“Faftai!” Covid Revival Loans Finance Kava Micro-Entrepreneurs in Vanuatu

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, COVID-19, Field Team Blogs, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

Since 2012, Lorina had worked at her own tourism business, selling souvenirs to tourists, particularly those who would arrive on cruise ships to Port Vila.  Lorina joined Whole Planet Foundation’s microfinance partner South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) Vanuatu in 2017.  She had previously been involved with a different microfinance program, …

Digging Deep: A Celebration of Asia-Pacific Field Officers in WPF’s Portfolio

Stephanie ManciagliAsia and the Pacific, Field Officer Awards, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

Photo above pictures a field officer from NWTF, a Whole Planet Foundation microfinance partner, consulting with a NWTF member following Typhoon Yolanda, in Tacloban, Philippines. Repeating daily affirmations, aloud and silently, has been an important practice for me since I was young, when I began to learn how to not …

It’s Not All Fun and Games… But Sometimes it is: Gamification and Game Theory in Microfinance

JP KloningerField Team Blogs, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

To alleviate poverty on a large scale is serious business. There is nothing funny about the living conditions of too many people around the world who struggle to make ends meet for themselves and their families. However, despite its popular connotation implying having fun, the word ‘game’ has at least …

two women farmers in their field

An Examination of Philanthropy, Bias, and Local-Led Initiatives for Development

Zoe SoMicrocredit, Microfinance Partners, Sub-Saharan Africa

There are some deep biases embedded in philanthropy and aid. These biases favor channeling resources to international and expat-led companies over local organizations. Some startling numbers which illustrate this trend include: “Less than 2% of all humanitarian funding goes directly to local NGOs, despite them taking the lion’s share of …

Mobile Money Ensures Continued Success Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis in Uganda

Whole Planet FoundationCOVID-19, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

For three entrepreneurial women business partners in Uganda, the emerging COVID-19 crisis posed an immediate threat to their newly started business. Pictured above, the three entrepreneurs, Nancy, Lilly, and Irene stand on their business premises in Patira East Village. After successfully completing a training program in December 2019 with Whole …

WPF and Microfinance Partners Respond to the COVID-19 Crisis: Update

Daniel ZoltaniCOVID-19, Field Team Blogs, Foundation News, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

In March, I wrote the blog Whole Planet Foundation and Microfinance Partners Respond to the COVID-19 Crisis around how those living in poverty are already in a more vulnerable position, which can be further exacerbated during any external shock such as war, earthquakes, droughts or health crises. Seven months into …

Why Does Such A Thing Exist? Solidarity Microfinance for Women in the United States

JP KloningerMicrocredit, Microfinance Partners, The United States

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines poverty as “the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.”  However, what is “usual” or “socially acceptable” can vary quite a bit from one person, family, or community to the next, and certainly from one country to …

Community Health Facilitators Support CASHPOR’s COVID Response

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

One of India’s first responses to the COVID crisis was a strict lockdown from late March through May.  During this period, government guidelines restricted movements, especially across jurisdictions.  This in turn directly limited the ability of the staff of WPF’s partner, CASHPOR, to move across their operational area (rural areas …

The Pledge to Protect Microfinance Institutions and Their Clients From the Economic Effects of COVID-19

Brian DoeFoundation News, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

Whole Planet Foundation has recently signed onto the Key Principles to Protect Microfinance Institutions and their Clients in the COVID-19 Crisis, supporting dialogue and collective action to help microfinance institutions support their clients in this difficult period. Similarly WPF has been following and is supportive of other similar efforts including …