Strengths, Weaknesses and Evolution of the Peace Corps' 11-Year ...

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Acknowledgements Many people were involved in the design, preparation and implementation of the research on the Peace Corps’ Programa de Ahorro y Crédito (PAC). In particular, we would like to acknowledge Peace Corps Ecuador for their collaboration providing background information on the PAC, coordinating logistics for the training and fieldwork and permitting Peace Corps volunteers to participate in the fieldwork. We graciously acknowledge the following people from Peace Corps Ecuador: Nelson Oleas, Sustainable Agriculture Program Manager who oversees PAC Parmer Heacox, Country Director Dana Platin, Deputy Director Emmalee Scott, Peace Corps Volunteer, Bahía de Caráquez Jason Kriesleman, Peace Corps Volunteer, Loja Adam Dubois, Peace Corps Volunteer, Loja In addition, we would like to acknowledge the local counterparts for their assistance in coordinating the focus-group discussions and visits to community bank meetings as well as their participation in the fieldwork. We graciously acknowledge the following local counterparts: Maria Dueñas Reyna, Bahía community bank leader Jacqueline Chacón Chang, Bahía municipality Gloria Agila Jiménez, Loja municipality Andres Falconi Ayora, Loja municipality Pilar Luna, Loja municipality Miriam Figueroa, Loja municipality We would also like to acknowledge Zachery Ingrasci, Freedom from Hunger intern, for his participation in the training and fieldwork. Finally, none of this work would have been possible without the collaboration of the community bank members who discussed their experiences with us. We are extremely grateful to them for their time and openness in sharing.
Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... i 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 History of the Programa de Ahorro y Crédito (PAC) ................................................................. 1 1.2 PAC Training ..................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 PAC Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.4 Freedom from Hunger and Saving for Change ................................................................................ 4 1.5 Purpose of Study ............................................................................................................................... 5 2. Research Methods .............................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Research Tools .................................................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Sample ................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 Study Strengths and Limitations ..................................................................................................... 7 3. Results ................................................................................................................................ 9 3.1 Demographics ................................................................................................................................... 9 3.2 Food Security and Poverty Levels .................................................................................................. 9 3.3 Replication ....................................................................................................................................... 10 3.4 Financial Rules ................................................................................................................................ 11 3.4.1 Savings Amount .................................................................................................................... 11 3.4.2 Interest Rate .......................................................................................................................... 12 3.4.3 Loan Amount ........................................................................................................................ 13 3.4.4 Loan Length .......................................................................................................................... 14 3.4.5 Frequency of Loan Disbursement ..................................................................................... 15 3.4.6 Distribution ........................................................................................................................... 16 3.4.7 Fines ....................................................................................................................................... 16 3.4.8 Links with Banks .................................................................................................................. 16 3.5 Benefits ............................................................................................................................................. 17 3.6 Weaknesses ...................................................................................................................................... 18 3.7 Evolution ......................................................................................................................................... 20 3.8 Use of Money .................................................................................................................................. 22 3.9 Funds ................................................................................................................................................ 23 3.10 Other Activities ............................................................................................................................... 24 3.11 Other Financial Instruments ......................................................................................................... 25 3.12 Youth ................................................................................................................................................ 26 3.13 Needs of Community Banks ......................................................................................................... 27 4. Conclusions and Recommendations ............................................................................... 28 4.1 Conclusions...................................................................................................................................... 28 4.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 29
Page 1: Freedom from Hunger Strengths, Weak
Page 6 and 7: Since 2002, when Peace Corps Ecuado
Page 9 and 10: 1. Introduction 1.1 History of the
Page 11 and 12: The administrative committee includ
Page 13 and 14: 1.5 Purpose of Study Because of the
Page 15 and 16: 2.2 Sample The study design focused
Page 17 and 18: 3. Results 3.1 Demographics The ave
Page 19 and 20: anks. The community members always
Page 21 and 22: community banks in Bahía charged a
Page 23 and 24: There was much more variation and m
Page 25 and 26: As indicated in Figure 8, half of t
Page 27 and 28: The Bahía and Loja research teams
Page 29 and 30: The research teams in Bahía and Lo
Page 31 and 32: the distribution of savings and ear
Page 33 and 34: Bahía Every bank visited in Bahía
Page 35 and 36: Most youth participated as full mem
Page 37: 4.2 Recommendations Based on the re

Strengths, Weaknesses and Evolution of the Peace Corps' 11-Year ...

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