Author Archive
Culture, cock fighting and something of value.
From Casey Unrein
CERISE: A Model for Maintaining Trajectory
from Casey Unrein, KF12, Chiclayo, Peru
My main assignment at EDPYME Alternativa has been to complete a social performance audit using the model provided by the organization CERISE. The description “social performance audit” is a bit misleading, The work does not consist of checking in with individual borrowers to see if their lifestyle has improved. I am not compiling data about the number of borrowers who have improved their homes, sent their children to school, received medical attention, been able to raise more chickens, or any number of other improvements that a borrower may realize in their or their family’s lives.
Instead, the social performance audit is a review of the organization’s controls, policies and practices that provide for the protection of stakeholders and for the development of local communities.
A loan you missed: Broom-maker Rosa Margarita (with video of production)
From Casey Unrein, KF12
One of the major issues that is holding Edpyme Alternativa back in providing their Capital Semilla product to a larger number of clients and making the interest rate even more affordable*, is the work involved in meeting Kiva’s requirements. Like it or not, posting profiles, repayments and journals is a time consuming and expensive activity. This is especially true when you are an institution like Edpyme Alternativa which has thirteen agencies spread across a broad section of northern Peru and over sixty different credit officers disbursing loans.
Recently, I visited one of EA’s agencies which has struggled to provide borrower profile data and journal data within the period allowed by Kiva. I spent the day visiting six borrowers that had received the Capital Semilla product. Of the six, only two were funded on Kiva. Here are is an update on one of those that didn’t make it onto the website. It is a story of a borrower that is bettering her life with the help of microfinance, and indirectly with the help of Kiva.
Maintaining flexible foundations: A few simple data organizational tips
from Casey Unrein
Data provides the basis for measuring financial status, making estimates, keeping track of progress on projects and maintaining relationships with clients. As a business grows the need to formalize data and organize it into a system that is accessible to others becomes imperative. Unfortunately, the process of recording data in an accessible format can be terribly expensive. In my short career in the finance and client services world I have seen first hand a large number of limitations faced by employees & owners due to weak systems. Interestingly a number of these limitations could have been easily avoided and/or can be overcome with by a few small fixes and at limited expense. I would like to share a few tips that I have picked up in my career that have served me well in my current work as a Kiva Fellow.
Working to Closer Tolerances, Observation #3
from Casey Unrein, KF12
“They don’t often hit anyone, but they work to closer tolerances than taxi drivers in the USA do.”
The phrase “working to closer tolerances” struck me as lens for analysis of the developing world. The phrase invokes ideas of efficiency and perfection, but also risk and cost. In the developing world a large portion of the population works to closer tolerances than those in the developed world are accustomed. Residents of the developing world often make incredibly efficient use of limited resources and face a high level of risk on a daily basis. Here are some of my observations of closer tolerances in Peru.
Working to Closer Tolerances, Observation #2
from Casey Unrein, KF12
“They don’t often hit anyone, but they work to closer tolerances than taxi drivers in the USA do.”
The phrase “working to closer tolerances” struck me as lens for analysis of the developing world. The phrase invokes ideas of efficiency and perfection, but also risk and cost. In the developing world a large portion of the population works to closer tolerances than those in the developed world are accustomed. Residents of the developing world often make incredibly efficient use of limited resources and face a high level of risk on a daily basis. Here are some of my observations of closer tolerances in Peru.
Working to Closer Tolerances, Observation #1
from Casey Unrein, KF12
“They don’t often hit anyone, but they work to closer tolerances than taxi drivers in the USA do.”
The phrase “working to closer tolerances” struck me as lens for analysis of the developing world. The phrase invokes ideas of efficiency and perfection, but also risk and cost. In the developing world a large portion of the population works to closer tolerances than those in the developed world are accustomed. Residents of the developing world often make incredibly efficient use of limited resources and face a high level of risk on a daily basis. Here are some of my observations of closer tolerances in Peru.
