Kiva on LinkedIn: Calling fellow change-makers! Kiva is currently hiring a Senior Platform… (2024)

We were featured in The New York Times' crossword puzzle! “Big name in small loans,” that’s us! Learn more about how Kiva expands financial access to help underserved communities thrive—and how you can be a part of it: https://bit.ly/3WvqhZb

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"Understanding how and why women’s financial experiences not only differ from men’s, but also from those of other women, will be key to dismantling the barriers that prevent women’s financial success."In this edition of the Invest in Women Newsletter, Barrett Redmond shares how Kiva aims to address gender equity at an institutional level through the use of a Gender Equity Assessment Rating tool, developed with support from USAID. Subscribe for more articles about women's financial inclusion, and share your thoughts in the comments 👇 #genderequity #genderequality #financialinclusion

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Akirah and Mancoba grew up in different corners of the globe, but years later, a shared passion brought them together.Akirah is from Newark, New Jersey, and grew up in a food desert in the city—an area that did not have access to fresh and healthy food options. Even still, she was raised to be a steward of the Earth and yearned to create something new.Mancoba grew up in the southern African kingdom of Eswatini. In his childhood, he watched his father use permaculture techniques on their family farm. Through the years, Mancoba became passionate about education about growing food indigenously.Akirah’s passion led her to the Peace Corps, moving to Eswatini to volunteer. Here, she met Mancoba, and they bonded over their shared views on permaculture, food, and caring for the Earth.Mancoba moved to Newark to join Akirah in 2021, and later, they founded the Ubuntu Permaculture Mission. They dreamt of creating the opposite of a food desert—a food forest. This is an area with a variety of diverse edible plants that mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature.But to build this dream, they needed funding.They applied for a loan from Kiva and received a $7,000 loan in 2023.Today, Ubuntu Permaculture Mission is thriving.Learn more about Akirah and Mancoba's work: https://bit.ly/3y6QiWF#agriculture #permaculture #food #foodsystems #entrepreneurship #microfinance #blackowned

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Refugees and displaced people face significant barriers in accessing credit, loans, and insurance, making it difficult for them to establish financial stability in their new homes, secure education, and fulfill their dreams. But what are these barriers?To understand these challenges, we conducted a listening tour with 15 organizations in the Kiva Refugee Investment Fund portfolio to learn about the difficulties of lending to refugees and displaced people.Here are five key barriers:1. Documentation and legal status: Many refugees are hesitant to share personal information, fearing it may affect their support from organizations. Others might have expired documentation, or no documentation at all2. Lack of credit history, collateral, or business stability: Lack of formal credit histories and stable incomes makes the evaluation of creditworthiness complicated3. Cultural differences: Language barriers, differing mindsets around finance, and other differing cultural norms can impact how an organization serves refugees4. Public opinion and policy: Having stable and transparent policies around regulation, legal status for refugees, and clear guidelines around documentation enable some countries to lend to refugees and displaced people with more ease. But in countries where these components are less clear, refugee lending becomes more complicated5. Operational costs and risks: Institutions serving refugees and displaced people can face challenges such as an increased risk of violence in conflict zones, difficulty reaching remote locations, inadequate infrastructure, and moreDespite the challenges, our partner organizations are already implementing innovative solutions to solve these problems. Organizations are turning to digital tools to help reach remote areas, finding new ways to forecast income for those without formal credit histories, putting forth policy proposals to make refugee IDs an eligible form of identification for loans, and more. Read more about the challenges and solutions here: https://bit.ly/4680H10

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The volunteers of the Review and Translation Program (RTP) help make Kiva lending possible. From translating loan profiles into clear, concise language to meticulously reviewing profiles for accuracy and adherence to policy, they play a critical role in bridging the language gap, telling borrowers' stories, and enabling Kiva's mission.Meet Jeff, one of the volunteers in the RTP program. Jeff is from Washington, USA, and has been volunteering with Kiva for two years (fun fact: he has edited over 9,220 loans!).“When I start reviewing a loan profile, I spend time with the photo. It reminds me that all of us humans are family, and we need to take care of each other.”Thank you, Jeff, for all your support! Learn more about our Review and Translation team volunteers: https://bit.ly/4d0JNTZ

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Worldwide, not all women have equal access to financial services needed to start businesses, provide for their families, and thrive. Think services like bank accounts, capital, and credit. In fact, out of all the people in the world who are unbanked, more than 50% are women. Many barriers contribute to this. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3S01R8I#gender #genderequality #genderequity #money #microfinance #entrepreneurship

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In Rosa’s small town in northern Ecuador, avocados are sometimes called “alligator pears” or “butter fruit”. And although most of the world’s avocados are grown in Mexico, Ecuador is catching up in supplying this in-demand produce to the United States.Rosa, a 64-year-old grandmother, buys avocados in bulk to sell wholesale to restaurants and at street markets. And more recently, she planted her own avocado tree to help her business.She’s accustomed to hard work, having raised multiple children on her own as a single mother. And now, while her adult children do help her out, she must continue to generate her own income to pay for her medical expenses.During the pandemic, her health deteriorated and she barely left the house. And subsequently, her business suffered. Even still, she knew she had to figure out a way to survive, “...I said to myself, 'I have to leave to work so that I can afford the medicine—the pills and tablets that I have to take daily.'”But as a one-woman operation, she needed resources. With a loan from Kiva, Rosa was able to purchase fresh inventory and restart her sales cycle, something she is grateful for. “I felt happy when I found out they were going to give me a loan. I found the interest rate was quite low, and for this, I am thankful, and I am thankful that they trusted me.”Kiva has reached over 4 million women worldwide through 1.6 billion dollars in loans. In fact, 4 out of 5 Kiva loans go to women. Learn more about how Kiva reaches women like Rosa: https://bit.ly/3VNXhvr#genderequality #entrepreneurship #global #women #microfinance

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In the U.S., not everyone has equal access to financial services. 1 in 10 U.S. adults are unbanked and 1 in 4 are underbanked. This is especially true for systemically marginalized groups. Let’s break it down:Q: What is unbanked and underbanked?A: If someone is unbanked or underbanked, they don’t have access or equal access to financial services like bank accounts, credit, or capital. Q: Who are systemically marginalized groups?A: Systemically marginalized groups are groups or communities that experience discrimination and exclusion due to systems of oppression. These are usually patterns of behavior and policies that perpetuate economic and political disadvantages. In the U.S., these groups can often include members of the LGBTQ+ community, refugees and immigrants, women and gender nonconforming individuals, Black and African Americans, the Latinx community, Indigenous people, and People of Color.Q: Why does financial inclusion matter?A: Everyone deserves a chance to provide for themselves and fulfill their dreams. Marginalized entrepreneurs face financial discrimination and have unequal access to financial services they need to thrive.Kiva expands financial access for those who are most excluded. Learn more about Kiva U.S. here: https://bit.ly/4cCERVy#finance #access #inclusion #diversity #equality #microfinance

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According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an average of 21.5 million people per year since 2008 have been displaced globally from climate-related hazards like floods, storms, wildfires, and extreme temperatures. That means that there are more than 320 million climate refugees who have left their homes already. And the issue does not appear to be slowing down.Learn more about climate refugees: https://bit.ly/3L3x1s1

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🌟 We love seeing schools incorporate Kiva into their learning programs 🌟 Like these inspiring 6th graders, who showcased their creativity and innovation — all while supporting Kiva borrowers.Thank you, Seattle Academy, for fostering entrepreneurship and making a positive impact in the world. 🙌#Kiva #Entrepreneurship #YouthImpact #GlobalChange

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