Access Malawi is part of CARE USA’s Access Africa program which is aims to enhance the livelihood security of at least 1 1/2 million poor people over three years in sub-Saharan Africa by scaling up CARE’s Village Savings and Loan model in three countries and partnering with microfinance institutions, insurance providers, and MicroVest to link clients with savings, credit, and insurance services. Access Malawi’s goal is to lift about half a million people - 405,000 (70% or more of whom being women) out of poverty by ensuring equitable access to a suite of basic financial services (savings, loans, insurance, remittances) over the coming 10 years across the nation.

This will be achieved through nationwide scale of VS&L, bank linkages, appropriate technology, (cell phones, front and back end solutions, Village Agents, etc) and strategic partnerships.The project will also link members with the formal financial sector for services such as savings, credit, and insurance. Resulting improvements in livelihood security will benefit an estimated five people per household. The project will enable CARE to take its savings-led model to scale, demonstrate the sustainability and replicability of the methodology, promote effective linkages with formal sector financial providers, introduce new technologies to reduce transaction costs, and significantly increase the financial sector’s ability to reach the poor with accessible, appropriate services. The project will enhance Gates Foundation efforts to enhance financial sustainability of savings-led groups by providing important tools, models, and lessons on reaching and sustaining services to poor communities