Last updated June 9, 2012

Partner Description: 

Novica is an e-commerce website that allows artisans around the world to sell unique, high-quality goods directly to consumers. These goods include home furnishings, apparel, jewelry, ceramics, art, and more -- items that would often never make it to international markets at the prices Novica pays to artisans (and offers to consumers).

By providing detailed information and stories about each artisan, Novica cuts out middle-men and establishes direct global connections that support entrepreneurs and small businesses in Indonesia, the Andes, Mexico, Brazil, Central America, India, Thailand, and West Africa.

To supply artisans with working capital to grow their businesses, Novica launched an Artisan Loan Program in 2010. This platform allows the internet community to fund small, zero-interest loans for artisans. These loans -- ranging between USD$150 and $2,900 -- are repaid to lenders, who can then re-lend as many times as they want. As of early 2012, Novica had funded $200,000 in artisan loans.

Kiva is a natural partner for Novica. While some loans will continue to be funded directly on the Novica site, many new loans will be posted to the Kiva website so that Kiva lenders can help grow and expand this important loan program. These loans will give Kiva lenders the unique ability to buy goods produced by the entrepreneurs they support, deepening the lender-borrower connection.

Repayments on Novica loans are tied to artisan revenue. This means that if an artisan has a good month, they will pay back more -- or less during slower months. To accommodate this, Kiva will make all repayments due at the end of loan terms, averaging three to 24 months. Any repayments received before these deadlines will be considered pre-payments, but will still be distributed to lenders as usual.

Kiva’s flexible loan terms will allow more artisans to borrow the money they need to build their inventories, set up shop outside their homes, and even hire employees. This will amplify Novica’s mission to give artists the support they need to express their creativity and preserve cultural traditions while maximizing their income.

Because Novica is not a microfinance institution, Kiva’s risk rating system is not applicable. Kiva has conducted onsite due diligence, and Kiva’s Investment Committee approved the organization as a partner.The Portfolio Yield is zero because Novica offers artisans loans at 0% interest.