Status update on Zene za Zene from Kiva Staff on September 28, 2009

Many countries in Eastern Europe have been hit particularly hard by the global economic crisis. Kiva's Field Partners in this region have struggled with increased delinquency, diminished remittances, and currency devaluation. In particular, Zene za Zene, a partner of Women for Women International and Kiva's field partner in Bosnia-Herzegovina, has experienced a significant increase in delinquency due to the over-indebted position of many of their borrowers.

While Zene za Zene works to correct their increased delinquency, Kiva believes it is necessary to place Zene za Zene in a "Paused" status. Kiva understands that Zene za Zene is working towards stabilizing its loan portfolio and once Kiva determines the situation is resolved, Kiva will consider restoring Zene za Zene to "Active" status.

Original Partner Description

Women for Women International helps women in war-torn regions by providing:

• financial and emotional support
• job skills training
• rights awareness
• micro-credit loans & small business assistance

Founded in 1993, Women for Women International began operations in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina providing women victims of war with financial assistance and job skills training. In Bosnia and Herzegovina we are know as “Zene za zene International”.

Women for Women International’s micro-credit program was launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1997. After the adoption of the Law on Micro-credit Organizations and legal regulation of their operations, MCO Zene za zene International was registered as a local micro-credit organization, furthering the goal and mission of Women for Women International to create sustainable communities.

Mission of Women for Women International

Provide tools and resources needed for moving from crisis and poverty into civil society which promotes and protects peace, stability and sustainability to women-victims of war, violence and other conflict.

Institutional Goals of the MCO Zene za zene International, B&H

Provide financial services to low-income women clients recovering from war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, maintain a strong, sustainable microfinance institution serving the long-term needs of women in B&H and in this way contribute to realization of Women for Women International's vision for peaceful and stable societies.

Purpose of the MCO Zene za zene International, B&H

Provide financial services to low income women entrepreneurs starting small businesses thereby helping them to increase their income, improve their living conditions and by doing so reduce poverty in the community.

The MCO Zene za zene International, B&H has also started using Social Performance Management (SPM) in order to measure the social impact of micro-credit on the target clients. SPM will help us to understand the level of changes we are making to clients lives and their families. Our Organization will benefit by providing transparent information to stakeholders and to public which will increase credibility to MCO Women for Women International.

The MCO's mission is transformed into action through the SPM as following:

• To maintain its reputation of strong sustainable microfinance institution
• To serve low-income women entrepreneurial clients starting up and developing their businesses
• Provide financial services & loans for start ups businesses loans
• Reduce poverty in the community though increasing income of low-income women improving their living condition
Learn More:

• Visit our Website: http://www.womenforwomen.org/
• Join our lending team: "Friends of Women for Women, International"