Final Thoughts as a Kiva Fellow/You Know You’re in Tanzania When…

Believe it or not, today’s my last day as a Kiva Fellow! I’ve found this experience mostly rewarding, sometimes frustrating, often surprising, and generally excellent.   I think it will take me some time to process my thoughts on microfinance.  I was lucky to work with 4 very different microfinance institutions:

Urwego Opportunity Bank of Rwanda, who recently posted their first loans on Kiva! Hekima DRC, Tujijenge Tanzania Ltd, and YOSEFO (Youth Self Employment Foundation).

These 4 MFIs represent:

• 3 countries (Rwanda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo).
• 2 large institutions, 2 small institutions.
• 2  religiously motivated organizations.
• 1 for-profit social enterprise.
• 3 institutions run mainly by nationals; 1 institution run and directed almost entirely by foreigners.
• 2 new Kiva partners. 2 long-term Kiva partners.
• 4 institutions where group loans are the major product.  These loans are given to individuals with no collateral and guaranteed by the other group members.

Based on my limited sample, what do I think of Kiva and microfinance?

First Kiva – After several months, I still think Kiva is pretty cool.  It brings people together and is a great way to share stories from far-flung corners or this world.   And it benefits Kiva’s partners.  Kiva funding is provided interest free, which is a pretty unusual source of capital.  Microfinance institutions ‘pay’ Kiva in the form of stories and photos, which they need to collect and post to the website.  In my experience, it seems like a good trade.  Kiva  allows small and medium institutions to keep growing.  It also enables bigger ones to maintain their portfolios, and expand to riskier products or clients (read – poorer clients) that they otherwise might have avoided.

What do I think about microfinance?  Not sure – often the way things work seem fairly inefficient and I’d like to see macro-level studies on impact.   That said, of about 100 client interviews I have completed, all the recipients (even those whose businesses are in trouble and who are doing poorly on repayments) are grateful for the loans they receive and the opportunity to try to improve their economic condition, and the living conditions of their families.  Is microfinance the best way to do that?  I don’t know.  I think most of the 100 clients I visited would be thrilled to have a safe and stable job to earn income reliably.  But, in the absence of such positions, microfinance allows them another alternative.

Is it sustainable? Maybe.  I don’t know how many peanut sellers, small shop owners, second hand clothing shops or market stalls can exist and allow their owners to move out of poverty.  But at least they have a chance to try, and their kids can attend school with some of the income they generate.

Many things to ponder… perhaps in a few weeks or months I will have some more coherent thoughts on these topics.  Until then, I am looking forward to a couple of months of travel and relaxation before heading home.

This blog has helped me frame some of my ideas and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading.  I may or may not continue it in the coming weeks, but either way, thanks for all those readers and supporters these past months!

For now, I’ll leave you with my final blog, posted this afternoon to the Kiva Fellows Blog:

You know you are in Tanzania when…(Volume V)

Five months after boarding a plane to San Francisco, it’s time to wrap up my Kiva Fellowship.  For my last post, I’d like to honour a tradition set by past Tanzanian Kiva Fellows (see  posts by Alec Lovett KF4; Jara Small, KF5; and Jennifer Gong, KF9) and share a few of my observations from this crazy and charming country.  Hope you enjoy!

You know you are in Tanzania when…

1. Handshakes can last several minutes –as long as it takes to get through daily greetings.
2. If it takes under an hour to get a few kilometres by dallah-dallah (bus), you start to wonder why the traffic is so light.

   

   Dallah-dallahs.

3. You hum along to the rhythm of clanging coins, the refrain of the bus conductor soliciting fares.
4. You ask yourself: ‘Why did the chicken cross the road?’ because you see that daily, along with processions of goats and cows.

   

   Cow crossing, as seen from a bajaj (motorized rickshaw)

5. Hair salons feature cartoons of Obama, Eminem, Che Gueverra, and Julius Nyerere (Tanzania’s first and  most beloved President) for stylish inspirations.

   

   Jay-Z and the President have style!

6. You know all the best spots for chapatti (flatbread) and maandazi (donuts).
7. Your colleagues are wearing sweaters and complain that it is freezing outside. As usual, you are still sweating.
8. Many toddlers look at you and then run towards you at full speed to give your knees a hug.  A few toddlers look at you and burst into tears.
9. You try to work in Swahili time, which refers to hours since sunrise. Hour 0 is 6am, but you often forget, and this has caused you to miss events and reschedule meetings that should take place at 3:30 (9:30AM) because you think it will be too late to get started.

   

   A view from Msasani (Dar Es Salaam) at around 10 o’clock (4 pm).

10. You are invited and encouraged to attend celebrations (weddings etc) of people you just recently met, and they genuinely hope you can take part.

And finally, Karibu (welcome) is the word you hear most often, which is fitting because since you first arrived, you’ve felt nothing but warmth and caring from all the wonderful people you’ve met!

Want to add to the list for Tanzania or start a new one from a different country?  Consider becoming a Kiva Fellow and check out program details here.

Sara Strawczynski is finishing up her time as a Kiva Fellow where she served with four different Field Partners in Rwanda and Tanzania.

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