The Self-Help Group (SHG) model has played a key role in advancing financial inclusion for women in India. However, most SHG programs have struggled to achieve the broader goals of women’s empowerment. Most women in rural India still lack access to financial services such as the social security scheme. A key barrier has been low awareness of the security scheme, its benefits, complex policy processes, and confusing documentation and implementation procedures. To address these challenges, a targeted initiative was launched by MSC to enhance awareness and simplify access to government-backed social security schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY).
This initiative aimed to help SHG members, particularly women in rural areas, better protect themselves and their families through improved social security coverage.
MSC led a multifaceted intervention that combined systems innovation, policy simplification, and grassroots-level engagement to boost social security uptake among SHG members. Recognizing that low awareness and complex procedures were major barriers, MSC developed and institutionalized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in collaboration with government stakeholders to streamline policy implementation. It focused on claim settlements under PMSBY and PMJJBY. To ensure last-mile impact, MSC designed and rolled out hyper-local communication strategies, including vernacular audiovisual tools and community-based outreach through SHG networks. These tools were tailored to address behavioral barriers and explain complex insurance concepts clearly.
The initiative resulted in a significant increase in the uptake of social security schemes, with over 13 million SHG members in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Odisha enrolling. This greatly enhanced their financial security and overall well-being.
The Gates Foundation commissioned the project.
Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs) are community-based institutions under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) that bring together multiple Self-Help Groups (SHGs) within a geographic area. These federations play a central role in managing and distributing Community Investment Funds (CIF)—a critical source of low-cost capital for SHG members. However, the current fund management processes at CLFs are challenged due to inefficiency, lack of transparency, and limited alignment with the evolving credit needs of SHG members. To address these issues, a strategic initiative was launched to optimize the management and delivery of community funds and support the transformation of CLFs into robust Micro-Credit Institutions (MCIs) capable of delivering need-based and timely financial services to rural women.
MSC is supporting the NRLM to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance of community fund mechanisms. MSC’s interventions include streamlining operational processes across Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to improve fund management and utilization and deploying digital lending systems to boost transparency and efficiency in disbursement and monitoring. The team is also optimizing the allocation of Community Funds at the CLF level to promote equitable and impactful use, while designing need-based financial products to better serve the diverse credit requirements of SHG members.
The initiative is set to transform CLFs into agile, community-led micro-credit institutions that can effectively meet the growing and varied financial needs of SHG members. The project will strengthen fund governance, digitize lending processes, and offer tailored financial solutions. This will significantly enhance the accessibility, reliability, and impact of community financing across rural India—ultimately supporting sustainable rural livelihoods and inclusive financial growth.
The Gates Foundation commissioned the project.
Youth- and women-led MSMEs in Uganda continue to face structural challenges.This includes limited access to finance, high costs of digital devices, and low levels of digital literacy, which hinder their growth and participation in the digital economy. To address these barriers, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), under its FinWise program, commissioned a market systems assessment to explore pathways to enhance digital and financial inclusion for youth-led MSMEs, in line with Uganda’s National Development Plan III.
MSC conducted the assessment, applying a multi-method research approach. The team led extensive desk reviews and fieldwork, which included 48 focus group discussions with MSME owners across sectors and 30 key informant interviews with stakeholders such as financial institutions, regulators, and policymakers. We analyzed the current digital transformation status of MSMEs, identified key barriers and gaps, and developed practical recommendations to address financing challenges, particularly related to digital devices and credit access. MSC also facilitated a validation workshop and shared findings with stakeholders to inform future interventions.
The assignment is expected to shape UNCDF’s technical assistance programs and provide practical insights for ecosystem players to unlock affordable device financing, improve digital access, and support youth-led business transformation. It ultimately aims to accelerate inclusive digital finance and contribute to economic resilience among young entrepreneurs in Uganda.
The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) funded this project.
Juhudi Kilimo Limited (JKL), which serves over 90,000+ clients across 33 counties in Kenya—35% of whom are youth—sought to enhance its financial offerings for young people engaged in agriculture. It recognized the untapped potential of this demographic and intended to improve financial inclusion for youth and expand its footprint in the agri-finance market.
MSC provided technical assistance.We began with a diagnostic assessment that included rural household surveys and market research focused on youth needs. Based on the findings, MSC developed new product prototypes, refined existing products, updated credit manuals and appraisal tools, and trained JKL staff—including young managers—on product delivery. A pilot phase tested the new solutions, after which MSC supported product adjustments, marketing material development, and rollout planning.
The project is expected to significantly improve access to tailored financial solutions for youth in agriculture, which enabled them to invest in their ventures, increase productivity, and enhance their livelihoods. For JKL, the initiative strengthens its position in the agricultural finance sector and supports long-term growth and sustainability.
Incofin Investment Management funded the project.
Despite the growing interest in agriculture among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa, youth continue to face systemic barriers to enter and thrive in agri-enterprise. These include fragmented value chains, limited access to finance, weak institutional support, and misaligned policies. Governments and development actors have lacked a structured, evidence-based framework to assess ecosystem gaps and guide targeted interventions for youth engagement in agriculture.
To bridge this gap, MSC developed a comprehensive youth-driven agri-enterprise ecosystem assessment and development framework. We conducted a training needs assessment, facilitated policy and institutional analysis, and built tools—including a value chain selection tool—to help stakeholders identify and prioritize youth-friendly interventions. We mapped key actors and opportunities in countries like Rwanda and Senegal and highlighted areas of over- and under-investment.
The framework has become a powerful diagnostic and planning tool for governments, donors, and ecosystem actors. It enables stakeholders to make data-driven decisions, align interventions, and deploy resources more effectively. In Rwanda and Senegal, the framework has already informed national programming and investment plans aimed at strengthening youth participation in agriculture—supporting inclusive economic growth and sustainable job creation.
Uganda’s youthful population—77% under the age of 30, many of whom are smallholder farmers—faces limited access to tailored financial products. Despite serving over 240,000 depositors and 32,500 loan clients, Opportunity Bank Uganda (OBUL) had limited offerings designed specifically for youth, particularly those in agriculture. OBUL sought to close this gap to align with its vision of becoming the bank of choice for all.
MSC conducted a training needs assessment and worked closely with OBUL to build internal capacity to serve the youth segment. Using the Market Insights for Innovation and Design (MI4ID) approach and qualitative research, MSC guided the development of a matched savings product and an agriculture-linked credit product. These solutions were designed to promote financial discipline and support income-generating activities among young farmers.
MSC also supported OBUL in developing a product roadmap and business case, and facilitated pilot testing, including mid- and end-term reviews. As of December 2021, OBUL had successfully integrated the new youth products into its operations. The pilot showed strong demand and repayment capacity among youth clients, validating the business case and demonstrating the potential for long-term portfolio growth.
This initiative enabled OBUL to attract a previously underserved yet high-potential market segment, enhance portfolio quality, and expand its outreach—contributing to youth financial inclusion and agricultural productivity in Uganda.
OBUL’s youth portfolio is now worth USD ….or reaches xxxxxx numbers
The project was funded and supported by Opportunity Bank Uganda (OBUL)
