Author Archive
Surviving Gaza: Tunnels, a Fiat and 375,000 Sheets of Paper
I had heard that more than half of Gaza’s population lived under the poverty line (http://bit.ly/4mI5EU). I knew that since Hamas’ rise to power in Gaza–and its expulsion of its secular rival and the presiding party in the West Bank, Fatah–Israel had enacted a military blockade, allowing only “basic humanitarian supplies”(http://bit.ly/4lihuc) into the 25 mile coastal strip. I had even read a few articles about underground tunnels dug between Gaza and its Egyptian border which are being used to transport all “non-emergency” goods—from TVs to live sheep—into Gaza for a steep price (http://bit.ly/6rV8cx).
Women, Microfinance and the Middle East
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton states that “microenterpise is uniquely designed to empower women…” The New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof calls the oppression of women worldwide the “human rights cause of our time” and encourages people who want to get involved to (among other things) lend to a woman entrepreneur on Kiva.
These are weighty observations from important people. But how do these bold statements translate in a region of the world historically disparaged for the role of women in its society?
A Pragmatist’s Guide to Microfinance
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
Kiva Client Hasan in front of his cab and only source of family's income. Still, other priorities have surpassed it.
Lately, I’ve been trying to rationalize the fact that of the ten borrowers I’ve visited in cities and villages throughout the West Bank, I haven’t met anyone who’s “lifted themselves out of poverty,” the most common social motive for microfinance organizations and practitioners and one that first drew me to the field.
Trading Turkey for Lamb (Eid Mubarak)
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- Ramallah’s bustling city center known as the “Manara”
On the day before the third Thursday in November, I attempted to reach my family while avoiding the heavy traffic of cars fleeing home and hurried, last-minute shoppers darting in and out of now-bustling stores.
Sound familiar?
I Work In Microfinance Because…
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
Recently, Kiva’s been engulfed in controversy over how it presents its Person-to-Person lending platform–a convenient shorthand for the reality on the ground or a more draconian attempt to mislead the casual lender? I will not weigh in on this specific debate because there is already a rich dialogue that has taken place. However, I have noticed that a theme in some of the posts and responses has been to lament the limitations of P2P lending today.
In this equation, the microfinance institutions (MFIs) servicing the loans have been regarded as indispensable, but still undesirable middlemen between Kiva lenders and borrowers. I can’t fault that view. On the Kiva website, MFIs have partner pages that explain their missions. But Kiva, above all, is a place that connects people and only in borrower and lender profiles can you learn what motivates individuals to engage in microfinance.
With that in mind, I asked employees at Ryada, the MFI I’m working with in Palestine, to finish the following prompt: I work in microfinance because…
Contingency Planning for Crises Unimagined (Part 1)
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
Before proceeding, let me first state that this is not a political blog. I neither have the expertise nor desire to engage in the complex web of conflict–latent or otherwise–that surrounds the major events of the last decade in Palestine. I will attempt to reference and explain only the events that help me tell the story of the resiliency of the Palestinian microfinance sector and in particular, of Ryada. I implore those interested in learning more to do just that. Although it requires a bit of fiddling around, the Google News Timeline is a fine tool that allows you to view major news headlines filtered by keywords and timeframes.
When I was 3, Hurricane Hugo wreaked havoc throughout the Southeast region, enveloping my hometown of Charlotte, NC in its wake. I can even recall a picture of myself standing next to the shriveled stump of what was once a broad, formidable tree that overlooked my grandma’s house.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about contingency planning. I can’t remember what my family did in anticipation of that storm, but I’m sure it was something. For homes chronically threatened by hurricane season, preparatory measures are often taken: supply kits are filled, windows are reinforced and sandbags are at the ready. But what would happen if these homes were just as likely to succumb to blazing fires as they were to hurricane flooding? What if it instead of a natural disaster, a plague swept through the region? What about a war?
Welcome to Palestinian microfinance where contingency plans are made for crises unimagined.
On the Road from Bethlehem, Danger is in the Eye of the Beholder
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
I’ve been in Palestine for one week and have feared for my life. Have I reinforced the stereotype yet? It might be surprising to learn that the only times I have actually felt scared here have been dodging reckless drivers, not bullets.
But that’s me. On my first day in the field I learned an important lesson: risks are calculated and danger is in the eye of the beholder. (more…)
Crossing Borders
By Mohammed Al-Shawaf, KF9 Palestine
Veer Right to Cross Into Israel/Palestine
I’ve discovered the best time to reflect: It’s in between the second and third rounds of interrogation at the Israeli side of the King Hussein Bridge border after fielding the same question over and over–”So…why are you here?”
I first recalled how eerily similar these questions were to the first time I told my father that I wanted to be a Kiva Fellow in Palestine:
“You want to go to Palestine?”
“What’s Kiva?”
“All out of your own pocket?”
“Can I see your bank card?
To my father’s credit, he was a bit less incredulous and did refrain from asking that last question, but you get the idea. (more…)
