1. Lessons from working with Women Self Help Groups (SHGs)
Yosef Akalu
Director
Consortium of Self help group Approach Promoters (CoSAP)
31st May 2017

2. Presentation Outline Introductions Lessons gained
Update on current situation
Conclusions & recommendations
Challenges

3. 1. Introduction About CoSAP & the SHG approach
An umbrella of 28 organizations that implement women Self Help Groups in Afar, Amhara, Benshagul Gumuz, Oromiya, SNNPR, Ethio-Somali, Addis Abeba & Dire Dawa.

4. Three levels of the SHG approach
15 to 20 members
Savings/Credit and all kinds business activities
Affinity and support among members
Address basic issues in the family
Cluster Level Association (CLA)
8 to 10 strong SHGs
Two representatives from each constituent SHG
Address issues in the community
Federation
10 or more strong CLAs
Two representatives from each constituent CLA
Maintain the identity of the SHG Institution

5. Country level statistics on SHG approach (Dec 2016)
Organizations 28
No. of SHGs
11,480
CLAs
775
Federations 25
Members (women)
213,055
Total saving
ETB 68,476,579 (USD 3.1 Million)
Total capital of the groups
ETB 89,888,413 (USD 4.08 Million)

6. Together we are in control. People’s empowerment
…Introduction
Federation/Timret
Together we are in control. People’s empowerment
CLA:
Social, Economic and Institutional development of groups and the community
- Collective gain
SHG:
Social and Economic development of members
- Individual gain

7. …Introduction
Title of action: Capacity strengthening of CoSAP, Member organizations and women SHG institutions in Ethiopia (completed) AND
NRM and Resilience to Climate Change of SHGs (on going)
Targets: 8,000 Women Organized in SHGs (under 400 SHG, 40 CLA and 3 Federations)
CoSAP member organizations (ABDI, ADAA, AFSR, CDA, ERSHA, FC, Gurmuu, Hundee, JeCCDO, LCO, MCDP, MLWDA, OPRIFS, RPC, SWDA, VoCDA, WSA,WRDA)

8. .…Introduction Project Results;
Organizational and institutional capacity of CoSAP and its members enhanced
OCA, COC, trainings & capacity building
2. Improved policy recognition and support for SHG approach facilitated
High level Policy makers exposure visit to India
MWCA piloting SHGs in Oromiya & SNNPR
3. Self Help Institutions (SHGs, CLAs and Federations) have effective management and wider recognition
Support & recognition at local level

9. .…Introduction

10. 2. Lessons gained
Capacity building inputs, experience sharing and exchange visits facilitated the promotion of sustainable SHGs
Several consultations and dialogue sessions with government bodies ensure support to SHG institutions at grassroots level

11. …Lessons gained
SHG women translated their informal businesses to formal (cafeteria, hotel, bread making and selling, animal fattening, etc.)
SHGs created jobs
The Research on the contribution of SHG approach informed better or alternative economic empowerment of poor women

12. …Lessons gained
SHG women have became resilient to shocks (They were not part of the emergency food aid program in their neighborhood)
Continued engagement with higher level government structure can improve / ensure legal recognition for SHGs
Visibility of SHG institutions (eg. Annual SHGs Day, Radio program) created wider recognition of SHGs/the approach

13. …Lessons gained
SHG women identified profitable business ideas, presented & defended them in front of local judges and finally won in-kind awards (community based business competition)

14. 3. Update on current situation
CLAs and Federations established during the project period are still functioning (even forming new SHGs/CLAs in their localities)
Legal framework for SHGs/CLAs/Federations still ongoing with the concerned gov’t bodies
The Kebele, Woreda and regional government offices are supporting SHG institutions legalization (writing support letters & recognition)
Some CoSAP member organizations institutionalized the community based business competition scheme

15. 4. Conclusion
Relevant Project. CoSAP and its member organizations had received several capacity building supports from the project. OCA of CoSAP, members’ code of conduct, increasing visibility, technical skills to develop newsletters and conducting action researches, institutionalizing community based business competition, Research on SHGs,
The project was effective in contributing to an improved policy recognition and support for the SHG approach to women’s economic empowerment.

16. 5. Challenges
Diluting the SHG principles (NGOs, and even gov’t offices with handouts approach)
Unable to secure legal entity for the groups
Some wanted to use the groups for other purposes (co-opting)

17. Photos

18. Training of Community workers

19. Meeting SHGs

20. Annual SHGs Day

21. Business competition winners award ceremony
Awarding ceremony
Business competition winners award ceremony

22. Amsegenalehu! www.shgconsortiumeth.org Any Question?