After identifying a gap in our rural livelihoods projects, where households remained vulnerable to climate and external shocks despite ongoing support, SEED has developed Project Miarina ("to bounce back") to strengthen communities’ long-term financial resilience. The project is specifically designed to introduce a savings culture to communities, helping families adopt behaviours that improve financial stability even when facing challenges and economic shocks.🌾

The project will help families change their behaviour through several steps. Firstly, financial literacy training sessions will help families learn how to reduce financial instability and save as much as possible under difficult circumstances, particularly when food insecurity and economic instability are high. Parents of children with malnutrition will be participating in these training sessions, helping to improve nutrition and children’s health in their communities. 

After completing the training, participants have the opportunity to join Individual Savings Schemes - a series of monthly meetings where community members discuss and decide how to save together. Savings will then be distributed ahead of the lean season, the period when food is scarce and income is low, to lessen the impact felt by communities, helping families avoid debt and better manage hardship. Groups that consistently save money, use it wisely, and work well together can then grow into Community Savings Groups. These groups meet weekly and can access small loans, helping members to build financial security, strengthen community bonds, and local leadership. 🤝  By making decisions and saving together, members foster trust, support one another, and gain skills that benefit the whole community.