Author Archive
Micro-football Fever
Football fever is spreading fast in Lebanon as the World Cup approaches. The excitement and impact can be found among the country’s microenterprises. Two of Lebanon’s leading microfinance institutions and Kiva partners, Al Majmoua and Ameen s.a.l., caught a bit of football fever by playing a friendly match against one another.
A Youth Perspective on Poverty
Strong ties to local communities not only allow microfinance institutions to build enduring relationships with borrowers, but also to invest in socially-driven community projects. In many cases, the non-financial services an organization provides can be as valuable as the microcredit it offers. Kiva’s Lebanon partner, Al Majmoua, is an excellent example of how the resources and commitment of a microfinance institution can positively impact and empower an extremely important segment of the population—young people or “il shabab” in Arabic.
Microfinance and Violence against Women
Around the world, women continue to suffer from domestic and partner violence. Economic empowerment through microfinance is one way to reduce violence against women.
Kiva Lebanon: War and Microfinance
In Lebanon, political uncertainty continues to impact the lives and businesses of the nation’s micro and small entrepreneurs.
Kiva Lebanon: Lebanon without the Lebanese?
The ladies (plus gent) that lunched!
As I strolled casually down this major city street I savored the sweet smells of spices as I walked by small grocery shops, admired the dangling gold earrings and embroidered “saris” of women giggling as they strutted down the sidewalk, and edged closer than I normally would to passersby hoping to catch a few phrases in my mother tongue of Bengali. This would seem like a typical day for a Kiva Fellow cruising the crowded streets of Kolkata, but strangely enough Kiva does not yet work in India, and it took me a few surreal moments to remember that I was still in Beirut. Little did I know that on this seemingly normal Sunday I would find myself in Beirut’s multi-ethnic shopping and food district of “Dora” to celebrate the Sri Lankan New Year with my cleaning lady and her friends, also service workers from South Asia living in Lebanon.
A South Asian supermarket and of course a Western Union for money transfers!
Kiva Lebanon: A New Look at Women in the Middle East
Amal runs an electrical goods shop
The portrayal of Arab women in the media often leads to the common perception of Middle Eastern women as socially and professionally restricted, and often considered to be second-class citizens. In fact my first-hand experience has proven these stereotypes to be true on several occasions. However, when discussing the elusive “Middle East” region, it is important to acknowledge the varying levels of women’s rights and engagement across and within countries. Since arriving in Lebanon almost two months ago, I have been pleasantly surprised by the active and prominent role women play throughout Lebanese society. From the leadership and staff of Kiva partner, Ameen s.a.l, and its borrowers, to my new Lebanese friends who are avid runners, there is definitely something different and encouraging about Lebanon’s women.
Kiva Lebanon:The Glamorous and FRESH Side of Auditing
Spinach and potato fields and the beautiful Lebanese mountains
Part of my work as a Kiva Fellow is to visit a random set of borrowers from my field partner, Ameen s.a.l, as part of Kiva’s Borrower Verification process. In short, I am helping Kiva to perform a mini-audit to help fulfill Kiva’s commitment to transparency and client protection. This verification process is performed at least once a year at all of Kiva’s field partners. I will complete the same process for Kiva’s other Lebanon partner, Al Majmoua, in a few weeks. Now I never envied an auditor’s work, but I have to say that I appreciate Kiva’s inclusion of this deliverable as it enables me to visit borrowers all over Lebanon, such as my last visit to a few small towns in the North, just a few kilometers from the Syrian border.
Kiva Lebanon: Ameen is in the MIX (literally)
The global economic crisis presented additional challenges to microfinance institutions around the world. Yet, Kiva partner, Ameen s.a.l. in Lebanon managed to keep its place in the MIX Global 100 Ranking * and impressively, moved up the rankings from #87 in 2008 to #17 in 2009. I was fortunate to spend a few minutes with the young and charismatic General Manager of Ameen, Mr. Ziad Halaby, to learn more about Ameen’s organizational strategy and to hear his thoughts on why Ameen has remained a top performer in Lebanon and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Unexpected Linkages: Lebanon and Africa
In my last blog entry, I commented on the international service workers in Lebanon. As these workers are often from underdeveloped countries (relative to Lebanon), this group represents a fascinating social dynamic in the country. Also interesting is that a sizeable chunk of the Lebanese population is engaged in work abroad, often in African countries. However unlike the thousands of Egyptians that work in manual labor or service jobs in countries like Jordan or the United Arab Emirates (both places I have lived and worked), many of the Lebanese that work in African countries are there as independent entrepreneurs or salaried employees in a diverse range of industries (food production, electronics, general commerce, etc.). I continue to be impressed by the high educational levels and business savvy of Lebanon’s people.
Lebanon: Multiculturalism or Artfully Masked Discrimination?
Tailored advertisements for Lebanon's service workers
Lebanon is aesthetically beautiful with its lush greenery and seemingly endless miles of coastline flirting with the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea. In a region known for its vast deserts, Lebanon is certainly a strange exception. Living in ultra modern Beirut, it is easy to forget that the country has been plagued by war for generations. With its bustling cafes, gorgeous boardwalk (the “Corniche”) filled with street vendors, young lovers holding hands, and families walking carelessly as small children ride bicycles and eat chocolate bars or freshly grilled corn, Beirut sometimes feels like an urban paradise. As a middle-income country, Lebanon does not suffer from the same degree of poverty like Egypt and Syria. It also does not have the incredible wealth of countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Yet, there is an interesting social dynamic here that I did not expect to find….. (more…)
Kiva Lebanon: Two Models for Microfinance Success
When I compare Lebanon to other countries in the region, it stands out on many levels—its religious diversity, economic resilience in the face of political conflict and war, vibrant and cosmopolitan urban life, and its varied approaches to microfinance. I have the great fortune to work with both of Kiva’s Lebanon field partners—Ameen s.a.l. and Al Majmoua—during my Kiva fellowship. Both organizations are comparable in size and in terms of share in the Lebanese market, yet each provides a unique and distinct approach to microfinance. I still have much to learn about both organizations, but it is clear that the social and political diversity of Lebanon is very much reflected in its experience with microfinance.
