Livelihood Savings Groups For Refugees
Savings groups act like a community bank. Refugees and host community members put their money in and can then ask for loans for business or the needs of their family. They repay back over time with interest. The groups also are encouraged to be involved in projects together to raise funds which are distributed yearly.
CRESS now supports 81 Savings groups in Imvepi Refugee Settlement, Rhino Camp, Mijale and the surrounding bush and Gabor. Each group has about 30 members, giving a total of 2,331 individuals.
The groups are supported with a start-up kit containing a safebox and stationary. They also have training to teach them about savings and how to make the group work for them and continuing advice from a Community Process Facilitator (CPF). To enable the CPFs CRESS has been able to donate bicycles to them to travel between groups and continue to train them to ensure the best outcomes for the group members.
Key benefits
- Improved financial inclusion & access to credit
Refugees, often excluded from formal banking, use these groups as “village banks” to save regularly and take small loans affordably for emergencies or livelihood activities - Boosted household wealth and assets
Participation yields measurable improvements in home improvements like tin roofs and pit toilets, and increased livestock ownership - Enhanced resilience
Savings and credit from these groups help households handle unexpected costs—medical bills, school fees—and reduce income uncertainty
- Strengthened food security and nutrition
Access to financial resources supports better nutrition along with our agricultural training. - Empowerment through financial literacy and skills
Training in budgeting, record-keeping, and entrepreneurship is provided, facilitating small business ventures such as trading produce, computer and chair hire and more... - Leadership opportunities and gender equity
Many groups are women-heavy, enhancing women’s status, confidence, and decision-making within households and communities - Community cohesion and integration
These groups help bond refugees with each other and with host communities by empowering members to work together, invest in local economies, and share goals
Achievements
Savings Stories
Juru Peresi is a South Sudanese refugee who fled conflict in 2016 and settled in Mijale with her family. She struggled to meet their basic needs due to limited income opportunities. She joined the Sadia CSCG, which helped her build financial discipline, confidence, and a pathway toward self-reliance through regular savings.
In 2024, Juru saved UGX 850,000 through the group and invested UGX 400,000 (around £80) in a poultry business. Despite some losses, the surviving birds generated steady income through egg production.
In 2025, she sold the birds for UGX 1,600,000 (around £300) and, together with UGX 1,560,000 from her savings, reinvested in a paste grinding machine worth UGX 4,000,000 (almost £800). This business responded to strong local demand and now provides her with a reliable source of income, enabling her to support her family and continue saving.
Juru’s progress demonstrates how participation in CSCGs can empower refugee women to transition from vulnerability to economic independence through savings and strategic investment. In 2026, she plans to save to build a permanent home for her family.
