A microfinance model built by persons with disabilities in rural sub-Saharan Africa
- Solution
- Save and Invest for Your Bright Future
- Organization
- National Union of Disability Organisations in Rwanda (NUDOR)
- Country of Implementation
- Rwanda
- Region
- Africa
- Subregion
- Subsaharan Africa
- Start Year
- 2022
- First published
- 03.12.2024

Solution details
“Save today for a brighter tomorrow: Building inclusive communities.” Emile Cadet Vuningabo, Head of Programmes, NUDOR
The National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), in partnership with German-based CBM, created the Save and Invest for Your Bright Future programme to support persons with disabilities in rural Rwanda. By mid-2024, 750 Savings and Loan Groups had been formed in villages, with some 22,500 members – 90 per cent of whom are disabled. Members receive financial and skill-development support to start microenterprises; and the programme aims to expand to other Rwandan provinces in the coming years.
Problems Targeted
Persons with disabilities in rural Rwanda face significant barriers to accessing formal financial services and economic opportunities.
Solution, Innovation and Impact
Village Savings and Loan Groups (VSLGs) unite persons with and without disabilities to save collectively and allow them to take small loans from the pooled funds, thus fostering financial inclusion. Each self-managed group consists of 15 to 30 members who contribute savings regularly, elect their own leaders, and establish group-specific rules. Members receive training in financial literacy, savings, and loan management. The communal fund supports member loans at interest rates between 5 to 10 per cent, with borrowing limits up to three times an individual’s shareholding. These loans are used for such purposes as starting small businesses, covering school fees, or managing emergency expenses, allowing VSLG members access to credit outside traditional banking. Interest earned returns as annual dividends, helping members grow their resources. Members are responsible for contributing to the pool, attending meetings, and repaying loans punctually. At the end of each savings cycle, the accumulated savings and loan profits are distributed, fostering ownership and accountability. Additionally, some VSLGs maintain a social fund, providing financial aid during crises, such as an illness or bereavement, which strengthens communal bonds while promoting financial education, skills development, and long-term self-sufficiency.
Funding, Outlook and Transferability
The project is funded by various sources, including grants and donations from international development organizations such as CBM. NUDOR plans to expand the model to other provinces in Rwanda, leveraging the success and lessons learned from the initial implementation. The approach is designed to be culturally appropriate and sustainable, with the potential for replication in other regions and countries. (Zero Project Awardee 2025)
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