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Website promotes female-owned businesses

New alliance allows Internet users anywhere to make small loans to Bedouin women of Negev, Arab Israelis in north, other low-income populations throughout Israel

Ynetnews |Published: 04.24.11 , 10:21

Kiva, the world’s first personal micro-lending website, has teamed with KIEDF (Koret Israel Economic Development Funds) to launch its first and only partnership with an Israeli microfinance institution.

This alliance will allow individuals anywhere to make small loans through the Kiva website to Bedouin women of the Negev, Arab Israelis in northern Israel, and other low-income populations throughout Israel.

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Through Kiva.org's partnership with KIEDF, individuals will be able to browse and lend to predominantly female-owned small businesses throughout Israel.

Kiva's website enables a lender to make loans of at least $25 to support an entrepreneur, and the specific progress of the loan can be tracked, from initial funding to repayment. Upon receiving repayment, lenders can withdraw their funds or relend to another entrepreneur, thereby continuing the lending cycle.

“We are tremendously excited by our partnership with KIEDF,” said Premal Shah, president of Kiva.org. “Bringing self-sufficiency and dignity to thousands of entrepreneurs is an important part of providing economic stability to the region. Kiva is excited to allow its lending community the option to invest in Israel through KIEDF entrepreneurs.”

“As a Kiva field partner, we’ll be able to tap a significant new source of funds for job creation at very minimal cost,” KIEDF Managing Director Carl Kaplan explained. “But more than that, the Kiva platform connects us to a whole new pool of lenders eager to discover how the power of a micro-loan can actually change life trajectories.”

Direct loans

For low-income women with limited employment opportunities, small, family-owned micro-businesses are critical to the economic viability of the family. Microfinance is known as a tool for fighting poverty and increasing women's empowerment worldwide.

KIEDF has developed a powerful model with SAWA direct non-bank lending to assist low-income populations throughout the country on the path to economic independence. As a Kiva field partner, KIEDF will share information about its borrowers so that Kiva lenders can finance their loans enabling these women to develop their micro-businesses.

Kiva promotes dignity, accountability and transparency – values shared by KIEDF. “With Kiva’s support, KIEDF will be able to provide direct loans to low-income populations throughout Israel," said Chagit Rubinstein, KIEDF Microfinance Services Director.

KIEDF's borrower profiles can be viewed on the Kiva website, www.kiva.org. Lenders can support low-income populations in Israel, helping them with a hand up, not just a handout.