David Roodman, the Next Generation

[Guest]

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[JohnR]

http://www.philanthropyaction.com/nc/even_more_questions_about_kiva/

This guy appears to have taken someone else's flawed commentary, added righteous indignation, then passed it along.  We get enough of that from AM radio.

Roodman even had to step in and correct him.  I'd like to give him a dope slap.   

John

[timothyogden]

JohnR,

while I'm not sure I'm ready for a "dope-slap" I'll happily invite you to comment on the post at Philanthropy Action and point out the flaws in the analysis, either mine or David Roodman's.

But just so you and anyone else here who doesn't click through to the article understand: I believe that the way Kiva operates behind the scenes is the way it should operate to maximize the positive impact of the dollars it is channeling. If I am righteously indignant about anything it is not Kiva's misrepresentation of how it actually works, it is about donor's who demand that organizations like Kiva provide the illusion of person-to-person connection and then get angry when they discover it is an illusion.

[Jan & John]

I just noticed Matt twittered/tweeted... whatever

Spent afternoon with Jeremy, Gerard and Premal making the site more transparent:

http://www.kiva.org/about/how

-jan-

[Sengbe Pieh]

Kiva has updated the How Kiva Works page: http://www.kiva.org/about/how

[Sengbe Pieh]

It is possible that the update to the How Kiva Works page was inspired by the following document & comment:

What I found interesting about this document is that it shows that Kiva has been capable for at least half its history of explaining how it actually works in a very clear, accessible way. That Kiva shows a different picture on its web site therefore reflects a strategic choice, not an accident caused by scrambling to keep up with its growth.

David Roodman
Oct. 12, 2009

This document, although not dated, appears to be at least a couple of years old based on the pictures & descriptions as Mr. Roodman points out. Note, this is a document marketed to the MFIs, not the lenders & supports Mr. Roodman's comment.

Document Kiva uses to explain its operations to MFIs

[David2051]

I just noticed Matt twittered/tweeted... whatever

Spent afternoon with Jeremy, Gerard and Premal making the site more transparent:

<a href="http://www.kiva.org/about/how" target="_blank">http://www.kiva.org/about/how[/url]

-jan-

Is anyone else tired of the word "transparent"?  What a trite, overused bit of jargonistic drivel...

Could Kiva just try to communicate clearly and openly?

[RichardF]

If my site is transparent on the ground, then how will I know if my head is up in the clouds?!   

[Dottie b]

-jan-


Is anyone else tired of the word "transparent"?  What a trite, overused bit of jargonistic drivel...

Could Kiva just try to communicate clearly and openly?

I think the meaning of the word "transparent" is perfectly clear. 
 
I hate jargon too, but transpartent is a commonly used term by nonprofit organizations, its meaning is clear, it's shorter than "try to communicate clearly and openly," and it's an adjective, which is often handy.

But I do appreciate any effort by Kiva to communicate clearly and openly. 

Dottie B

[AccountAbility]

Sometimes transparent becomes patently obscure when the originators tweak the wording to address what they interpret to be the recipients' mind set and interest. 

Any video is totally obscure to me by virtue of the computer hardware I normally visit the website with. 

Dan

[YowieFreak]

I'd leave a comment here, as Matt requested, but I'm probably too naive to understand what is being discussed.