Microfinance

A few weeks ago we reported on the release of the Kiva API , which provides access to the Kiva.org global microlending database. Not long after the API’s release, blog posts from Bill Zimmerman and the Kiva team report that several developers are already working on Kiva mashups: Connor Boyack and David Miller have created a Kiva WordPress plugin , which enables WordPress users to display badges for Kiva loans using search criteria including gender, geographic region, and economic sector Kiva World Map : This mashup plots the microfinance loans from Kiva lenders using the Google Maps API . Popups show details on the ... Read Full Story

We found this mention of a donation to ACCION USA interesting. Craigslist founder Craig Newmark is a supporter of microcredit here in the states and worldwide. From Microfinance Focus, we read more on the donation. ACCION USA, a pioneer and leader in U.S. microfinance that provides critical capital and financial education to small businesses, has been awarded a gift by Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, to support its person-to-person microlending activities on the Website Kiva.org. Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements. Mr. Newmark is a strong supporter of microfinance internationally. “ACCION USA’s work in providing microfinance to small ... Read Full Story

Today's highlight is on a innovative firm called Kiva . Kiva is known as the world's first person to person microfinance firm. It hopes to connect people through their website. It is an easy and convenient way for people to get personally involved in helping a struggling individual through microfinance. Lenders can go online on the site and browse through various entrepeneurs' profiles that are provided by microfinance institutional partners. They choose the entrepeneurs that seem the most promising and use PayPal to send the funds to the institution that will provide the entrepenuer with the money. Over time the entrepenuer will pay back ... Read Full Story

It's too bad Dambisa Moyo didn't burst upon the scene a few years ago, before the “capitalism is dead” crowd took center stage—someone who matters might have paid attention. Ms. Moyo is a beautiful, Zambian-born , Harvard educated economist who is also known as the Anti-Bono . She is sick of the condescending way Bono , Angelina Jolie , and all the rest of the celebrities drag their guilty white asses off to Africa , in a modern version of the White Man's Burden . For her, having Bono as the Face of Africa is degrading —all he sees is poverty , war and ... Read Full Story

As of yesterday Haiti is now online with Kiva, meaning that we can now lend to aspiring entrepreneurs there. Also last night the site was overwhelmed due to the second airing of the Frontline piece on Kiva (see link at right). All of this is great news because that means that more lenders are joining with Kiva and making the world a better place. For those unfamiliar with Haiti, it remains one of the world's poorest nations. It is also the least-developed of all nations in the Western Hemisphere. The economy relies heavily on agriculture and there has been little job growth there in ... Read Full Story