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Groupe d'epargne communautaire: A winning bet for the women of the nosy hara marine protected area

Posté le 28 avril 2025

Three years ago, the Village Savong and Loans Associations (VSLA) was set up in the Nosy Hara marine protected area. There are currently 24 groups in 9 villages. These VSLAs have been set up and supervised by eight women relay farmers, trained in management and financial education. They come from the villages of Antsako, Ampasindava, Andranomavo and Anjiamaloto, and shared their daring journey to establish and promote this financial management mechanism for the benefit of their respective communities. For Clémentine from the commune of Ampasindava: “It was very complicated to get people together to raise awareness of the VSLA and its benefits. We barely managed to get a dozen people together. We decided to go door-to-door to reach as many people as possible. Today, we've succeeded in creating 8 groups in Ampasindava.”

Zaramasy and Zaina Assomany, relay farmers responsible for supervising the villages of Ambararata, Andranomavo and Mananara, experienced the same difficulties: “After many efforts to raise awareness in the villages of the existence of the VSLA and its advantages, 17 people finally agreed to join, and the first group was created, as a group must include between 15 and 25 people. It was difficult because people were reluctant and apprehensive about their ability to manage their money effectively through the VSLA. Some even feared it was a disguised way of stealing their money.” Despite everything, their efforts paid off and today, 9 groups are spread across the three villages with a total of 180 members.

Once the VSLA has been set up, its operation will be based on the famous three funds: the first intended for group members, the second for life within the community and the third dedicated to social projects and community activities, including conservation actions. This 3^rd fund is still in its development phase for most of the Nosy Hara VSLAs. Indeed, based on a cyclical process, the VSLA requires a certain level of maturity before a 3^rd fund can be set up.

Five groups in the commune of Antsako already have this 3^rd fund. In this commune, parents' lack of financial resources means that teachers' salaries cannot be covered. The average parent has five children to support. In the absence of a salary, many teachers end up leaving. And yet, the majority of pupils pass their official exams thanks to the quality of their teaching. The members of the VSLA have therefore taken the initiative of mobilizing part of this 3^rd fund to support the education of children in the village of Antsako, up to 10,000 Ar/group/month, i.e. a total of 50,000 Ar/month ($12) to pay the teachers' salaries. In Anjiamaloto, no children attend school because the village simply has no school infrastructure. Not yet having a 3^rd fund, the VSLA managed to raise 200,000 Ariary (around $44) from their 2^nd fund to purchase sheet metal to support the construction of a school.

These women voluntarily joined the VSLA because they wanted to have their own money, be financially independent and have a source of income to complement their fishing activities. They were ready to take on the challenges and overcome the obstacles. Most of them were living in very precarious conditions, and now they can take full advantage of the many benefits of community savings. Some, like Asina Moana from the village of Anjiamaloto, have been able to build a house: “For me, the VSLA is an excellent solution, even if paying dues is not always easy ». Others have taken out loans to launch complementary activities such as dried fish production.

“Women are better at raising awareness, they have a smile, they know how to convince, and above all, they know how to manage and save. The men of the village are happy to see that the women manage to get by and become independent” they concluded unanimously.

WWF has been supporting VSLA groups since its creation in 2022. Relay farmers receive quarterly refresher training and material support. To improve fund management, VSLA group members are trained in financial management and given technical and material support to create income-generating activities.