Workshop on Phase One Implementation of Financial Education through SACCOs Program: Overview, Lessons Learned, and Impact Evaluation

On March 8, 2017, IPA Rwanda—in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), the World Bank, and the Rwanda Institute for Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance (RICEM)—organized a workshop to share achievements and lessons learned in implementing Phase One of the Financial Education through Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) Program. Participants also discussed IPA’s ongoing impact evaluation of the same program. Lead Researcher Doug Randall and IPA Senior Research Associate Emmanuel Hakizimfura presented at the workshop.

In addition to discussing lessons learned during the implementation of Phase I and the impact evaluation approach, key stakeholders made proposals on how the financial education training curriculum could be further applied and incorporated into complementary financial education programs in Rwanda.

La Éducation financière par le biais des SACCO Program has been developed by MINECOFIN with support from the World Bank and through partnership with numerous stakeholders in Rwanda. The initial phase of implementation has been completed in 135 SACCOs. IPA is currently conducting the second follow-up surveys in an impact evaluation that will determine the impact of the program on participants’ financial knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behavior, and will inform further scale-up of the program.

Emmanuel Hakizimfura, Senior Research Associate for the Financial Education evaluation in Rwanda, presenting during the workshop.