Final report -- promotion of rural savings as a step toward increased credit for women : the C.A. pilot project in Khemisset Province

from a U.S. social scientist, the project was implemented by a newly created team for Promotion Feminine at the Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole (CA). The project also had three secondary goals: (1) to learn how to effectively promote rural savings in other parts of Morocco; (2) to inform the heads of provincial services, directors of CA local offices, and potential clients of the new banking orientation of the CA; (3) to learn about the banking practices and services desired by different segments of the target population. The project was carried out over 2.5 months and had several important findings and outcomes. (1) CA was able to ascertain that the pilot region had the economic potential to utilize expanded banking services, and to identify the human and material needed to supply these services. (2) Rural people showed much interest in banking and the CA. A majority of the 122 people contacted during the project had already dealt with a bank, and all but a few said they were willing to become CA clients. Further, two groups that might be expected to show less interest -- women and microentrepreneurs -- proved to be very interested. The banking services most requested by the target population in general were facilite de caisee (easy access to funds), decouvert (credit for supplies), credit for housing and equipment, and checking accounts. (3) The CA increased the number of accounts by 65% and the amount deposited by 176% in the project area. (4) The questionnaires and methods for data collection and analysis that were developed for the project can be utilized in other rural savings activities in Morocco. (Author abstract, modified)