Bringing together evidence from a diverse network of researchers and practitioners in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the March special issue of Global Social Welfare highlights the Center for Social Development’s focus on improving economic well-being for marginalized populations on the continent. The issue, “Financial Capability and Assets for Socioeconomic Development,” was developed through the Financial Capability […]
Mobile phones have become commonplace in sub-Saharan Africa. There, as in other parts of the world, financial technology has proliferated with the expansion of digital access, opening new doors to financial products and services. But this emerging landscape requires financial acumen, and sound guidance can be hard to find.
On July 15, a multinational group of partners gathered virtually to mark the launch of Financial Capability and Asset Building in Africa (FCAB Africa), a new collaboration aimed at meeting these needs.
Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Advancing financial stability, security, and well-being (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-12). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/gmwt-0238
Center for Social Development. (2021, July). FCAB Africa: Summary of achievements as of July 2021 (CSD Fact Sheet No. 21-13). Washington University, Center for Social Development. https://doi.org/10.7936/j5rd-tr36
Bawumia, M. (2021, July). Lessons on policies that strengthen household financial resilience to overcome shocks: A keynote address by Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana (CSD Perspective No. 21-17). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Masa, R., Chowa, G., & Sherraden, M. (2020). An evaluation of a school-based savings program and its effect on sexual risk behaviors and victimization among young Ghanaians. Youth & Society, 52(7), 1083–1106. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X18824730
Ansong, D., Chowa, G., Masa, R., Despard, M. R., Sherraden, M., Wu, S., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2019). Effects of youth savings accounts on school attendance and academic performance: Evidence from a youth savings experiment. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 40(2), 269–281. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-018-9604-5
Top Ghana officials, representatives from more than 20 financial institutions and practitioners met in April in Accra, Ghana, to learn about YouthSave research findings and how they could encourage young people to open bank accounts and save.
Johnson, L., Lee, Y., Ansong, D., Sherraden, M., Chowa, G., Ssewamala, F., … Saavedra, J. (2016, April). Youth savings patterns and performance in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Nepal (CSD Fact Sheet No. 16-10). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Johnson, L., Lee, Y., Ansong, D., Sherraden, M. S., Chowa, G. A. N., Ssewamala, F., … Saavedra, J. (2015, September). Youth savings patterns and performance in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Nepal: Key findings (CSD Research Brief No. 15-55). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Chowa, G., Masa, R., Osei-Akoto, I., Ansong, D., Despard, M. R., Afranie, S., … Sherraden, M. (2015). Impacts of financial inclusion on youth development: Findings from the Ghana YouthSave experiment (CSD Research Report No. 15-35). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Lee, Y., Johnson, L. Sherraden, M., Ansong, D., Osei-Akoto, I., & Chowa, G. A. (2015). “Taking the bank to the Youth:” Impacts on saving and asset building from the Ghana YouthSave Experiment (CSD Working Paper No. 15-43). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Most young people in Sub-Saharan Africa are not saving money, and an article in the journal Global Social Welfare explains what helps or hurts them in their efforts.
A groundbreaking project examining the attitudes and practices of young people in developing economies toward saving money has led to new findings that confirm and challenge assumptions about youth saving at formal financial institutions.
Do Ghanaian youth have money? How do they get it? What do they do with it? These are questions we are beginning to answer in YouthSave using data from a baseline survey of over 6,000 in-school youth.
Chowa, G. A. N., Despard, M. R., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2012, July). Financial knowledge and attitudes of youth in Ghana (YouthSave Research Brief No. 12-37). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Chowa, G. A. N., Despard, M. R., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2012, July). Youth saving patterns and performance in Ghana (YouthSave Research Brief No. 12-36). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Chowa, G. A. N., Masa, R., & Osei-Akoto, I. (2012, July). Youth in the Ghana Experiment: Characteristics and living conditions (YouthSave Research Brief No. 12-35). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Chowa, G. A. N., Masa, R. D., Wretman, C. J., & Ansong, D. (2012). The impact of household possessions on youth’s academic achievement in the Ghana YouthSave experiment: A propensity score analysis (CSD Working Paper No. 12-17). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Center for Social Development. (2011). Broad and deep: The extensive learning agenda in YouthSave [Report]. St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Center for Social Development. (2011). Experiment in Ghana off to a good start (YouthSave Ghana Research Update). St. Louis, MO: Washington University, Center for Social Development.