The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) established the Community-Based Savings Programme (CBSG) in 2009 to promote community-managed financial services in the disadvantaged communities where it works. CBSGs respond directly to the financial service needs of the remote and rural poor by providing a secure, convenient place to save and take small loans on flexible terms. CBSGs are self-managed groups of 15-25 people and systems are kept simple and transparent to promote independence from AKF, and maintain transparency for members. There are more than 400,000 AKF CBSG members, of which 73% are women.