Thursday, December 29, 2011

Kiva's Annual Marathon Boasts Great Food, Great Loans

Edited by Daniel Hinds, Review and Translation Program Intern


Naomi (Kiva Senior Director, Global Partner Operations) catches up with long-time volunteers Dan and Connie (Baobab). Photo credit: Lindsay Monnet.

Did you know that a group of almost 300 dedicated volunteers review every loan before it is posted to Kiva.org? In fact, every loan description on the Kiva website is carefully edited or translated by one of these volunteers to ensure an accurate borrower profile, and to ensure a positive experience for Kiva borrowers and lenders alike.

Each year, there is a peak of interest in lending on Kiva’s website around the holiday season. To prepare for this peak, Kiva’s Volunteer Editors and Translators pull out all the stops to get Kiva borrowers onto the website and ready for funding, culminating in the annual Kiva Editing and Translation Marathon. This is an event that offers everything from delicious, locally-sourced food to great company and fulfilling work.

This year’s Kiva Editing and Translation Marathon was a huge success and a great opportunity for members of the Kiva community to come together and share their stories and experiences.

In its fourth year, the marathon brought together a total of around 50 Kiva volunteers and staff in person and online. At the gathering at Kiva HQ, in between editing and translating, talking about puzzling terms and interesting profiles, and eating and drinking, Kiva staff and volunteers shared many memories.


Dara engages with Kiva intern Emily and fellow volunteer Tracy, while Marty edges closer to 1,000 translations. Photo credit: Daniel Hinds.


Marathon Highlights
  • Participants from the San Francisco and Seattle marathons were all represented, in addition to all the remote Skype participants who logged in from across the US and Canada.

  • We were impressed to see translators and editors in later time zones attend the chat for an hour or two. A special thanks to these people for staying up late to attend the marathon!

  • There were many highlights from the Skype chat:

    • We found out that the Spanish term arepas means "a flat, round, unleavened patty made of cornmeal or flour which can be grilled, baked, boiled, or fried," and that a boubou in French refers to a large, sleeved robe worn by men in West Africa.
    • The French expression vendu en famille had the translators scratching their heads. Tamara K. and Team Leader Véronique F., both in the Kiva San Francisco office, came to the rescue and found the answer on the Volunteer Forum; "en famille" means "from the person's house," and is equivalent to the French "en domicile.


    Team Leaders Kent and Véronique pose with past Volunteers of the Month, Marty and Connie. Photo credit: Patricia Wada.


  • And from the Kiva San Francisco Office marathon:

    • An impressive turnout of 25 or so Kiva staff who came out to support and meet the volunteers, as well as try their hand at translating and editing
    • Delicious snacks like empanadas, hot spiced cider, mini-cupcakes and various dips and chips provided by the Volunteer Coordinators
    • Empanadas from El Empanadero Factory, run by Kiva borrower Julio and recommended by Kiva Volunteer Dan K.
    • Cupcakes from a multi-talented Kiva staff member at Christina Marie Pastries
    • The new Kiva Headquarters on Howard Street!


Skype chat highlights compiled by Lindsay Monnet. Additional highlights contributed by Daniel Hinds and Lindsay Monnet, Review and Translation Program Interns.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Welcoming Relief International Iraq to Kiva



photo credit: Relief International


Please join me in warmly welcoming Kiva’s newest field partner, Relief International-Iraq, to Kiva.org!

Relief International-Iraq (RI-Iraq) first began lending activities in 2006, and now operates 10 branches throughout the country. With a significant group lending portfolio, RI-Iraq serves over 9,700 clients a with a low average loan size of $959. They serve a 34% female client base, one of the highest ratios of women served among all microfinance institutions in the country. I was unfortunately unable to visit the head office of RI-Iraq Suleymaniya, Northern Iraq. Luckily, RI-Iraq’s new Kiva Coordinator, Csilla Budai, agreed to contribute her impressions of her new employer for this blog post:

I have the pleasure to currently work in two buildings and get to know two distinct teams who work very well together. One is the staff of RI-Iraq, always noisy, busy with loan clients and loan officers. And the other being headquarters for the MFI program in Iraq.

Spending time with the staff of RI-Iraq is great. I can best describe the office as a vibrant bee-hive that starts buzzing every morning at 8. While at first sight for an outsider their work can look chaotic, soon one can realize they are very serious about their work and pay close attention to their clients. It's a well-oiled machine with about 10 Loan Officers, Junior Supervisors and Supervisors who are both good friends and respected colleagues.

The building has two rooms; one is the waiting room for clients, where you sense the anticipation of the applicants. And the other one is the room of the Office Manager where final, approved loan contracts are signed and the important final papers are printed for closing the loan application process, making the approved amount available for disbursement.

Loan Officers and Supervisors are in and out of the building visiting clients before their loan can be approved. Initially, clients are only in contact with the Loan Officers who work with the clients on their application, double check the provided information and collect paperwork supporting the loan application. Once it's all put together, before a loan can be given to the loan committee for approval, the client is visited by the Loan Officer and the Loan Officer's Supervisor. I also had the pleasure to be on a few of these visits, and the impressions I got were only positive. I liked how well the clients and Loan Officers knew each other, making the clients feel comfortable with the entire process. I was also impressed by how fast the applications were processed. I often recognized visited clients sitting in the waiting room just a few days later, waiting for their turn to sign and finalize their contracts.

I was also very happy to see that—at least here in the Sulaymaniya office—more than half of the Loan Officers are women, which I think also helps female clients to be more at ease. I personally am eager to see how Iraq, and the status of Iraqi women will develop in the next few years—and I do hope there will be positive developments. For now, although regional differences certainly exist:

1. Women experience economic discrimination in access to, and in terms of, employment and occupation, credit, and pay equity for performing similar work or managing similar businesses as men. Government efforts to combat economic discrimination against women are minimal and unsystematic.

2. The security situation disproportionately affected women's ability to work outside the home.

3. Weak labor laws and the lack of an equal opportunity employment law left women vulnerable to arbitrary dismissal.

4. Conservative societal standards impede women's abilities to exercise their rights.

Iraq was at one time not too long ago an example in the region for high literacy rates, and education was also provided for women. Indeed, primary education was compulsory for women and men equally. But in terms of employment, the work place was reserved for men. Then during the war with Iran, and later with Kuwait, women were actually needed, and their work was needed to help support their families. To still fit with the traditional roles society dictated, and also do well as a mother and wife, having a sewing machine at home was answer for what women could do. Even when it was not used to generate income as such, women were able to meet their own and their families' clothing needs as well as make the items needed in the household, like curtains, bedding, etc.

Thank you, Csilla!
To learn more about RI-Iraq, you can visit the institution’s website, the Relief International Facebook page, RI-Iraq’s Kiva partner page , or their first Kiva loans.



Passport Series: Philippines: Part 3: Weavers

This month’s Passport Series is all about the Philippines! The Philippines is truly a cultural melting pot, a quality that is reflected in its many languages, vibrant celebrations and its food! Follow us throughout the month of December as we learn about The Philippines as a nation, its microfinance sector, and the work that Kiva does there!

Weaving is a traditional craft in the Philippines that has been practised for centuries by indigenous tribes. Weaving skills have been passed down through the generations and are employed to create a wide range of products from hats and handbags to rugs and roofs. A variety of materials are used including nipa palm fronds and fibers from abaca plants (a species of banana tree native to the Philippines). Many Kiva borrowers in the Philippines use their loans to develop their weaving businesses. Here are just a few examples of borrowers creating beautiful and useful woven products...
Erlinda - Photo Credit: Joanne Gan

Erlinda is from Negros Occidental, Philippines. Her primary business is weaving nipa palm to make roofing materials – and she makes over 1,000 of these pieces in one week. She pours the profits of her business into the educational expenses of her six sons – hoping, like most parents around the world, that they will have a brighter future.
Evangeline P. - Photo Credit: Community Transformation Credit Cooperative.

This is Evangeline P. of Camarin, Caloocan City. Evangeline buys scrap fabrics from neighboring garment factories and weaves each thick strand to fashion them into beautiful foot rugs and placemats. She has been in this industry for 15 years and enjoys her work. She earns 250 Philippine pesos a day.
Encarnacion C. - Photo Credit: Ahon sa Hirap, Inc.

Encarnacion C. lives in the Antique province in the Philippines. She attended a Department of Trade and Industry training course about handicraft making ten years ago. After the course, she started a small business weaving sleeping mats using pandan leaf (a kind of palm). Now she makes other kinds of handicrafts such as hats, native bags made from abaca fiber, placemats made from twigs, and other decorative pieces. Many souvenir shop owners visit Encarnacion's village to buy her products.
Ruth A. - Photo Credit: Gata Daku Multi-purpose Cooperative

Ruth A. is from Zamboanga del Sur, Phillipines. To make a living, Ruth owns & operates a business weaving and selling sawali (woven bamboo wall) to local businesses and community members. Ruth has been engaged in her business for over three years and her rugs are very popular. She is earning approximately 3000 Philippine pesos a month.
Leonora C. - Photo Credit: Center for Community Transformation Credit Cooperative

Leonora C. lives in Cavite City, Philippines and is the mother of six children. Leonora operates a rug and textile making business. Her products range in size from small coaster size pieces to much larger items such as doormats, braided quilts and bed covers. Her regular customers are her neighbors and the local community. She uses her loans to buy raw materials including fabrics, thread and newspapers for patterns. She earns a minimum of 200 Philippine pesos in sales each day.

To make a loan to a business in the Philippines, click here!

Monday, December 26, 2011

Kiva Welcomes Finance (SS) Ltd!

Written by Mac Parish, Field Support Specialist, Anglophone Africa

Please join me in welcoming Kiva's newest partner, Finance (SS) Ltd!

Finance (SS) Ltd. operates out of Juba, South Sudan, and is currently playing an important role in extending credit to a market where the UN estimates that less than 2% of the population has access to formal financial services. FSL is currently the second-largest MFI in the country, and in their words, their mission is “to contribute to the economic rebuilding and stabilization of South Sudan by providing quality financial services to low income entrepreneurs through a sustainable microfinance institution with a national scope.” The organization currently provides group loans and salary loans, and they are in the process of developing additional targeted loan products.

As the newest country in the world, lots of people have their eyes on South Sudan in recent months. Thirty years of war have left the country with some of the highest illiteracy rates and infant mortality rates in the world. The majority of the roads in Juba were built after 2008, and some of the city still looks like the countryside. Much of what people consume in-country is imported from Uganda, which makes the cost of living extremely high.

The first microfinance institutions began operations in South Sudan in 2003, and the industry has historically struggled with high delinquency rates and high costs. However, the potential for impact is huge.

During my time in Juba, I was fortunate to meet with a variety of borrowers, one of whom was named Jacob. An older man, Jacob has run a general store for the past 10 years. He enthusiastically described to me the impact that Finance (SS) Ltd. loans have had on his business and his livelihood.
Jacob in his shop outside of Juba, South Sudan

He used his most recent loan to purchase water and sodas to sell out of his freezer, which he had purchased with a previous loan from Finance (SS) Ltd. Excited about the potential that microfinance presents to expand his business, he told me that he is thankful for Finance (SS) Ltd's support, and that he plans on using the increased income generated by his business to send his children to more school.

South Sudan's unstable history makes it difficult for microfinance institutions to secure funding a reasonable cost. As such, Kiva loans will provide FSL with the liquidity it needs to extend loans to its clients. Also, Kiva's risk-tolerant capital will help mitigate some of the potential pitfalls of working in a post-conflict country.

Finance (SS) Ltd. has seen rapid growth over the last two years. Their portfolio at risk (PAR) has reduced drastically, as their outreach has increased. After spending a week with the management team, I would attribute much of these changes to the excellent staff that FSL has on the ground.

Kiva is very happy to be extending our reach in South Sudan, and to be providing our lenders with the opportunity to make even more of an impact on the lives of the residents of the newest country in the world.

To lend lend to Finance (SS) Ltd. clients, please click here!


Friday, December 23, 2011

Kiva Featured on Project for Awesome!



A big thank you is due to all the Kiva fans who have made videos about our organization for Project for Awesome. The Project for Awesome campaign is an annual online event which was first launched by famous video-blogger brothers Hank and John Green in 2007. Every year in December, Project for Awesome participants create and upload homemade YouTube videos about their favorite cause or charity. The Project for Awesome website then streams the videos and raises money (through donations and auctions) that goes to the most popular causes and charities nominated by project participants. This year the project has raised over $70,000!

We’ve been really excited to see so many great videos posted about Kiva and wanted to share some of our very favorites on our blog. One of the videos featured below was created by Paige Finch, a fifteen year old from Knoxville, Tennessee. We got in touch with her and asked what it was that made her excited about the work that Kiva does and she told us the following,

"I think what's really great about the work [Kiva does] is the whole "teach a man to fish" aspect of it. Rather than giving a family meals for a short period of time, for example, people who give loans on Kiva are helping people continue to make their own money, which can lead to long-term sustenance for them and their families. I think it is very smart that people can give loans as opposed to permanent donations. I think the fact that their money will not simply disappear from their sight is an aspect of Kiva that probably encourages many people to give."

We’re always so grateful for people like Paige who get behind Kiva’s mission and help to raise awareness about our organization. Here’s Paige’s video along with two more of our favorites:







Thanks to all the creative people who are helping spread the word about Kiva through Project for Awesome! Click here to check out more videos.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Passport Series: Philippines: Part 2: Microfinance

This month’s Passport Series is all about the Philippines! The Philippines is truly a cultural melting pot, a quality that is reflected in its many languages, vibrant celebrations and its food! Follow us throughout the month of December as we learn about The Philippines as a nation, its microfinance sector, and the work that Kiva does there!

Microfinance Sector in the Philippines


The microfinance sector in the Philippines has grown extensively over the past ten to fifteen years. According to Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), in 1996 there were two microfinance institutions (MFIs) operating in the country compared to ninety-three today. The total loan portfolio in 2010 was slightly more than USD $630 million with about three million active borrowers. That translates to an average loan amount of just over USD $200.00 per borrower. There are also about 3.7 million depositors in the country with over USD $450 million currently being saved. In comparison, the most populous country in the region, Indonesia, has a population about 2.5 times greater than the Philippines yet only about 410,000 active borrowers and a total loan portfolio of about USD $275 million. Vietnam, with a similar population as the Philippines, has a total loan portfolio of USD $4.7 billion with about 8.5 million active borrowers.


Microfinance in Mindanao

Mindanoa is the most southern of the three Filipino regions, with a year-round tropical climate and beautiful beaches. It also has a long, almost five-hundred year history of conflict dating back to the Moro Wars starting in 1578. In recent years turmoil and conflict have continued within the region as four separatist groups contend with the Filipino government. In 1996 the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) (one of the four main separatist groups) signed an agreement with the Filipino government that gave the predominantly Muslim area a degree of self-rule, setting up the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). While the creation of the ARMM was considered a victory for the separatists the region has continued to see skirmishes and kidnappings related to political and religious objectives.1

This tumultuous environment has made practicing microfinance in the region somewhat challenging. However, despite the difficulties and higher cost of serving this area several organizations have made it a point to continue to do business within the ARMM region providing financial access to some of the most under-served populations in the country. Two prominent microfinance networks in the Philippines, the Microfinance Council of the Philippines and the Mindanao Microfinance Council are working with MFIs to ensure Mindanao residents have access to a full range of microfinance services. Currently there are eleven MFIs working in Mindanao, five of which are Kiva Field Partners. The networks are working to bring more capital to the area by encouraging the participation of larger organizations that are better positioned to absorb possible losses as well as partnering with international groups such as Kiva and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).2

While Mindanao continues to be a volatile region, making microfinance more difficult and more expensive to provide, MFIs and cooperative networks are working hard to bring opportunity and stability to the area. As Ruben de Lara, president of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, says, “The poor will always remain poor as long as their needs are not met. They need all the support they could get”.2

Kiva Field Partners in the Philippines

Kiva currently partners with seven MFIs in the Philippines all of which offer an array of credit as well as nonfinancial services.

Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. (NWTF) was founded in 1984 and began as a non-governmental organization that aims to help women achieve self-sufficiency and self-reliance, particularly in Negros Occidental’s low-income and depressed urban and rural communities. It sought to increase women’s awareness of their economic potential, to increase their skills and productivity and to improve their quality of life. NWTF has earned five social performance badges for the work they do in addition to the credit products they offer their clients. The they have earned are: Anti-Poverty Focus, Family and Community Empowerment, Entrepreneurial Services, Facilitation of Savings, and Innovation.

An NWTF borrower - Photo Credit: NWTF

Community Economic Ventures, Inc. (CEVI) started as a micro-enterprise development program that aims to offer more dynamic and sustainable projects to its clients. In 2000, CEVI was registered as a non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO). Since its inception over 10 years ago, CEVI has established microfinance services in 12 provinces and cities across the Philippines, for a total of 26 branches. CEVI continues to explore methods to increase outreach to people in impoverished regions, including communities that have been financially excluded based on ethnicity and religion. CEVI recently earned three social performance badges including Anti-Poverty Focus, Entrepreneurial Support and Facilitation of Savings.

Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI), was established in October 1986 to help combat issues like poverty and unemployment. Kiva chose to work with ASKI because they reach clients who have no previous formal credit history and no savings accounts. Even though their clients are involved in productive activities, many live in poverty and some live in extreme poverty due to exclusion from financial services. Small farmers in particular are vulnerable to these circumstances. ASKI has earned three social performance badges including Client Voice, Entrepreneurial Support and Innovation.

An ASKI borrower - Photo Credit: ASKI

Founded in 2004, the Center for Community Transformation Savings and Credit Cooperative (CCT) is dedicated to transforming the lives and communities by providing services to the poor through a holistic development approach. CCT reaches micro-entrepreneurs, service workers, itinerant vendors, orphans, indigenous peoples, landless agricultural workers, fishermen and women and abandoned children in urban poor communities. In addition, the Center for Community Transformation operates training and development programs, clinics and disaster relief operations. CCT also runs a generic pharmaceutical distribution business called Tindahan Para Sa Bayan which allows micro entrepreneurs to access low cost medicine while funneling any extra income to social service projects. CCT has earned five social performance badges for the work they do including Anti-Poverty Focus, Vulnerable Groups Focus, Client Voice, Family and Community Empowerment and Facilitation of Savings.

Gata Daku Multi-Purpose Cooperative (GDMPC) was formed in March 1992 and registered with the Cooperative Development Authority on August 13, 1992. Being a cooperative, GDMPC engages borrowers in decision-making, representation, and profit sharing. Two poverty focused programs support the majority of GDMPC’s clients, which are the rural, poor, and women. Kiva’s support enables GDMPC to reach these clients in a country where rural poverty is all too common. GDMPC has earned the Client Voice, Entrepreneurial Services, Facilitation of Savings, and Innovation social performance badges for the great work they continue to do.

Hagdan sa Pag-uswag Foundation, Inc. (HSPFI) is a non-stock, non-government organization established on September 7, 1987. HSPFI is a development organization offering microfinance services as well as capacity building, community development and transformation. With eight branches spread out over the provinces of the northern part of Mindanao, HSPFI offers a mandatory savings program, insurance programs, and leadership/business trainings to their clients. HSPFI has earned two social performance badges for Entrepreneurial Support and Innovation.

An HSPFI borrower - Photo Credit: HSPFI

Paglaum Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PMPC) was organized in February 1992. Because PMPC is a cooperative, each member can contribute savings, take loans and earn profits as the institution increases its reach and profitability. PMPC is serving largely the rural poor in the Philippines, including the Subanon tribe—one of the few remaining indigenous peoples. Further, PMPC also provides micro-insurance, off-grid solar power, rice harvesting services and sponsors a children’s savings plan, as well as preschool-through-college education for the children of indigent families. PMPC has earned six social performance badges for Anti-Poverty Focus, Client Voice, Family and Community Empowerment, Entrepreneurial Services, Facilitation of Savings, and Innovation.


Click on Field Partner to help make a loan to a borrower in the Philippines!

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our Passport Series to read about the work that Kiva is doing in the Philippines.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Featured Volunteer: Andrea Rosenberg

By Daniel Hinds, Review and Translation Program Intern

"It was devastating ... to think about a person who had no access to education."

City: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Languages: Spanish and Portuguese
Team: Latino Linguists
Time with Kiva: Since December of 2008, almost 3 years ago!

How did you find out about Kiva?
I have no idea how I heard about Kiva, but it was probably through NPR. Much later, I was doing research for my thesis in Colombia and I went to the website. I made a couple loans before I realized I couldn’t afford to make many loans on a student’s budget. So I put in an application to translate, and here I am!

Why did you choose to volunteer your time with Kiva?
I’ve always enjoyed volunteering. I’m especially fascinated with Latin America after traveling there for a couple years. Translating for Kiva was the perfect combination of my interests, my passions, and my unique language skills.

From where do you typically review Kiva loans?
I’m usually on my sofa or in bed. And pretty soon, I will be translating from my sofa in Argentina!

What is your favorite partner or region?
Latin America is definitely my favorite – especially Colombia. But I try to spread my love around the world by lending all over. Speaking of which, I’ve been really interested in Hluvuku-Adsema (Mozambique) lately because they are Kiva’s only Field Partner in all of Mozambique.

Tell us about a memorable profile you have reviewed.
All of the profiles are remarkable. For instance, many of Hluvuku-Adsema’s profiles talk about the level of education of the borrower – often having only completed 7th or 8th grade. Recently, I reviewed a profile where the borrower had been completely unable to attend school due to familial hardships. It was devastating for a person like me, holding two master’s degrees, to think about a person who had no access to an education.

Where is your favorite place in the world to travel?
One of my favorite places to travel is Bolivia. Seeing Bolivia in turmoil moved me deeply, making me feel very invested in their country’s future. Places I hope to travel to some day include India and Namibia.

Tell us an unusual or surprising fact about yourself.
While reading a Colombian novel in Bolivia, I realized my dream to be a literary translator.

Photo provided by Andrea Rosenberg, Volunteer Translator

Friday, December 16, 2011

NFS Series: Women's Empowerment Part 3: Social Performance Partner Badges

In celebration of the launch of Kiva’s new Social Performance Badges, we have decided to dedicate Part 3 of Women’s Empowerment to our Field Partners who excel in offering products and services specifically designed to support women. Women’s Empowerment fall under the Family and Community Empowerment Badge, one of seven new badges that Field Partners can earn.

By introducing the Social Performance Badges, Kiva has attempted to create a spotlight on those MFIs that do great work for their clients by providing nonfinancial services in addition to their general credit products. The seven badges are Anti-Poverty Focus, Vulnerable Group Focus, Client Voice, Family and Community Empowerment, Entrepreneurial Support, Facilitation of Savings, and Innovation. Highlighting Field Partners that excel in these areas gives lenders the ability to search for a loan by specifying the social performance strengths that they value most.

BRAC Uganda borrowers group.

Twenty-four Kiva Field Partners, on four continents, have earned top marks for offering support services for women’s empowerment. All of these partners went on to earn the Family and Community Empowerment Badge. Women’s empowerment is a critical aspect in the fight against poverty. While women are often the marginalized by poverty, experience suggests that women can be an excellent investment in the fight for sustainable change. Research shows that when a woman is able to contribute to her family’s income, at least 80% of her contribution goes toward creating a better future for herself and her children.

To that end, many of our Field Partners have created programs specifically targeted towards women and girls. BRAC Uganda, for example, has initiated the Empowerment and Livelihood for Adolescents (ELA) program in an effort to help build the life skills, financial literacy and self-confidence of rural adolescent girls. ELA programs can consist of features including:

Adolescent clubs—Safe spaces where girls can meet and interact and engage in skill building, sports, and other recreational activities.

Adolescent leaders—Older adolescent girls (of at least nineteen years of age) trained by BRAC to manage and lead the clubs and the training courses.

Life skills training courses—For all club members to build social skills and avoid early marriage.

Income-generation skills training—Older and out-of-school girls can select one income-generating training area of interest that is designed for the local economy. Central to this feature is training in basic market analysis and help in selecting training that suits a girl’s interests and skills.

Appropriately designed microfinance—Includes adolescent female loan officers, smaller loan amounts than those given to adults, and a minimum borrowing age of sixteen.

Community participation—Information about the program is provided to communities, including parents and guardians, to help them understand it and to encourage them to support their adolescent girls.#

Koperasi Mitra Usaha Kecil (MUK) from Indonesia is another Kiva Field Partner that excels in offering support services for women. With Kiva’s help MUK is able to provide funding for women to expand the scale of pig breeding through “Pig Breeder Group Loans.” MUK also offers to its clients, business training, veterinary services, and nutritional and social assistance to children under five years of age and women who are pregnant and breast-feeding.

Empowering women around the world has proven to be one of the most effective ways to achieve sustainable poverty alleviation. Kiva works hard to partner with socially-minded organizations that concentrate on multiple client needs.

Stay tuned for our forth and final installment of the Nonfinancial Services Series in January about Enterprise Services.

You can make a loan to a borrower served by a Field Partner that has been granted the Family and Community Empowerment badge and support women’s empowerment.

For quick links to each part of the series click on Introducing Kiva's Nonfinancial Services Blog Series.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Passport Series: Philippines: Part 1: Country Background

This month’s Passport Series is all about the Philippines! The Philippines is truly a cultural melting pot, a quality that is reflected in its many languages, vibrant celebrations and its food. Follow us throughout the month of December as we learn about The Philippines as a nation, its microfinance sector, and the work that Kiva does there!

History

The Republic of the Philippines is a nation in Southeast Asia. In prehistoric times, Negritos were some of the archipelago's earliest inhabitants. They were followed by successive waves of Austronesian peoples who brought with them influences from Chinese, Malay, Hindu, and Islamic societies.

An era of Spanish rule had its beginnings with the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. In 1543, the archipelago was named Las Islas Filipinas in honor of Philip II of Spain. Miguel López de Legazpi arrived in the Philippines in 1565 and consolidated Spanish rule in the islands, which remained a colony of Spain for more than 300 years.

A series of conflicts began at the end of the 19th century as the Philippines struggled for independence. The Philippine Revolution led to the short-lived First Philippine Republic. This was followed by the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine–American War. In the aftermath, the United States emerged as the dominant power. Aside from the period of Japanese occupation (1942-1945), the United States retained sovereignty over the islands until the end of World War II when the Philippines gained independence. Since independence, the Philippines has struggled to maintain a stable democratic government. Two presidents of the Philippines were forced from office by "people power", one in 1986 and one in 2001. The country has been plagued by government corruption, Islamic rebel insurgencies and a protracted guerrilla campaign run by the communist New People's Army (NPA).

The flag of the Philippines - Photo Credit: CIA World Factbook

The design of the flag of the Philippines dates back to 1897. The blue band stands for peace and justice, the red band symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. In wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top.

Geography

A map of the Philippines - Photo Credit: CIA World Factbook

The Philippines is located in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is the second largest archipelago in the world comprising 7,107 islands. The islands are divided into three main geographical divisions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its capital city is Manila, a thriving metropolis bursting with life and jeepneys! Jeepneys are the most popular form of public transportation in the country. They were originally made from US military jeeps left over from the war. They are known for their flamboyant decorations and have become an iconic symbol of Filipino culture.

Jeepneys - Photo Credit: JJ Casas

The country’s location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and its tropical climate make the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons but has also endowed the country with natural resources and made it one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. Most of the larger islands are traversed by mountain ranges, with narrow coastal plains, wide valleys, volcanoes, dense forests, and mineral and hot springs.

A rice paddy in the Philippines - Photo Credit: John Rauschkolb III

Economy

A newly industrialized country, the Philippine economy has been transitioning from one based on agriculture to one based more on services and manufacturing. The Philippines’ GDP was $351.4 billion in 2010. Primary exports include semiconductors and electronic products, transport equipment, garments, copper products, petroleum products, coconut oil, and fruits. Although the country once boasted one of the region's best-performing economies, the Philippines is saddled with a large national debt and tens of millions of people live in poverty. The economy is heavily dependent on the billions of dollars sent home each year by the huge Filipino overseas workforce.

Filipino Fishermen - Photo Credit: John Rauschkolb III

Demographics and Culture

The Philippines is the world's 12th most populous country, having an estimated population of about 100 million people. The majority of the population lives on just 11 of the country’s islands. The Philippines has the highest birth rate in Asia, and forecasters say the population could double within three decades. An additional 11 million Filipinos live overseas. More than 90% of the people are Christian as a result of the nearly 400 years of Spanish and American rule. Although the great majority of Filipinos have Malay heritage, numerous other ethnicities and cultures are found throughout the islands reflecting the country’s history as the trading hub of SouthEast Asia. Many Filipinos have some Asian mainland, Spanish, American, Arab, or Indian ancestry. The official languages of the Philippines are Filipino (based on tagalog) and English. Around 70 other native languages are spoken.

The fiesta is an integral part of Filipino culture. Filipino fiestas are raucous celebrations, often including parades, dancing, singing, costumes, games and bountiful amounts of food. Each city and barrio has at least one local festival of its own, usually on the feast of its patron saint, so that there is always a fiesta going on somewhere in the country. But the biggest and most elaborate festival of all is Christmas, a season celebrated with much pomp and pageantry.

Games being played at a Filipino Christmas party - Photo Credit: Joanne Gan

A dance performance at a Filipino fiesta - Photo Credit: Joanne Gan

Cuisine

Filipino cuisine is one of the most eclectic in the world. It has evolved over several centuries from its Austronesian origins to a mixed cuisine with many Hispanic, Chinese, American, and other Asian influences adapted to indigenous ingredients and the local palate.

Popular dishes include: lechón (whole roasted pig), adobo (chicken and/or pork braised in garlic, vinegar, oil and soy sauce, or cooked until dry), mechado (larded beef in soy and tomato sauce), kare-kare (oxtail and vegetables cooked in peanut sauce), sinigang (meat or seafood in sour broth), pancit (fried noodles), ballfish (fried fishballs with sweet vinegar sauce) and lumpia (fresh or fried spring rolls).

Kiva's video curator, JJ Casas, buying ballfish in the Philippines - Photo Credit: JJ Casas

A typical Filipino feast with chicken adobo in the middle - Photo Credit: Dolores Desengano Esguerra

Pansit - Photo Credit: Dolores Desengano Esguerra


Stay tuned next week to hear about the Philippines' microfinance sector!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Kiva Launches Social Performance Badges and Increases the Information Available for Your Lending Decisions


We are excited to announce that Social Performance badges are now available on the Kiva website. What does this mean for you, the lender? First, the badges give you even more of an “insider’s” view into the work of our Field Partners. Many of Kiva’s Field Partners are going above-and-beyond in serving the needs of their communities, and Kiva wants to shine a spotlight on those partners so we can all acknowledge their efforts and learn from their work.

Second, the badges are an easy-to-use tool for you to quickly identify a Kiva Field Partner that is supporting communities in a way that is more meaningful to you! The Social Performance badges give you more insight into the positive impact a Field Partner is attempting to have within their community. We hope the badges will enable you to easily find Field Partners that are working in areas that speak to you, and this can in-turn inform your lending decisions.

What is Social Performance?

Social Performance is defined by the Social Performance Task Force as “the effective translation of an institution’s mission into practice in line with accepted social values.” Kiva is always looking to partner with microfinance institutions (MFIs) with a strong social mission as we know you want to support MFIs creating the most good. Social performance, or the ways these MFIs put their mission into practice, can be measured many different ways. Kiva has created Social Performance badges to give you insight into the areas of social performance that Kiva’s Field Partners have demonstrated a commitment to.

Social Performance is a relatively new and exciting topic within the microfinance industry. We’ve scheduled a webinar to walk you through using the badges on the Kiva website, and also give you a little background on the role social performance plays at Kiva. There will be an open question and answer time for you to ask any questions you may have.

The webinar will take place Wednesday, December 14 at 10am (Pacific Standard Time.)


What are Social Performance badges?

Social Performance badges recognize Kiva Field Partners with a demonstrated commitment to one or more of the following social performance strengths:


Each Field Partner receives one badge for each of the areas to which they have demonstrated a commitment. These badges can be found on the loan page in the About The Field Partner section, and on the Field Partners page beside the Risk Rating. For more detail on a Field Partner’s social performance efforts, click on the individual Field Partner you are interested in.

How do I use Social Performance badges?

There are two ways to use Social Performance badges when making a loan on Kiva:

When choosing a loan: When browsing borrowers to lend to on Kiva, you can also consider the social performance strengths of the Field Partner facilitating the loan. The strengths will be represented on the loan page in About the Field Partner, with each badge representing a unique social performance strength. To learn more about each strength, simply click on the badge.

When choosing a Field Partner: If you are a lender who likes to research Field Partners before selecting a borrower to lend to, you can easily identify Field Partners with strengths in a social performance area that you care about. Simply browse the social performance strengths listed on the Field Partner page to identify a Field Partner whose social performance strengths are aligned with the issues you care about. For more detail, click on the name of the Field Partner you are interested in to read a description of this organization’s social performance efforts.

We know that you value transparency when it comes to the lending choices on Kiva. Social Performance badges are another way we are increasing the availability of information to our lender community, to further empower you when making your lending decisions.

How can I learn more?

Join us in our series of eight Social Performance webinars!

The first webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 14 at 10am (Pacific Standard Time), and will focus on introducing Kiva’s social performance badges.

We will then dedicate a short series of webinars to the social performance strengths, describing how Kiva defines and evaluates each strength, and giving some examples of the work our Field Partners are doing to be recognized in this area. Each webinar will include a presentation by Kiva’s Senior Director of Social Performance, JD Bergeron, and an open Q&A time for you to ask any questions you may have. We will be announcing the schedule of these webinars on this blog, so that you can choose to attend those addressing the areas you are most interested in, if you are unable to attend them all.

We hope to see you there!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Please Welcome Kiva Guest Blogger, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana!

Kiva is excited to introduce Guest Blogger and Kiva Supporter, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. She is the author of the New York Times Best-Seller The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, a book which tells the incredible true story of a real-life heroine, a young Afghan entrepreneur whose business created jobs and hope for women in her neighborhood during the Taliban years. Gayle is a Contributing Editor-At-Large for Newsweek Magazine and The Daily Beast, reporting on economic and development issues with a focus on women; and the deputy director of the Council on Foreign Relations’ Women and Foreign Policy program. A former Fulbright scholar and Robert Bosch Foundation fellow, she serves on the board of the International Center for Research on Women.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

We are delighted and honored to have Gayle write for our blog. To celebrate her contribution and the coming holiday season we are running a corresponding “Call for Comments”. As part of the “Call for Comments”, 25 people will be awarded a copy of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana! Please read on to learn more.

Written By Gayle Lemmon.

My inspiration comes from the entrepreneurs I write about. Whether in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Bosnia or the US, the entrepreneurs I meet share a tenacity to keep going no matter the obstacles because they have families counting on them and failure is impossible when there are loved ones to feed.

In a lot of ways these women remind me of the women I grew up with. My mother was a single mom who worked two jobs to give me every opportunity possible. We never talked about how little we had or how hard it was for her, because we just got on with the challenges and the adventures before us.

When I meet women entrepreneurs, their doggedness and perseverance to trudge through, around or over their challenges is what keeps me thinking that anything is possible. And inspires my conviction that more people should know about these unsung heroines and inspiring founders. So many people see women as victims to be pitied, rather than survivors to be respected. These job creators and changemakers prove them wrong.

I first went to Afghanistan in December 2005 and in the course of writing a story for the Financial Times I met Kamila, a young woman who had just turned down a job with the international community so that she could start a business consultancy to teach entrepreneurship skills to men and women around her country. She believed business was the key to Afghanistan's future, because it would sustain Afghanistan's economy long after the international community left and enable Afghans to support themselves. She also said that business was even more important for women because earning an income earned respect.

When I asked Kamila how she had learned all this, she said that this was actually her third business. Her first venture was a dressmaking business she started during the Taliban times to support her five brothers and sisters at home counting on her to provide. The living room workshop grew to employ more than 100 women, and at a time of economic desperation when women could not even be on the streets by themselves, these young women became breadwinners who created a lifeline for families all around their neighborhood.

This story became The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, a book I just wrote that celebrates these intrepid young women who created jobs and opportunity against all odds at a time of despair. And it became my inspiration. It is just one story that stands for so many entrepreneurs who are out there fighting for their business’s and their family's future with unstoppable determination. These entrepreneurs are rarely heard of, because they are too busy with their work to occupy the spotlight. And we don't count what we don't see. But they are there. And communities like Kiva.org help to bring them much-needed resources.

This holiday season it is my privilege to shine a spotlight on entrepreneurs who make sacrifices and take risks for the people they love - the businesswomen braving the odds and thinking big. Every day, Kiva is helping people invest in the dreams and abilities of women just like Kamila.

Kiva recommends pairing Gayle’s book and a Kiva Card as an uplifting holiday gift. What could be better than giving the gift of an inspiring story along with the means to act on that inspiration?

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon - Click Here to Buy Now!


Kiva Cards - Click Here to Buy Now!

We would also like to invite readers to participate in a “Call for Comments” for the chance to receive a copy of Gayle’s book. All you have to do is respond to the following question, “What is the most inspiring gift you have ever received?”. Authors of the top 25 answers will be awarded a copy of Gayle’s book! Click here to enter.

Thank you Gayle for your wonderful contribution to our blog! To read more of Gayle’s work follow @gaylelemmon on Twitter, or go to http://www.gaylelemmon.com and http://www.facebook.com/TheDressmakerOfKhairKhana


Inspiring Gift “Call for Comments” Terms and Conditions
By telling us “what is the most inspiring gift you have ever received,” registered users on Kiva.org can enter to qualify for one of 25 copies of Gayle Lemon’s book The Dressmaker of Khair Khana!
Terms and Conditions of the Inspiring Gift “Call for Comments” (the “Promotion”):
Eligibility:
To be eligible to qualify for a copy of the book The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, all of the following rules must be satisfied by the participating entrant (the “Entrant”):
1) The Promotion begins at 12:01 am Pacific Time on Friday, December 9, 2011 and ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Friday, December 16, 2011. Kiva’s computer clock will be the official timekeeper for the Promotion. All eligible submissions must be made within this time period.
2) Entrant must be a current, registered Kiva member who is in compliance with the Kiva Terms of Use.
3) Entrant must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the United States of America.
4) To be entered into the Promotion, Entrant must electronically submit a response to the question “What is the most inspiring gift you have ever received?” via the form at https://docs.google.com/a/volunteers.kiva.org/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dHR4akdGVlBkcFkxY2llaGJnNVM1ZGc6MQ#gid=0
5) Only one submission per Entrant is permitted.
Selection of Top Responses and Award of Books
1) A panel of Kiva staff (the “Panel”) will review the Entrants eligibility and the answers submitted and select the top 25 responses. Entrants who submit the top 25 responses qualify to receive a complimentary copy of the book The Dressmaker of Khair Khana.
2) All determinations with respect to eligibility to participate in the Promotion and judging under this Promotion shall be made solely by Kiva based on its internal systems and criteria. All Kiva determinations and decisions shall be final.
3) The Panel will judge submissions based on the following judging criteria (the “Judging Criteria”):
1. Inspirational nature
2. originality
3. appropriateness, and
4. whether the submission adheres to these terms and conditions.
4) Kiva will notify qualifying recipients of awarded books by email (to the email address on record with Kiva) by December 21, 2011. No substitution or exchange of the awarded book shall be permitted.
5) Kiva will use reasonable efforts to deliver awarded books to qualifying Entrants to the physical mailing address (no PO boxes) provided as part of the Entrants’ submission. Please understand, however, that Kiva is not able to guarantee that winning Entrants will receive their awarded books, whether due to impossibility or other reasons beyond Kiva’s reasonable control (for example, loss of the book by the shipper or incorrect delivery by the deliverer).
General Provisions:
1) By entering the Promotion, you as an Entrant fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
2) By entering the Promotion, you as an Entrant agree to Kiva's use of your name and location (city, state or province, and country), and, if you have a public Kiva lender profile with a picture, your image, in our materials in connection with the Promotion.
3) Any individual user determined to have submitted more than one (1) response under this Promotion will be immediately disqualified from this Promotion without notice.
4) The Promotion is not valid where prohibited by law, and is subject to all applicable Federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations.
5) By participating in the Promotion, each Entrant agrees to release and hold harmless Kiva and its subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever.
6) Except where prohibited, as a condition of participating in the Promotion, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes which cannot be resolved between the parties, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Promotion, or any promotional credit provided, or the determination of qualifying credit recipients shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of court action, exclusively by arbitration pursuant to the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association then effective. Further, in any such dispute, under no circumstances will an Entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to, claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, and Entrant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.
7) All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these terms and conditions, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, U.S.A., without giving effect to the conflict of laws rules thereof, and any matters or proceedings which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these terms and conditions, shall take place in San Francisco, California.
KIVA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE PROMOTION OR CHANGE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PROMOTION AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. ANY ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION AND PROCESS OF THE PROMOTION IS A VIOLATION OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND APPLICABLE LAWS. PARTICIPATION IN THE PROMOTION CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE AND AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.


Thursday, December 8, 2011

Celebrations of the World Through the Eyes of Kiva Fellows

The festive season is officially here! The holidays remind us that one of the joys of being part of the Kiva community is hearing about the unique cultural and religious celebrations that occur all around the world and all throughout the year. Through our Kiva Fellows, we get a personal glimpse into the traditional worlds of our borrowers. Here are just a few of the fascinating events that our Fellows have experienced and shared with us...

Mongolia’s Tsangaan Sar, (Lunar New Year Celebration)

The Mongolian Festival of the Lunar New Year, Tsagaan Sar, is celebrated in or around February depending on the Mongolian lunar calendar. In Mongolia, the Lunar New Year is all about respecting one’s elders. According to custom, the younger members of the family must visit the eldest person of the family, usually the grandfather, at the beginning of the Lunar New Year. When hosting a Lunar New Year gathering, one needs to serve traditional food. It’s expected that steamed meat dumplings will be served along with milk tea, salad, bread and candy. Each guest must also be offered three shots of vodka. Ceremonial bread is piled up in five layers to make the traditional Ul Boov.


Traditional Mongolian steamed dumplings - Photo Credit: Amber Barger



Traditional Ul Boov and other treats - Photo Credit: Amber Barger

To read more about Tsangaan Sar, go to Kiva Fellow Amber Barger’s Blog Post.

Perú’s Inti Raymi (The Sun Festival)

In Cuzco, Perú, there are numerous holidays during the winter months of June and July. One of these is Inti Raymi (the Sun Festival), an Incan tradition marking the beginning of a new year with the winter solstice. This festival honors of the god Inti, one of the most venerated gods in Inca religion. Hundreds of thousands of people converge on Cuzco from other parts of the nation, South America and the world for a nine day celebration. Every day has different events including colorful processions, theatrical presentations, street fairs, and people dancing in the streets. In the evenings, live music from the best of Peruvian musical groups draws the crowds to the Plaza de Armas for free concerts.



A vibrant Inti Raymi procession - Photo Credit: Lee Bruner



Kiva Fellow Lee Bruner, dressed and ready to join an Inti Raymi procession with staff from Kiva’s Field Partner in Peru, Asociación Arariwa - Photo Credit: Lee Bruner

To learn more about Inti Raymi, go to Kiva Fellow Lee Bruner’s Blog Post.

The MassKara Festival of Bacolod, Philippines (The Festival of Smiles)

Every year, during the third week of October, the city of Bacolod, in the Philippines, celebrates the MassKara Festival and decorates its streets with smiling faces. These faces symbolize the resilience and strength of the community. The festival features a street dance competition where people from all walks of life troop to the streets to see colorfully-masked dancers moving to the rhythm of Latin musical beats. The major activities of the festival are diverse and include the MassKara Queen beauty pageant, drum and bugle corps competitions, food fairs, sports events, musical concerts, agriculture-trade fairs and garden shows.



Kiva Fellow, Ed Coambs, with a MassKara dancer - Photo Credit: Ed Coambs

To learn more about MassKara, read Kiva Fellow Ed Coambs’ blog post.

Thanks to the Kiva Fellows for opening a window for us into these exciting worlds!

Kiva Cards - The Perfect Holiday Gift!

Looking for a meaningful gift for your loved ones this holiday season? A Kiva Card is the answer! Kiva Cards are an easy way to "give a Kiva loan" to a friend or family member. They get to choose the entrepreneur they would like to support with a loan.

There is no more unique gift than giving someone the opportunity to participate in the microfinance movement in a personal way, and there is no easier way to give the gift that really does keep on giving. The beauty of giving a Kiva Card is that the gift can be loaned again and again, each time helping another enterpreneur work their way out of poverty.



How Do I Buy Kiva Cards?

(1) Go to http://www.kiva.org/ and click on "Gifts" at the top of the page.

(2) Follow the instructions to purchase Kiva Cards. You can choose to send your Kiva Card by email, snail mail, post it to the recipient's Facebook wall or print it and deliver it yourself.

We hope that you take advantage of the joy and inspiration that Kiva Cards can bring to this special time of year. Happy Holidays!