Any particular MFIs you'd like me to look into?

[Guest]

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[JohnAtKiva]

Just a note that I'm happy to look into specific MFIs, and get partner pages updated to reflect any questions you may have.

• bikeme requested an update to SAT, which Ben was kind enough to provide http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,5307.msg78111.html#msg78111
• bikeme also requested an update on SELFINA, which I'm looking into now.
• Patricia and Judy just posted some questions about TYM, which I will look into right away. :-) http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,321.msg78234.html#msg78234
• I think I also saw some questions about FAPE?  I'll dig into that.

Do you guys have any other MFIs you'd like me to look into?  Just comment here and I'll get in touch with the right person and work to get that partner page updated - then will followup here with a heads up.

Thanks!
John

[Kestrel]

Hi John,

I'll join the rest in welcoming you aboard and thanking you for your efforts.

I would appreciate an update on Admic Nacional, if possible.

Best,
Laurie

[JohnAtKiva]

Thanks Laurie!  Glad to look into Admic Nacional...

[RichardF]

Just a note that I'm happy to look into specific MFIs...

Well, I've always wanted to see more about the partnership between Kiva and Grameen America!   

[wannado]

Maybe someone already knows that answer to this, but I've been wondering whether Asasah has been able to make any payments to Kiva since the one noted in the March 11 update to their partner page.  --  Marsha

[JohnAtKiva]

RichardF - I can dig into Grameen America... but can you be a bit more specific on what you'd like me to ask about?  Thanks!!

Marsha - I will ask about Asasah as well...

[RichardF]

More specifically, what are the odds of Kiva hooking up with Grameen anywhere?

More generally, what does Kiva have in the works for hooking up with MFIs in any "first world" country?

[JohnAtKiva]

Richard - sure I can ask about Grameen.  I dunno if they need capital, but I'll try and get an update!

Regarding first world countries: I thought Kiva had had least two MFIs in the US?
ACCION USA - http://www.kiva.org/partners/131
Opportunity Fund - http://www.kiva.org/partners/132

Or do you mean more broadly, what are Kiva's plan for partnering in the developed/first world?

Thanks!
John

[RichardF]

Yes, As long as it's a new day in Kiva - Kiva Friends conversations, I'm just pushing the conventional Kivatalk a bit.

I recognize that Grameen doesn't "need" Kiva, but so what?  Grameen has a long history of creating innovative partnerships that expand the reach of microfinance to new participants.

Also, KFs have been talking about Microlenders in the developed world for quite some time, particularly since the USA loans became available on Kiva.

Obviously, Kiva's expansion into an industrialized country has been controversial, but poverty does not stop at any border.  And a growing, more diversified portfolio will continue bring in a growing, more diversified lender base to support it.

[JohnAtKiva]

Ok, I'll try and get a sense for what the plans are for new field partners in the USA - including Grameen America.  That may take a bit longer than getting updates on our existing partners though, since I want to make sure and get those updates to the KF community asap! 

Hope that's ok... and I appreciate the suggestion.  Alex Counts (head of the Grameen Foundation, which is separate from Grameen America) wrote the book that first drew me into microfinance... the 1996 book about Grameen "Give Us Credit":
http://www.amazon.com/Give-Us-Credit-Alex-Counts/dp/0812924649

John