Savings group initiatives empower women to lead change

Similar to Joanina and Martinha, in the vibrant community of Oe-Cusse, Rosina and her fellow women have long depended on animal rearing and cultivating vegetable crops to sustain their families. But as weather patterns shifted and natural disasters increased, their livelihoods faced a formidable threat.

“We faced difficulties with heavy winds and floods destroying our farms and animal husbandries. We, the women of the community, decided it was time to stand up and change our dire situation.” As her farm crumbled and worries deepened, especially for her daughter who lives with a disability, Rosina found a beacon of hope—the savings group.

Since joining, Rosina has not only regained the confidence to support her family but has also returned to the fields. The savings group, more than just a financial resource, empowers women in her community to allocate funds for disaster preparedness and response efforts.

“Our group gets plant seeds from the Disaster READY project. We use them to grow veggies for ourselves and sell them at the local market. The money we make goes into the group’s safe. I’ve also taken loans to help with my animal rearing. The savings group brings peace to our community, making money easy to get when we need it.”

To protect against disasters, our local partner, BIFANO, works with us. They’ve introduced a simple flood barrier using local materials like bamboo and river rocks; its local name is Bronjon (Gabion box). With our savings, we build gabions—cages filled with stones that can withstand flowing water during rainy seasons.

“I can confidently say my group is ready for disasters. We’ve been trained and practiced emergency responses, knowing exactly what to do. The gabions we placed where water flows has protected many houses from floods. Our farming and animal rearing are doing well, ensuring a strong livelihood.”

In Timor-Leste, the Disaster READY Project has successfully established Village Savings and Loans Associations in Viqueque (5 groups), Bobonaro (4 groups), and Oe-Cusse (5 groups), comprising both men and women, including individuals with disabilities. The primary objective of these groups is to enhance community resilience and preparedness for disasters. In Viqueque, the savings groups have played a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth. Meanwhile, in Bobonaro, the groups specifically support pregnant women and contribute to overall livelihood improvement through transparent financial practices. In Oe-Cusse, the groups engage in activities such as vegetable cultivation and the construction of flood barrier.

Disaster READY is advancing local action beyond preparedness and resilience, into recovery. With systems and structures in place from the first five years, local partners are supporting communities’ to not only withstand the effects of disaster and climate change, but also equip them with the tools needed to return to life as quickly as possible.