Twelve-Month Reinvestment Savings Analysis of Gender-Based Violence Support Groups in South African Informal Settlements: A Mixed-Methods Study

Gender-based violence (GBV) survivors in South African informal settlements face significant financial barriers to accessing support services. Existing interventions often lack a focus on long-term economic empowerment through savings programmes. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data from surveys and qualitative insights from interviews. Quantitative data include savings account balances at six monthly intervals; qualitative data explore participant experiences and challenges with savings. Participants reported a significant increase in average monthly savings from R200 to R450 over the twelve-month period, driven by group support and personal motivation. This study underscores the importance of long-term financial inclusion for GBV survivors, highlighting how reinvestment savings can facilitate economic empowerment. Policy makers should integrate continuous monitoring and supportive services into GBV programmes to sustain positive outcomes. Future research could explore long-term impacts on survivor well-being.