Community Development Platform - KENYA

Posted by Colletta Akinyi,

I found this article interesting and thought to share it.. please read on..

Jeff Raderstrong, founder of Social Entrepreneurs of Grinnell, which raises money for international microlending from the US state of Iowa, recently published an article titled “2009: The Year Microfinance Died.”

Mr Raderstrong argues that, “Once heralded by some as a ’silver bullet’ to end poverty, this year people got real about what microfinance is and isn’t….” He cites studies on microfinance whose results “were not so hot” in terms of “the transformative change people expected.” He continues to say that Kiva “took a fall from grace (at least in the blogosphere), admitting that its microfinance loans did not actually create a ‘person to person’ connection.” Finally he reports that charity rater GiveWell, “recently discouraged people from donating to Kiva and other US microfinance charities, including the Noble-Peace-Prize affiliated Grameen Foundation.”

Sources and Resources: MicroCapital Team | Trends/Challenges at 3:42 pm

I received this mailing from SynergyManagement Limited and thought its worth sharing. Do our woman have what it takes to rise to the challenge.

This challenge is aimed at women looking for financing of between US$ 100,000  to US$ 1 million. Please pass this information on to anyone who may be interested or you think it could benefit. For mor information visit www.bidnetwork.org/women or click here to go to the SML site to find out more about the Synergy and BiD Network partnership since 2006.BiD Network challenges are targeted to all entrepreneurs with established or startup businesses looking for

financing between US$ 10,000 and US$ 1million per phase of financing.  You are welcome to submit your plan

whether or not there is a sector challenge.  For business plan writing support contact Synergy Management Ltd.

Below is the excerpt from Bid Network:

• * Receive free coaching, feedback and support in writing your business plan
• * Win a business trip to meet investors and business partners in The Netherlands
• * Compete for a prize of €15.000
• * Win €10.000 for best retail business plan sponsored by ‘Annual ING Retail Awards’
• * Get expert advice to start and promote your business
• * Access over 100 investors interested in financing businesses in developing countries

Submit your complete business plan before January 15th, 2010

Participation Criteria for this competition

1. You must be a woman and your country of business must be a developing country.
2. Check the general participation criteria here

How to Submit your Business Plan?

1. Check if you are eligible to participate by reading the participation criteria here.
2. Become a member of the BiD Network. Register here Make sure to click the corresponding gender field.
3. Create a profile in the BiD Network. Log in
4. Fill in and submit an online application form. Make sure to click the box Women in Business at the bottom of the application.
5. Submit a complete business plan. We offer business plan templates

If you already have a complete business plan you can attach it to your application directly. For a more detailed instruction click on the grey box ‘How to present your plan’ on the right.

Make sure to submit your complete business plan before the competition deadline on the 15th of January 2010.

After you submit your plan:

1. Your plan will enter the assessment process. You will receive extensive feedback in each stage.
2. In February 2010, the finalists will be selected. 5 women entrepreneurs will be invited for a business trip to the Netherlands.
3. Whether or not you become a finalist, all high quality business plans are eligible for the BiD Network Investor Matchmaking Services.