Kiva Makes it Possible to Loan Money Directly to ACDI/VOCA Clients

Kiva (www.kiva.org) has harnessed the power of the internet in order to connect individuals worldwide with entrepreneurs from developing and transitional countries in need of capital to grow their businesses. MicroInvest, a microfinance institution established by ACDI/VOCA in Tajikistan, has teamed up with Kiva to provide its clients with the opportunity to receive person-to-person loans.

Kiva has partners like MicroInvest from all over the world, enabling lenders to browse and select from thousands of businesses based on region, gender, sector and more. After a business is selected, the lender may contribute as little as $25 or the full loan amount. Lenders receive e-mail journal updates about their businesses and after the loan is repaid, typically within 6-12 months, the money can be loaned to the same business again, loaned to another business or withdrawn.

MicroInvest was established by ACDI/VOCA through the Ferghana Valley Regional Microfinance Program with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). By the program’s end in 2006, MicroInvest had become financially sustainable and operationally self-sufficient thus promoting the program goals of increasing small business access to capital, and, more broadly, generating income and employment opportunities.

For a full listing of MicroInvest clients on the Kiva website, click here.