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This executive summary draws on the findings from Curiosity Collective II, a study conducted in early 2020 in West Africa, with a focus on the gender-transformative potential of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). The research evaluates how VSLAs can be a platform for challenging patriarchal structures that normalize violence and discrimination against women and girls. It applies CARE's Gender Equality Framework, which operates across three domains: Agency, Relations, and Structure. Over six days, the study assessed 13 VSLAs (both women-only and mixed groups) across Niger and Côte d'Ivoire, engaging local NGOs and feminist groups to explore VSLAs' roles in promoting gender transformation.

The study offers key recommendations, such as developing gender-based measurement tools, investing in women-only VSLA groups, integrating GBV risk mitigation, and engaging men and boys to challenge patriarchal norms. Additionally, it advocates for linking VSLA women to local women’s rights organizations to enhance political participation and addressing exclusion by adapting VSLAs to include marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ individuals and survivors of violence.