Around the world, people with disabilities and their families are more likely to experience economic and social hardship. According to the UN, the number of people with disabilities below the poverty line is higher, and in some countries double, than for those without disabilities.
NAD’s Economic Empowerment program uses the iSAVE model, an inclusive microfinance approach developed with Ugandan partners, currently used in Uganda and Zanzibar. Through community-based, self-managed savings and credit groups and technical support on market relevant income generation, persons with disabilities gain financial skills, economic independence, social recognition, and inclusion within communities.
NAD has worked with savings and loan groups internationally since 1986, and has used the iSAVE model since 2005. Today, we have savings and loan groups in Uganda and Zanzibar.
Disabled people and poverty
People with disabilities find that poverty and societal attitudes reinforce barriers to education, work and social life.
In countries such as Nepal, Uganda or Zambia, more than 40 per cent of persons with disabilities consider banks not accessible. Most people have a low financial status, and do not have the opportunity to take out a loan if they want to start a business. Disabled women have an even lower chance of being employed or getting a loan than men.
NAD's savings and loan groups are working to break this pattern of poverty.
Our approach
NAD's savings and loan groups use a model called iSAVE. We have developed the model together with NUDIPU (the Umbrella organization for Disabled People's Organizations in Uganda) and AMFIU (the Umbrella organization for microfinance banks in Uganda).
iSAVE is an inclusive microfinance program designed to remove the economic and social barriers faced by people with disabilities and their families. iSAVE's goal is to make people with disabilities financially independent, socially recognized and included in their communities.
Together with our local partners, we support the establishment of iSAVE savings and loan groups in project areas. The groups are owned and managed by the members, receiving guidance and training on group management, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and many more topics relevant to their economic empowerment.
To enhance the inclusivity of financial and social systems, our partners provide capacity building on inclusive practices to financial and social security stakeholders and targeted employers.
To read more about iSAVE, see the program's website.
