Supporting savings groups goes beyond building financial resilience. It is also about creating opportunities for members to strengthen their livelihoods and develop new skills that benefit their families and communities.

Recently, women from SaveAct savings groups in Eshowe who are actively involved in farming took part in a practical training programme funded by our partner the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, designed to build both their agricultural knowledge and business skills.

The training explored sustainable agroecological farming practices, including soil health, compost making, crop rotation, seed management and food safety. Participants also learned about production planning and how to work collectively to improve productivity and access to markets.

Alongside practical farming techniques, the women were introduced to tools such as the Business Model Canvas, helping them to think of their farming activities as sustainable enterprises with clear value propositions and growth opportunities.

An important component of the training focused on the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), which supports small-scale farmers in maintaining quality standards and building trust with consumers through locally driven accountability.

By combining sustainable farming practices with sound business planning, the training equips participants with practical skills that can improve household food security, protect natural resources and create new income-generating opportunities.

It is another example of how SaveAct’s savings groups become platforms for learning, collaboration and long-term resilience—where financial inclusion is just the beginning of the journey.