a case study of kiva.org the world’s first p2p microfinance website

A Case Study of Kiva.orgA Case Study of Kiva.orgThe world’s first p2pThe world’s first p2pmicrofinance websitemicrofinance website

OUR RESEARCH PROBLEMOUR RESEARCH PROBLEM

Web 2.0 and social Web 2.0 and social networking practices are networking practices are affecting the way people affecting the way people

and institutions lend, and institutions lend, borrow and manage money.borrow and manage money.

OUR RESEARCH PROBLEMOUR RESEARCH PROBLEM

How do people judge How do people judge microfinance lenders and microfinance lenders and applicants to determine who they applicants to determine who they support and to what degree?support and to what degree?

What implications does Web 2.0 What implications does Web 2.0 have for philanthropic ventures?have for philanthropic ventures?

From aFrom a

sociopsychological sociopsychological perspectiveperspective

From aFrom a

cyberneticcyberneticperspectiveperspective

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS What is happening on the What is happening on the

borrower’s side?borrower’s side?• How do borrowers hear about Kiva?How do borrowers hear about Kiva?• What do they actually see when they access the What do they actually see when they access the

website?website?• Do they have internet access and what do they Do they have internet access and what do they

know about the Kiva platform?know about the Kiva platform? What is the relationship between MFIs and What is the relationship between MFIs and

borrowers? borrowers?

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Is Kiva more successful than Is Kiva more successful than traditional microfinance traditional microfinance organizations?organizations?

How is success measured?How is success measured?

AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDYAN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY

Kiva FellowsKiva Fellows How do they determine How do they determine

the credit worthiness of the credit worthiness of small MFIs and provide small MFIs and provide due-diligence to lenders due-diligence to lenders using the Kiva platform?using the Kiva platform?

BorrowersBorrowers Ascertain their Ascertain their

experience of the experience of the Kiva platformKiva platform

How do they come to How do they come to associate themselves associate themselves with a given MFI?with a given MFI?

DATA COMPARISONDATA COMPARISON

Kiva

98%repayment rate

Traditional

MFIs?Broader credit

market?

DATA COMPARISONDATA COMPARISON

What are Kiva’s measures What are Kiva’s measures for success?for success?

Loan repayment vs. sustained business Loan repayment vs. sustained business venturesventures

MFI’s reports of borrower behaviorMFI’s reports of borrower behavior How do different MFIs intermediate between the How do different MFIs intermediate between the

Kiva platform and borrowers?Kiva platform and borrowers?

TEXTUAL ANALYSISTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

KivaKiva MySpaceMySpace

How are conventions employed in How are conventions employed in Kiva’s design?Kiva’s design?

TEXTUAL ANALYSISTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

KivaKiva

FacebookFacebook

How are conventions employed in How are conventions employed in Kiva’s design?Kiva’s design?

eBayeBay

TEXTUAL ANALYSISTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

KivaKiva FacebookFacebook

How are conventions employed in How are conventions employed in Kiva’s design?Kiva’s design?

Through the Through the CCTCCT lenslens

INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACHINTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Communication

Platform and MFIs Lenders and borrowers

Culture

First and third world Credit worthiness

Technology

Web 2.0 Philanthropy

We welcome your We welcome your questionsquestions

Join the CCT 505 lending groupJoin the CCT 505 lending group

http://www.kiva.org/community/viewteam?team_id=1711