The project has established women-only self-help groups (SHGs) that meet once a week to support each other in saving money and overcoming financial challenges. These SHGs will be supported to evolve into Saving and Credit Cooperatives (SACCos) – community membership-based financial institutions that are formed and owned by their members – with both men and women as members. Making financial resources such as loans or financial ‘safety nets’ available through SACCos can boost involvement in livelihoods activities, while also making sure that people don’t resort back to cutting trees in times of hardship.