Santa Isabel from Ecuador, a Kiva borrower, is a mother of two and a hardworking corn, rice, and pea farmer.

While she has long understood the mechanics of farming, Santa Isabel learned how to run her business with the help of Kiva’s Field Partner and the additional enterprise services they provided her.

A microloan is an essential first step in making a difference in the life of a microentrepreneur. Building good businesses often requires loan products that are well-adapted to borrower needs, alternative forms of collateral that make it easier for excluded people to qualify for loans, and business training or development services.

Kiva aims to partner with organizations that offer entrepreneurial support to the people they serve. This support can come directly from the organization or in partnership with a separate, qualified agency. Borrowers, like Santa Isabel, are able to participate in classes to learn basic business skills like budgeting, allocation of profits and market analysis. In some cases, Field Partners are even able to adapt their products their client’s needs. One example is the ability for borrowers to provide alternative collateral, which enables a wider range of people to secure a loan.

Field Partners that offer a comprehensive suite of services to people building a business are awarded the Entrepreneurial Support badge by Kiva.