Why are there not finger-counting icons and/or tallies (see right) on every passbook owned by every illiterate client in microfinance?
This small change could make microfinance more comfortable for poor borrowers and poor savers, and contribute in a small way towards our shared goal of ‘access for all’.
I have presented this simple idea to many MFIs and financial cooperatives recently. For the most part, these organizations passionately want to connect more closely with illiterate clients. Some are using photos in passbooks, mobile video units to introduce themselves, and so on. But none have introduced this far simpler and far cheaper method, that is likely to have far more widespread impact.
Why? Because the logic underpinning it has nothing to do with literacy and illiteracy. It has to do with orality, and oral culture.
Our desire to help illiterate people has led us to millions of thumbprints on opaque contracts and a lot of excuses about how their daughters can read for them. Who said they want their daughters knowing they’ve used their land as collateral for a loan? And what happens after their daughters are married off at age 12 and leave the village? Is this how we advance the Western concepts of transparency, confidentiality and accountability — and ultimately the concept of democracy that depends on them?
villagefinance 
Hi Brett,
Long time since we spoke, thanks for the interesting posts.
Question: What do you mean by “finger counting icons or tallies”?
The image above doesn’t seem to show these.
All the best
Blaise
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Hi Blaise; it’s been a while — I hope all is well at RESULTS Canada!
You can take a look at an example of tallies here https://villagefinance.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/tallies.jpg and finger-counting icons here https://villagefinance.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/finger-counting-icons.jpg .
Brett
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Hi Brett,
I like your discussion on village finance. I can identify with you when you talk about oral culture. During my work in rural finance in Kenya, I have come across old women who recall their savings or loans from memory.Since she could not read or write, using memory was the best way for her to keep track of her money. It was fascinating to watch her unwrap money to pay for her savings and loans. As long as she was told how much she would bring monthly-that did it for her.
Many women in the rural areas who are not educated rely a lot or the oral culture.
The Oxfam’s Savings for Change I think in Mali use the oral culture to remember the group rules.
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Thanks for your comment, Victoria. If you’re interested in working out how to apply oral culture more effectively in your own practice, I’ve written a paper on oral culture and village institution-building. It’s called ‘Governing the Oral Institution’ and you can find it here: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/p/site/m//template.rc/1.9.34639 Let me know if you test oral cultural in Kenya!
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