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Palestine > Ryada, a partner of CHF International

Ryada (formally The Access to Credit for Palestine Program – ACP) is a microfinance program, operated by CHF International, serving homeowners, small business owners and micro-entrepreneurs in the West Bank and Gaza to realize their dreams and improve their quality of life. Since Ryada began operations in 1995 it has become an instrumental provider of needed financial services in the Palestinian Territories. Ryada means ‘pioneer’ in Arabic and embodies the vision of the institution - a leader in the provision of financial services continuously striving to improve its quality of service. Ryada’s mission is to provide demand-driven, diversified financial services in a stable, efficient and sustainable manner in order to improve the living conditions of the Palestinian people. It serves low to moderate-income Palestinians who cannot access credit from commercial banking institutions. Ryada provides needed financing for business development as well as for home improvements and new home purchases. Ryada serves the entire Palestinian Territories through its five branch offices. Ryada is a member of the CHF International Development Finance Group, the Palestinian Microfinance Network and of Sanabel. Its profile is also on the MIX Market.

Status Update, January 22, 2009

Due to the recent conflict in Gaza, Kiva’s field partner Ryada was (like many other Palestinian microfinance institutions) forced to temporarily freeze lending and cease all operations in Gaza. We hope that all of Ryada’s borrowers and their families are safe.

Lenders should be advised that the majority of borrowers currently posted to Kiva by Ryada are based in Gaza and may therefore be affected by the current situation. In the coming weeks, Kiva staff will work closely with Ryada staff to assess the lending situation.

While the extent of the damage to Ryada’s operations is currently unknown, repayment rates may drop as borrowers focus on rebuilding their homes and businesses. However, loans to Gaza only constitute approximately one-fifth of the institution’s lending activity, with the remainder based in the West Bank. We are therefore confident in Ryada’s overall financial health.