Introducing the 2021 Field Officer Awards for Eastern and Southern Africa

Zoe SoField Officer Awards, Field Team Blogs

Every year, Whole Planet Foundation honors our partners’ front line field staff who are working directly with microentrepreneurs. In 2021, our partners have continued to navigate the challenges and unpredictability of the COVID pandemic. Their field officers offer services which extend far beyond credit and business capital support. These dedicated …

two people in a cornfield wearing masks

Returning to Travel and The Questions That Come First

Stephanie ManciagliCOVID-19, Field Team Blogs, Travel

While borders have mostly reopened around the world, albeit with travel restrictions and potential quarantines, Whole Planet Foundation has continued to work with our partners virtually while monitoring the global situation, as WPF’s Global Program’s Director outlines in this blog. After 18 months of working virtually, in stark contrast to …

“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, …

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 …

Navigating COVID-19 in Bhutan: Providing Additional Capital to RENEW Microfinance Private Limited

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

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of WPF’s microfinance partners have faced increasing demands from clients for both loans and savings withdrawals.  At the same time, many clients have faced difficulties in making repayments on their existing loans due to slowed business activity and/or travel restrictions and lockdowns.  In response to …

Nine Outstanding Field Officers Recognized in 2020 Latin American Field Officer Awards

Stephanie ManciagliCOVID-19, Field Officer Awards, Field Team Blogs, Latin America and the Caribbean, Microfinance Partners

Whole Planet Foundation’s annual Field Officer Awards for the Latin American region were distributed in August 2020. This special honor is designed to go to a Field Officer who has gone above and beyond his/her role to provide financial services to low income entrepreneurs . Often, award nominations are submitted …

woman in sierra leone selling soap

Microfinance Partner BRAC Responds to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Zoe SoCOVID-19, Field Team Blogs, Microfinance Partners

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every one of our microfinance partners in different ways. The experience of this twin economic and health crisis differs from person to person, family to family, community to community, country to country. The Whole Planet Foundation team has been checking in with microfinance partners throughout …

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 …

Last-Mile Investment in Malawi: An Interview with GGEM Farming’s Ko Chijota

Zoe SoField Team Blogs, Foundation News, Microfinance Partners, Sub-Saharan Africa

The Whole Planet Foundation team is excited to introduce our new partnership with GGEM Farming, a young social enterprise operating out of Nkhotakota, on the shores of Lake Malawi. GGEM Farming is the first partner we are engaging under a new initiative to make our funding more accessible to early …

Entrepreneurship in Nepal through the Microfranchise Approach

Claire KellyAsia and the Pacific, Field Team Blogs, Foundation News, Microcredit, Microfinance Partners

Kalpavriksha is one of the newest social enterprise partners in our Asia/Pacific portfolio.  Kalpavriksha belongs to Pollinate Group and its sister organization, Asha Kiran, operates in India.  Whole Planet Foundation (WPF) typically supports organizations who use financing as a means of supporting entrepreneurship for low income communities.  Kalpavriksha’s program adds …