/US$320
Average annual savings
5 600
Savings Groups
* US$ conversion rates may vary due to the Rand/Dollar exchange rate fluctuations
SaveAct’s savings methodology combines financial education with livelihood pathway development. It is designed around long-term sustainability through tested methods that promote resilience and offer protection to individuals, communities, and the environment.
The aim is to break the cycle of poverty — particularly among women — and to empower individuals to actively participate in economic and social development.
Financial Education & Savings
To date, SaveAct and its partners have formed 5,600 savings groups with 115,000 members who are saving R644m ($36m) each year.
The SaveAct model uniquely adapts the Village Savings and Lending Association (VSLA) design. This model is widely applied in Africa and incorporates financial literacy and livelihood pathway development into the curriculum. The programme has been applied since 2008, and on average, these groups save six times more than groups across Africa. SaveAct works with NGO partners in eight provinces to adopt the model and contribute towards its scaling.
Agroecology and Enterprise Development Training
Over 80% of participants in savings groups who pursue a path either in agroecology or micro-enterprise are women.
Participants can access varying degrees of training and mentorship depending on funding. The programme also promotes agroecology and encourages the use of local resources and assets to produce goods for both home consumption and sale at local and regional markets. Increasingly, self-motivated, business-minded entrepreneurs are emerging, with a strong focus on sustainable wealth creation.
Ecosystems Development
SaveAct equips savings groups to build economic and social ecosystems that strengthen livelihoods and protect natural assets. By combining collective savings with training, members build resilience and social support systems.
Digital technology and learning also shape an inclusive ecosystem designed around the needs of savings group members and their communities — groups often excluded from the South African formal economy.
SaveAct is scaling its impact across South Africa to address the vulnerability of women and youth through the engagement of multiple actors. There is potential to redress past injustices and empower individuals to face the future with resilience, dignity, and opportunity.
SaveAct has come this far, we have a new strategic plan with future partners – come join the effort to reach 2 million women and youth
Latest News
Giving Tuesday
It is Giving Tuesday! If you identify with the work of SaveAct please consider donating to this powerful way of enabling women to save and move out of poverty. Click on the link above to DONATE or email angela@saveact.org.za if you prefer to do a direct EFT.
Supporting Sex Workers
SaveAct has been working in financial education, savings methodology, and livelihood pathways for 20 years. Over that time, the organisation has extended its reach to over 110,000 people—with plans to reach two million women and youth over the next 10 years. Between...
Saving for Sustainability
SaveAct’s methodology shows that savings groups are about more than just money. The methodology can be used in conjunction with and to support so many other initiatives. As we know, food security is becoming a major global concern, and the production of food that is...
Real change comes through sustainable economic development and empowerment driven by people with agency who can manage their own pathways. This is possible through belonging to a savings group where the paths that are promoted include agroecology and micro-enterprise.
To support SaveAct’s vision of empowering 2 million women and vulnerable individuals by 2035, please donate and/or share our vision.
Your contributions go directly towards enabling access to finance through savings and equipping members to deepen their economic pathways in agroecology and micro-enterprise.
We are supported by
Contact Us
+27 (0) 33 345 1222
We are grateful for all contributions to our work