Kiva as a platform to feature innovations in microfinance

[Guest]

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[stokemeister]

I would like to see Kiva promote new innovations in microfinance/microlending to educate and spread great ideas.  While the loans financed through Kiva are impactful on their own the financial component of Kiva will never be as impactful as commerical banks entering the space and microcredit becoming integrated into the formal economy.  I think the real power of Kiva has been its ability to introduce the idea of microcredit to everyday people around the world and then provide them a platform and message to spread and champion the cause.  So my question is what other ideas can and/or should Kiva spread?  Some suggestions:

a. Mobile-banking- featuring clients who use M-Pesa or other services

b. Microsavings - could the Kiva community raise a fund so microcredit clients could earn 1-2% on their savings as opposed to paying for savings services such as Susu collectors?

c. Technology designed for the poor - could Kiva feature individuals seeking loans to purchase Hippo Rollers or Kickstart pumps or D-Lights or Visionspring eyeglasses, or Livinggoods health services?  I think by featuring and spreading such innovations Kiva could be a maven to spread good ideas both to borrowers and lenders.  It would take Kiva's impact to a new level.

d. Different kinds of loans - Agriculture, Housing, Education.  Microcredit is only one financial service that the poor need, can Kiva be the platform and community that helps financial products designed for the poor take off?