Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) as Communities of Practice addressing Obesity and Food Insecurity in Urban African Households (ROSCAs4FS)

Leveraging on insights from previous research funded by IDRC Project No. 109165 in South Africa, titled ‘Savings for Health: Harnessing ROSCAs to Improve Healthy Food Choices’, the team hope to establish Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) as Communities of Practice platform to address the complex problem of obesity and food insecurity in Africa. The team propose a pragmatic feasibility trial, comparing digital communication, financial incentives and social network mobilization between ROSCAs. The project will provide empirical evidence for the impact and cost-benefit of fiscal policy combined with social policy strategies on influencing purchasing patterns of ROSCAs, as strategies for purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables, promoting healthy lifestyle and food security. By comparing Standard ROSCAs to ROSCA+Fiscal (SMS notifications regarding healthy eating w/financial incentives) and ROSCA+Social (SMS notifications w/digital platform connecting ROSCAs social network to partners). Due to the endemic nature of ROSCAs in LMICs, there is scope to scale this project.

Research Team: Dr Olufunke Alaba, University of Cape Town; Professor Emma Frew, University of Birmingham; Professor Victoria Estelle Lambert, University of Cape Town