Women’s Self-Help Groups
Nearly 90 percent of women working in Madagascar confront "vulnerable employment," which is marked by low wages, few benefits, minimal security and poor working conditions, according to the United Nations.
The Self-Help Group program supports economically vulnerable women by nurturing income-generating activities and community-building. With financial support from CRMF, women receive training, personalized support and access to financing.
The community-based Self-Help Group model empowers women to establish self-owned businesses in small groups that pool investment money among members and collectively work toward economic autonomy.
Since 2020, CRMF has supported the launch of 41 urban and rural Self-Help Groups of up to 12 women each. In urban Toamasina, 340 women graduates of the literacy program have joined Self-Help Groups, and 300 of them have achieved financial independence. They continue to generate sustainable income through a range of businesses—from textiles, agriculture and livestock to shop-keeping, food processing and hospitality.
Self-Help Group members exude entrepreneurial attitudes, solidarity and self-reliance, while improving living conditions for themselves, their families and their local communities.