Financial literacy in sustainable rural livelihoods

Solomon Islands

Partner: West ‘Are’Are Rokotanikeni (WARA)

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID – Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)

Issue: 80% of women in the Solomon Islands do not have access to formal banking services. Women need access to savings services for regular expenses such as school fees.

Outline: Women in West ‘Are’Are have come together to develop a savings and loan organisation that has now been operating for over 10 years. WARA’s overall aim is to empower and equip its members with skills, knowledge and wisdom and enable them to fully participate in decision-making on issues that affect their lives, families and communities. It focuses on providing access to savings services, small loans and financial literacy training including household budgeting, managing finances and basic bookkeeping.

Impact: This year, IWDA supported WARA to improve their financial literacy resources. WARA printed 600 copies of the ‘Women and Money’ manual, testing with a group of 27 women in Honiara before finalisation to ensure that it was relevant to the needs of women. These resources are expected to reach over 600 members in rural Solomon Islands.

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