Credit with Education is Freedom from Hunger’s best known innovation to deliver crucial financial and non-financial resources and information to the poor.  This model builds on the village banking methodology by integrating financial services (such as credit and savings) and dialogue-based adult education.  To receive these complementary services, groups—primarily poor women—come together with trusted peers and are trained to manage the affairs of their group.  Field staff of the implementing organization travel to groups’ villages to attend their meetings; provide training and support for financial services such as loan repayments, disbursements and savings deposits; and deliver interactive learning sessions on health, self-esteem, business and financial management.

Credit with Education can help the poor

• increase human, social and financial assets for themselves, their families and their communities;

• improve management of scarce household resources; and

• reduce risk and vulnerability to health and economic shocks.

Credit with Education can help implementing organizations

• reduce service-delivery costs by tightly integrating the delivery of complementary services with one set of staff;

• increase clients’ ability to meet their loan obligations as a result of improved health, business and financial management;

• achieve greater outreach by extending services to new un- or under-served segments of the market; and

• differentiate their service and enhance their competitiveness amongst microfinance organizations.

Our collaborations with over 50 implementing organizations have launched Credit with Education in nearly 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  As a result, hundreds of thousands of women are receiving Credit with Education services.  Follow the links to learn more. 

Detailed descriptions of Credit with Education
Impact of Credit with Education
Credit with Education products