Working Methodology

Our programs are decentralized and self-sustained. Local motivators enable fellow women to launch the programs. In the beginning, the motivators are paid by WACN, but after some years the savings and credit co-operatives will be able to provide the salaries themselves. Many of the savings and credit co-operatives now function as autonomous institutions with very little input from WACN.

The self-sustainability of WACN’s programs can be attributed to volunteer support and funds raised by or saved by co-operative members. Over the years, we have been able to develop the following need-based methodology:

1. Site selection
2. Rapport building with the community
3. Group formation

In this phase, we select sites from among those where women are requesting our services, or in areas adjoining our current operations. We emphasize villages which have shown that they are ready for greater development by initiating their own group development activities. We explain our organization and working methodology, and then establish small savings and credit groups. At this stage, we generally must ask the village leaders for permission for their female family members to participate. Once the leaders have agreed, most other villagers will follow.

4. Village-level situation analysis workshop
5. Village-level planning workshop
6. Coordination with other agencies

At this point we work with local women and men, including formal and informal leaders, and with young people to gather information and analyze the development efforts of the villages from a gender perspective and in terms of general needs. Then, together with the community we plan the activities to address emerging needs and establish the working partnership, e.g. who provides what to run activities. Smaller projects that meet women’s needs and can be locally managed are given priority.

7. Training
8. Exposure visits
9. Local resource mobilization

To run the activities, a variety of trainings are essential. WE do exposure visits so that the women can see what has been accomplished by other women, and share their experiences. Local labour and savings are mobilized to perform development activities.

10. Co-operative registration

Co-operatives are legal entities that provide an institution at the local level that can be independently run by the women. This provides greater empowerment as they must take full responsibility for all aspects of managing the institution and can hire mangers for long term sustainability.

11. Institutionalisation of grassroots organization

Registration of informal savings groups as cooperatives is just a first step for institutionalization of the groups. After legalization into cooperatives, strengthening of the organization is vital to the viability of the cooperatives. Accounting training is the most important and critical activity so that the women themselves can maintain transparent and accurate accounting systems in the cooperatives. Unless women shareholders themselves understand the financial dynamics of their respective cooperatives they won’t be able to mange them effectively.

12. Handling over to the community

At this stage, WACN provides seed money to the women’s groups for immediate lending and to speed the process of savings and credit. This helps to convince women that they can perform financial transactions and to build their confidence. Since women are overworked, the first stages of the process are difficult. We have to convince them to take more responsibility in terms of development activities. As their confidence grows, the women become less timid about taking credit from the groups. After they are trained, the women more fully utilize the credit and become empowered by this process. The knowledge of community and co-operative members is an important resource. If we facilitate and respect their knowledge, the program will be sustained and will continue to grow.

Seeing the enthusiasm of the co-operative women of Bachhauli, Nepal Pariwar Shangh, a local organization, donated a fax machine and a computer to the co-operative. The women are charging for use of the fax machine to for co-operative income generation. The computer is being used as a training tool for the women to increase their computer skills.