“Twenty years ago, I dared to imagine that rural women could save and take collective steps towards claiming their rights to safety and food security. One thousand women in savings groups seemed like a realistic goal, but it wasn’t long before we reached 10,000 members, and we knew our model offered something unique. Now there are over 100, 000 and we have ambitious plans to build an ecosystem of collaborators to reach 2 million women.”

Founder and Executive Director, Anton Krone

2005

SaveAct was founded with a grant from the Ford Foundation to empower individuals and communities by promoting savings groups and sustainable livelihoods.

|

2006 – 2007

Expansion of SaveAct’s support and training programs in South Africa to help more savings groups build financial literacy, leadership skills, and social cohesion.

|

2008

SaveAct launches first partner-implemented savings group work (in rural Eastern Cape). The first of several VSLA courses was hosted by SaveAct in South Africa.

|

2009 – 2010

Significant demand led to scaling. Focus was on expanding partnerships with government agency funding & NGOs. Regional workshop held with participants from Kenya & SA, supported by the Ford Foundation.

|

2011

SaveAct, with its partners, reaches 10,000 savings group members since 2008.

|

2012 – 2014

Research findings: at least 20% of SaveAct savings group members started new enterprises, while an estimated 60% supported their enterprises through their financial services.

|

2015

SaveAct’s 10th Anniversary. The European Union supported the expansion into new parts of the country. SaveAct worked with partners to develop strategies to reduce the vulnerability of disabled people with training on achieving inclusivity.

|

2016 – 2017

Membership reached 61K members with nearly R250m saved that year. SaveAct took on climate adaptation in the Northern Cape

|

2018 – 2019

Amidst a national outcry around GBV, evidence from SaveAct’s work showed how women can reclaim agency, take control of their money, and get out of debt.

|

2020 – 2021

SaveAct & FinMark Trust chosen as SEEP SG2020 hosts; cancelled due to COVID-19. SaveAct & partners provide COVID relief in 5 provinces, enabled by: BMZ, Jobs Fund & Solidarity Fund.

|

2022

SaveAct partnered with climate change innovators and worked to achieve improved food security using agroecological methods and the ABCD methodology.

|

2023 – 2024

SaveAct reached 110K members and worked with partners to create a livelihood pathways guide targeting the youth. We also provided agroecology skills training to hundreds of savings group members.

|

2025

Celebrates 20 years and commits to reaching 2 million women and vulnerable individuals by 2035.

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.