We’re constantly working hard to improve the Kiva experience for lenders, borrowers and Field Partners. One improvement we’ve been working on relates to the way Kiva loans are affected by foreign currency fluctuations. Foreign currency fluctuation against the US dollar has a significant impact on our Field Partners and we’re excited that we’ve created a solution we think will be effective in addressing this problem. Field Partners in some regions now have the option to pass on all currency exchange risk to lenders, enabling them to better manage their cash flow and serve more borrowers...
Continue Reading >>Kiva Blog Updates
Continue Reading >>
Because Kiva lenders are social investors, the crowdfunded capital from Kiva's website can help places and organizations that commercial capital isn’t willing or able to serve, including countries and regions affected by conflict, war and political unrest. In my time working for Kiva as Field Support Specialist for Francophone Africa and the Middle East and Portfolio Manager for Francophone and North Africa, I’ve had the privilege of working with a variety of microfinance institutions (MFIs) serving conflict-affected areas such as Palestine, Mali and the Democratic...
The Agence de Crédit pour l’Entreprise Privée au Cameroun (ACEP Cameroun) works to "contribute in an efficient way towards the fight against poverty through microcredit loans to micro-enterprises." In 2005, ACEP began operating independently of its co-founding organizations, the Cameroon Ministry of Industry & Economics and the French Agency for Development, and has since grown to serve over 8,500 entrepreneurs in Cameroon’s bustling urban areas.
ACEP is determined, now more...
Please join me in warmly welcoming Kiva’s newest field partner, Relief International-Iraq, to Kiva.org!
Please join me in welcoming Kiva’s newest field partner, Maya, our first field partner in Turkey! Maya was by its parent organization, the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work, a Turkish NGO whose mission is to improve womens’ economic well-being and quality of life, in 2002 in the wake of the disastrous Marmara earthquake. Now an officially registered economic enterprise under the auspices of KEDV, Maya operates 5 branch offices located throughout Northwestern Turkey.
True to the vision of its founders, Maya serves an all-female clientele...
Continue Reading >>Please join Kiva in welcoming Micro Start (Action des Femmes pour le Développement), Kiva’s newest field partner, and our first partner in Burkina Faso! Headquartered in Ouagadougou (the country's capital city), Micro Start was founded by women to serve women. The institution was born when a group of 8 women, each of whom had significant experience in business and microfinance, pooled their own funds in order to found an institution that would support poor women entrepreneurs through... Continue Reading >>
Please join me in bidding a warm welcome to Kiva’s new field partner in Jordan, Alwatani (National Microfinance Bank). Alwatani has been providing microcredit services to low- and middle-income Jordanians since 2006. Through its 10 branch offices located throughout the country, Alwatani serves approximately 25,000 entrepreneurs.
During my training visit to Alwatani’s offices, I had the pleasure of meeting not just their staff, but some of their borrowers as well. Their staff is warm, committed, and proud of all that their institution has accomplished in its 5 years. And I must say, I... Continue Reading >>