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Samoa > South Pacific Business Development (SPBD)


SPBD's mission is to improve the quality of life of people living in poverty in the poor island nations of the South Pacific. Our first market is the independent island nation of Samoa, in the middle of the South Pacific. SPBD is a replication of the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh. The Grameen Bank, founded by Prof. Mohammed Yunus, is the pioneering organization in the field of micro finance.

Poor people in Samoa suffer from absolute poverty that is driven by a poverty of opportunity. This poverty of opportunity is based on the fact that there are few traditional waged employment opportunities available in Samoa. For most rural Samoans jobs just do not exist. SPBD provides small, unsecured loans to groups of rural women. Women invest their loans into businesses based on their existing livelihood skills.

SPBD's philosophy of lending is based on a respect for each individual's innate human ingenuity, drive and self esteem. It is these qualities which make people credit worthy, not the collateral which traditional banks demand. By providing access to capital, SPBD allows women and their families to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING SPBD’S SOCIAL METRICS

SPBD utilizes the following Social Metrics Survey to determine the eligibility of prospective borrowers into its lending program as well as to determine the impact its programs are having on its clients. Borrowers are assessed across 4 main categories (detailed below) and rated on a 1 – 3 scale with 1 represent the LEAST positive score with 3 representing the BEST positive score. SPBD’s goal is to conduct Social Metrics Survey during every loan application so that it can evaluate the impact of its lending activities on its borrowers’ quality of life.

Given the comprehensive and personal nature of the Social Metrics Survey, SPBD has chosen only to include certain clients’ assessments in its borrower profiles when available. However, listed below are the specific metrics the organization assesses that compromise each of the different categories listed in the borrower profiles.

SUMMARY OF SPBD’S SOCIAL METRICS SURVEY

Each of the 4 Social Categories listed below average the individual scores assigned to each metric within that category. The 4 categories are then averaged to produce an overall Social Metric Score for an individual borrower. SPBD prioritizes borrowers that have an overall Social Metric of 2.0 or lower as these clients represent a more vulnerable & poor population.

CATEGORY 1: HOUSING INDEX

1. Size of Housing: 3 – Big; 2 – Medium; 1 – Small

2. Condition of Housing: 3 – Strong; 2 – Old; 1 – Bad

3. Condition of Roof: 3 – Best (New Galvanized Iron); 2 – Good (Old Galvanized Iron); 1 – Bad (Scraps, leaves, etc.)

4. Condition of Post/Wall: 3 – Best (New Cement/Lumber); 2 – Good (Old Cement/Lumber); 1 – Bad (Scrap Lumber/Use Materials)

5. Condition of Flooring: 3 – Best (New/Smooth Cement); 2 – Good (Old/Rough Cement); 1 – Bad (Partly Cemented/No Flooring)

6. Condition of Toilet: 3 – Best (Flush with Cement/Tiled Floor); 2 – Good (Flush with Rough Flooring); 1 – Bad (Pit Toilet/None)

7. Toilet Ownership: 3 – Owned; 2 – Shared; 1 – None

8. Condition of Bathroom: 3 – Best (Proper Piping with Flooring); 2 – Good (No Piping with Rough Floor); 1 – Bad (No Bathroom)

9. Bathroom Ownership: 3 – Owned; 2 – Shared; 1 – None

10. Housing Ownership: 3 – Owned; 2 – Rented; 1 – Shared

CATEOGRY 2: HOUSEHOLD INDEX

1. Type of Asset: 3 – Luxury; 2 – Necessity; 1 – Inadequate

2. Quantity: 3 – Extravagantly Furnished; 2 – Moderately Furnished; 1 – Barely Furnished

3. Quality (Brand): 3 – Popular & Expensive; 2 – Popular but Cheap; 1 – Unknown Brand

4. Physical Condition: 3 – New & Working; 2 – Old & Working; 1 – Damaged

5. Age of Assets: 3 – New; 2 – Old; 1 – Obsolete

6. Total Marketable Value: 3 - $110,000 WST+; 2 - $15,000 - $110,000 WST; 1 - <$15,000 WST

7. Manner Assets Acquired: 3 – Purchased by Borrower; 2 – Purchased by Relatives; 1 – Gift or Inherited

8. Ownership: 3 – Owned; 2 – Shared/Rented; 1 – None

CATEGORY 3: INDIVIDUAL SOCIAL STATUS INDEX

1. Family Living Arrangement: 3 – Immediate Family; 2 –5 additional members; 1 – More than 5 additional members

2. Marital Status: 3 – Single; 2 – Married; 1 – Divorced/Widowed

3. Education: 3 – Tertiary; 2 – Secondary/Primary; 1 – Uneducated

4. Number of Dependents: 3 – 0 to 3; 2 – 4 to 10; 1 – More than 10

5. Ages of Dependents: 3 – 0 to 15 years; 2 – 16 to 25 years; 1 – 26+ years

6. Health Condition: 3 – Very Healthy; 2 – Healthy; 1 – Sickly

7. Length of Residency: 3 – More than 3 years; 2 – 1 to 3 years; 1 – Less than 1 year

8. Family Reputation: 3 – Best; 2 – Good; 1 – Bad

9. Community Reputation: 3 – Best; 2 – Good; 1 – Bad

CATEGORY 4: HOUSING INCOME INDEX

1. Number of Earners in the Family: 3 – More than 3; 2 – 2 to 3; 1 – 1 or less

2. Nature of Income: 3 – Regular; 2 – Contract/Casual more than 26 weeks a year; 1 – Contract/Casual less than 26 weeks a year

3. Level of Total Household Income: 3 – Above $7,750 WST per week; 2 - $1,500 - $7,750 WST per week; 1 – Less than $1,500 WST per week


Kiva Help Repayment Performance on Kiva

    This Field Partner All Kiva Partners
  Start Date On Kiva Jul 31, 2006 Oct 12, 2005
Total Loans $2,262,725 $118,121,935
Amount of Raised Inactive Loans $0 $147,475
Number Of Raised Inactive Loans 0 212
Amount of Paying Back Loans $606,150 $50,404,975
Number Of Paying Back Loans 1,172 68,278
Amount of Ended Loans $1,656,575 $67,569,485
Number Of Ended Loans 2,417 99,368
Delinquency Rate 0.00% 4.10%
Amount of Paying Back Loans Delinquent $0 $2,067,573
Amount of Paying Back Loans $606,150 $50,404,975
Number of Paying Back Loans Delinquent 0 7,071
Default Rate 0.00% 1.73%
Amount of Ended Loans Defaulted $0 $1,170,399
Amount of Ended Loans $1,656,575 $67,569,485
Number Of Ended Loans Defaulted 0 3,524
Currency Exchange Loss Rate 0.00% 0.00%
Amount of Currency Exchange Loss $0 $0
Refund Rate 0.23% 1.05%
Amount of Refunded Loans $5,100 $1,240,850
Number Of Refunded Loans 10 1,583
Updated as of February 9, 2010 12:57 AM

Kiva Help Loan Characteristics On Kiva

    This Field Partner All Kiva Partners
  Loans to Women Entrepreneurs 99.79% 78.07%
Average Loan Size $554 $401
Average Individual Loan Size $600 $595
Average Group Loan Size $1,739 $1,545
Average Number Of Entrepreneurs Per Group 6.2 0
Average GDP Per Capita (PPP) in Local Country $6,344 $3,429
Average Loan Size / GDP Per Capita (PPP) 9.94% 11.69%
Average Time To Fund A Loan 3.27 days 2.45 days
Average Dollars Raised Per Day Per Loan $169.52 $163.61
  Average Loan Term 13.22 months 9.27 months
Updated as of February 9, 2010 12:57 AM

Kiva Help Journaling Performance on Kiva

    This Field Partner All Kiva Partners
  Total Journals 1470 60348
Journal Coverage 38.80% 29.54%
Journal Coverage, Kiva Fellows 0.00% 0.19%
  Journal Frequency (Average Per Loan Per Year) 0.26 0.31
  Average Number Of Recommendations Per Journal 10.65 8.88
Updated as of February 9, 2010 12:57 AM

Kiva Help Borrowing Cost Comparison

    This Field Partner Median for MFI Peers in Country All Kiva Partners
  Average Interest Rate and Fees Borrowers Pay (Portfolio Yield) 58% N/A 35.22%
  Average Partner Return On Assets (Average Profitability) N/A N/A -0.47%
  Average Loan Size (% of Per Capita Income) 8% N/A 43.94%

Field Partner Staff

Agnes Chu
Team Editing
Jack Elisara
Fetafiana Itielu
Tafi Itielu
Wendy Joe
Saia Kerisiano
Mayvian Koti Popese
Luapene Lefau
Litara Mataia
Saaga Nanai
Aumau Omeka
Lanu Papalii
Aaron Pili
Ella Poe
Keiolani Samuelu
Fautua Talaoloa
Saleifi Tanielu
Keneth Jay To
Tuiafutea Tuala
Isabel Tuatagaloa
Falefia Ulugia
Nate Walsh
Shane Xu

Kiva Help Country Fast Facts

Country: Samoa
Capital: Apia
Official Language: Samoan (Polynesian), English Samoan is probably the oldest Polynesian language, and it is the official language of both Independent Samoa and American Samoa. English is the second official language. Samoans are proud of their language.
Population: 176,908
Avg Annual Income: $6,344
Labor Force: Not Available
Population Below Poverty Line: Not Available
Literacy Rate: 99.7%
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000): 28.85 deaths
Life Expectancy: 71 years
Currency: Samoa Tala
Exchange Rate: 2.4643 WST = 1 USD