Suggestions for Kiva 2010 priority goal/project list to engage existing lenders

[Guest]

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[waywardcats]

In another thread Gerard has suggested that we put together a list of priorities that we think Kiva should have for their 2010 goals and projects list for engaging existing lenders.  This thread is a place to make suggestions for that list.

I've seen some folks in this thread and others saying that they've posted something in this forum that they thing is a good suggestion/want it to be included in priority discussions we have here. It's difficult for us to figure out what's important or what's a community priority versus a pet peeve (most of the time) based on the posts here. I think the best resource to communicate what is a high-priority fix is Diane and the Liaison process.

What might be a good exercise to help us understand what's the cream is to have the community suggest some 2010 goals/projects for Kiva that we can use when talking about core lender engagement.

[AccountAbility]

Okay, the two basic areas needing help for core lenders are:

Better portfolio tools (see portfolio tools thread for details)

Better ways to apply lender criteria to the available loan pool (sorts, wish lists, etc)

Dan

[wthepoo]

I agree with Dan, but want to add three more categories - not just for core lenders, but due to their sheer number of active loans at any given time and money "in the system" they are particularly affected by any shortcomings -:

- Improve system stability and reliability, accounting accuracy (see: http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,2948.msg68429.html#msg68429), security.

- Improve lender protection against MFI problems and their consequences: Due diligence with MFIs, regular spot checks regarding the accuracy of loan requests (conducted by fellows, staffers, independent auditors, demanding scans of loan documents, etc.), legal framework - possibly collateral or a differently secured position in case of an MFI's bankruptcy -, early warning system, faster and better communicated (see next point) reaction to MFI problems, etc.

- Improve communication with lenders (see my recent suggestions: http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,4357.msg69021.html#msg69021 - and of course the suggestions of other KFs).

(Summary: no shiny new features, no major new design, no new countries, no videos or other multimedia gimmicks, just work on the very basics of Kiva.)

Best wishes,
Wolfgang.

[RichardF]

Publish the formula for calculating the Field Partner Risk Rating.

• Publish the specific values in the formula for each field partner.
• Publish and date each change in a log that includes what changed and why.

[tomviolence]

Publish the formula for calculating the Field Partner Risk Rating.

[David2051]

- Improve lender protection against MFI problems and their consequences:

Would this include some type of protection against currency loss?  I would like to see some sort of currency loss protection like the big financial institutions use.  Maybe a rating for lender safety that takes into account currency loss protection, default protection, and other factors that may be pertinent, such as the term of loan, group vs. single borrower, etc.

Also more checks and balances in the area of password/account security.  Some of the login security features big financial institutions use.  It sounds like some security improvements are needed in the area of "malicious" withdraws.  Maybe some help with creating passwords like this  http://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/passwords/checker.aspx

[Mona]

My personal top goals for Kiva for 2010 would be

1. Find a better way to deal with currency risk than sharing it with lenders.
2. Re-introduce the translation of every loan and every loan update.

[RichardF]

Disburse partially funded listings.  Do NOT refund them!

[cpbailey]

Improve the lending experience.  Figure out a way to manage the supply and demand of loans and lenders.  The ebb and flow is 180 degrees.  1500 loans is overwhelming.  Fewer loans would move quicker.  It is acceptable if some loans don't get funded, imho.  However, right now it is a lost in the crowd issue.

[Dottie b]

(Summary: no shiny new features, no major new design, no new countries, no videos or other multimedia gimmicks, just work on the very basics of Kiva.)

Wolfgang.

YES YES YES YES YES!

Dottie B

[waywardcats]

In addition to the above, I think that lenders would be much more excited after a total revamp of the Journals area.  Some of this has been covered and sent to Kiva as a part of the "Some News for you" section revamp, but I wanted to reiterate it here.

1.  The Journal section needs to be searchable.
2.  Journal notifications need to be separated from team and lender messages in the "Some News for you".
3. Individual lenders should have an archive area for their journal notifications.

-Kerry-

[JoanW]

I want the fun back.  It used to be I could wander through the listings and loan to any loan that took my fancy.  It takes maybe 15 minutes to find one. I used to make a loan or two on my lunch break.

Now I first have to figure out if the MFI can be trusted. I have to go look up their information on a couple of other sites to get this information.

Then I have to go wade through the forums here on KF to see what new problems are popping up with MFIs - like those that continue to have new loans, even though they are in trouble.  I use this information to update a helper program/script so the MFIs that I do not trust, are blacked out.

Next is figuring out if the MFI is one I want to do business with - I have to go read through each MFI's page so I can see just what the interest rate is, what services are offered, journal updates, etc

Then I get to figure out if I can even read the loan description.

Then I get to figure out if the currency risk is acceptable to me.

Finally I get to the actual loan...I have to read and re-read the description to see if there are any red flags. If it is a US loan, I take additional steps to learn whatever I can about the business after this issue was raised -

I just by chance did a search on a US loan, and came across their Better Business Bureau rating.  The business rating was an F, which means you can't get anything lower.

NOW, finally, after all that, I get to pick a loan. Total time on this process? 2-3hours. No more lending on lunch break!

I agree with Wolfgang -

Summary: no shiny new features, no major new design, no new countries, no videos or other multimedia gimmicks, just work on the very basics of Kiva.

I see a primary function of Kiva is to
A) make sure loans are safe from known hazards.
B) funding loans that are not safe from known hazards are clearly marked as soon as hazard becomes known hinted at.
C) make the information I need easy to find, preferably on the loan page.
D) improve search/sort function so I can look for the type of loan I want so I can do the above steps on a much smaller number of loans. I am amazed it still will not search for something as basic as individual vs group loans.

Part of what made Kiva fun was that they did a lot of the work for me...or I thought they did - so I could focus on the actual loan itself.

[TheTatiana]

First of all I second Wolfgang on every single thing he said!

I need to be able to sort on kiva so as to eliminate most of the loans I don't want to fund.
1) No currency loss sharing.
2) No end of term loans, payment must be monthly or more frequently.
3) Term of 12 months or below.  Actually 14 months since the re-labeling has occurred to take into account the float in the system.  But of course it would be best if we could just dictate how many months and let the system search on that.
4) Eliminate particular countries from the search (that I'm already heavily involved in) so I can spread my money around more.
5) Search by sector but also by the type of loan, e.g. agriculture but not animal sales or animal husbandry, poultry, or pigs.  I'd like to be able to look at all the plant-based agriculture only, for instance.
6) No group loans.  The business descriptions are too sketchy for me on these usually.
7) I would love to be able to limit my search to people shown at their place of business, if possible.  If the loan officer can't even go to the business itself to take a picture, I feel far less secure that they're paying enough attention to the borrower that they can know whether the loan is being used for the stated purpose, and if the business really exists, etc. 

So those are my sort wishes.

My main wish otherwise is that kiva communicate with lenders about 5 times more than they're doing right now.  Like every single change to the website should be preceded by a notification to the lenders of what's changing.  Every change to a star rating of an MFI should be communicated directly along with the reason for the change, not just left for us to possibly happen upon if we decide out of the blue to check the MFI's page.  Ongoing pursuit of lender money fraudulently taken should be given weekly updates.  When's the last time we heard about Mifex and our efforts to get that half-million dollars back?  We need weekly updates on these things.  Another thing is that the liaison phone calls have lists of questions emailed in advance.  Yet despite that, many of the answers seem to be "I'll look into that and get back to you."  The purpose of having the list given in advance is to allow time for research on the questions listed.  There should never be an answer given of "I'll look into that".  It's an expectation that the research began when the advance list was given.  There are many, many ways that kiva effectively says to their lenders, "You don't matter.  You're just cash cows.  We know that if you leave someone else will take your place. You're the one commodity we have in unlimited supply."  That's what we hear and understand.  So what I'm asking is not just a surface change, but a basic fundamental change of heart at kiva at the highest levels.  (These things always come from the highest levels.)  Respect, inform, and engage with your lenders  far more than you're currently doing.

Oh, and fix the cockfighting thing.  It's like a spear in the side of many of your lenders.  Please fix it.  Really.  It's important.  Thanks.  =)

[JoanW]

Addition to the list -
Accurate or at least non-conflicting loan descriptions. I saw a loan that says it is to buy a new vehicle, but the loan write up talking about buying parts for the current vehicle. Those are two very different things, and imply two very different business situations.

If you are trying to add a second vehicle - then you have a successful business you are trying to expand and grow. That you are buying parts for a current vehicle says nothing about expansion & growth. It may not be important to others, but I specifically look for businesses that are expanding.

Edit to add: Another is says the business activity is an electrician...yet everything else says he is a car mechanic. Nothing wrong, just another confusion.