OUR PROGRESS
WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED
The development approach is to work through smaller (20-25) community groups popularly known as Village Savings and Loans Associations to initiate rural development actions. WIDO has formed and trained 1,550 VSLA groups that are working successfully in the Maize, soya, cassava, yam and vegetables value chains in the Upper West, Bono East, Bono, Ashanti and Ahafo regions of Ghana. that are directly benefiting over 10,000 rural women 80 percent of whom are women and 10 percent being persons with Disabilities.
Over the past 18 years, WIDO has used the VSLAs as pivot to implement different development projects with many international donors notably; USAID, European Union, Care International and Plan International
Below are quick summary of the organizations achievement in VSLA
- Established and trained 1550 VSLAs in 5 regions of Ghana
- Facilitated VSLAs to invest shares of their savings amounting Ghc 3,576,234 in the soya, maize, groundnuts and cassava value chains which has sustained the profitability of the groups for a decade
- Build the capacity of 250 VSLA groups to work sustainably with financial institutions. This has provided easy access of production capital for advancing their production.
- Identified 1320 VSLA members and trained them as sales agents. These sales agents serve as linkage between the VSLAs with aggregators, input dealers, tractor services and processors. Their role has enhanced the work of the VSLAs and helped to enhance the relationship with value chain actors.
- Identified 150 community volunteers from the VLSA groups. These people provide trainer of trainers training to other groups and have led the training and technical support of 499 youth savings groups and provided them with an expanded range of in-depth financial literacy, employability and entrepreneurship skills
- As part of VSLA formation and coaching provided training support to over 18,159 beneficiaries in agricultural value chain, of whom 75% will be under 35years old.
- Supported the establishment of around 9,210 income- generating activities and small sustainable value chain.
