Evidence shows that persons with disabilities are three times more likely to face difficulties accessing and using financial services. Barriers such as inaccessible information, lack of collateral, limited financial knowledge, and services that do not consider disability can make it harder to save, borrow, and invest in a business.

The work of this focus area seeks to strengthen the ability of persons with disabilities to save, access credit, manage money, and mobilize resources for their businesses and livelihoods. One of the approaches we are exploring is supporting disability-led savings and credit groups, including SACCOs, that can provide members with opportunities to save, access credit and collaborate to build their businesses.

Goal: Improve access to appropriate financial services, knowledge, and resources that enable persons with disabilities to save, invest, manage financial risks, and strengthen their livelihoods.

Strategies

• Support persons with disabilities to establish SACCOs and other savings groups with appropriate governance, leadership, accountability, and management systems.
• Build relationships with financial institutions and other partners to connect entrepreneurs with disabilities to appropriate credit, savings, and other financial services.
• Provide ongoing training and mentorship to members managing disability-led SACCOs and savings groups so that these initiatives can become sustainable.
• Work with organizations of persons with disabilities, financial institutions, government, and civil society to identify barriers and encourage more inclusive financial products, services, and practices.