CIVIBADemocracy and Civic Practices

Project

Women's Savings Groups and CDEC

Vientiane (Chanthabouly) · Nationwide · Laos

Commons and belongingParticipatory urbanism2000 / 2002

A women's savings movement born in 2000 in Vientiane with Thailand's CODI, ACHR and the Lao Women's Union, a party mass organisation. By 2014 it had 567 groups and some 97,000 members, whose funds paid for wells, roads and the first homes negotiated by poor communities. ACHR says that in 2012 the network took over those funds and registered as a foundation (CDEC); two academic studies and the state agency KPL place the groups under the Women's Union. There is no data after 2020.

Led by
Women's savings groups channelled by the Lao Women's Union (a party mass organisation), with CODI and ACHR from Thailand; the CDEC foundation grew out of them
Status
Unknown
Participation
Institution led, participatory
Visitable
No, it is a network of savings groups
Contact
No public contact on record
Last reviewed
1 October 2026

Verification

Verified

This place is backed by at least one primary and one secondary source, reviewed within the last twelve months. The sources appear below with their consultation dates.

  • Verified two sources including a primary one, or first-hand knowledge of the place
  • Partial one source on record
  • Unverified starting knowledge, sources pending

Sources

Suggest a correction