Informal table banking groups can run for years on trust and a notebook, but formal registration as a self-help group with the Department of Social Development opens doors that an unregistered group cannot access, most importantly, eligibility for government-linked funds such as the Women Enterprise Fund and Uwezo Fund.
This year, with support from our program officers, the Amani and Tumaini savings groups, two of the five circles operating under our women's economic empowerment program, completed the full registration process, including drafting a formal constitution, opening a group bank account, and submitting membership records to the sub-county social development office.
The process took roughly four months from first application to certificate issuance, slower than either group anticipated, and our role was largely administrative: helping treasurers organize the paperwork correctly the first time, since incomplete submissions are the most common cause of delay.
“We had heard about these government funds for years but never knew how to actually apply. Having someone walk us through the registration paperwork step by step made something that felt impossible feel completely manageable.”
— Group chairlady, Tumaini group
Both groups are now preparing loan applications to the Women Enterprise Fund to expand beyond internal table banking capital, and we expect the remaining three groups in our network to pursue registration over the coming year as they build the required track record of consistent meetings and record-keeping.
Women's groups elsewhere in Kasarani interested in learning about the registration process are welcome to contact us; we are happy to share the checklist we developed at no cost.
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