West ‘Are’Are Rokotanikeni Association
West ‘Are’Are Rokotanikeni Association (WARA) is an indigenous women’s savings organisation that is leading the way for women to manage their own finances, learn to budget for household items and save for their family’s futures. WARA operates mostly in an environment that has no access to road infrastructure but uses irregular shipping and motorised canoe as its main mode of transport. There are no formal banking services available in these areas.
West ‘Are’Are Rokotanikeni Association AND IWDA
IWDA has partnered with WARA since 2008. IWDA has led varying program management initiatives over the life of the partnership carrying out project and budget monitoring and planning field trips, providing capacity development and organisation strengthening inputs, as well as a program evaluation.
Quick Facts
- WARA is divided into 13 zones – 12 rural and 1 urban.
- Through a solar project under the WARA Savings program, members have established solar projects through which 284 members have access to solar lighting and many more members are saving to purchase their solar. WARA is looking at engaging in water and sanitation programming in the future.
- Over the 10 year life of the savings club, members have taken out over 1000 loans and saved more than a million Solomon Islands Dollars (SBD).
