Last Updated April 3, 2013

Partner Description:

FATEN
is a non-profit organization that provides micro- and small loans to economically-active entrepreneurs in Palestine. Originally founded as program of the Save the Children Federation, FATEN spun off and became completely independent in 1999.

Initially, FATEN served only women micro-entrepreneurs, but has grown to include men as well. Now it operates through 13 branches across the West Bank and Gaza. Its growing staff travels extensively to towns, villages and refugee camps throughout the regions surrounding its branch offices.


FATEN aims to expand financial access for marginalized communities. It also supports projects in new and existing economic sectors, as well as farmers who own land isolated by Israel’s separation wall. To ensure that people benefit from their loans, FATEN provides considerable follow-up services too.



Since its inception, FATEN has focused on social responsibility. This extends to humanitarian, developmental, environmental, educational and health initiatives, in addition to economic outreach for women and youth. 80% of the beneficiaries that have received loans from FATEN are women.



FATEN’s unique lending approach

FATEN’s credit products include group, environmental, small investor and housing improvement loans.  The institution has also launched some products to target young people in Palestine.  Student and computer loans help Palestinian youth to reach upper education levels and to obtain diplomas. This success qualifies them to access labor markets and to secure brighter futures for themselves and families.  FATEN also conducts workshops to collect feedback from borrowers to be used in development of new loan products.

Kiva HelpRepayment Performance on Kiva

    This Field Partner All Kiva Partners
  Start Date On Kiva Jun 18, 2009 Oct 12, 2005
Total Loans $4,104,125 $424,502,625
Amount of Raised Inactive Loans $1,250 $303,725
Number Of Raised Inactive Loans 2 236
Amount of Paying Back Loans $2,369,875 $92,457,350
Number Of Paying Back Loans 1,330 100,288
Amount of Ended Loans $1,733,000 $331,741,550
Number Of Ended Loans 1,042 434,958
Delinquency Rate 2.75% 2.08%
Amount In Arrears $38,363 $1,221,363
Outstanding Portfolio $1,394,502 $58,717,054
Number of Loans Delinquent 438 9,846
Default Rate 0.34% 0.97%
Amount of Ended Loans Defaulted $5,913 $3,220,059
Amount of Ended Loans $1,733,000 $331,741,550
Number Of Ended Loans Defaulted 10 9,823
Currency Exchange Loss Rate 0.00% 0.02%
Amount of Currency Exchange Loss $0 $77,435
Refund Rate 0.28% 0.96%
Amount of Refunded Loans $11,350 $4,068,925
Number Of Refunded Loans 9 4,589

Kiva HelpLoan Characteristics On Kiva

    This Field Partner All Kiva Partners
  Loans To Women Entrepreneurs 47.37% 74.04%
Average Loan Size $1,727 $406
Average Individual Loan Size $1,727 $645
Average Group Loan Size $0 $1,742
Average Number Of Entrepreneurs Per Group 0 8
Average GDP Per Capita (PPP) in Local Country $2,900 $3,346
Average Loan Size / GDP Per Capita (PPP) 59.55% 12.15%
Average Time To Fund A Loan 9.86 days 4.69 days
Average Dollars Raised Per Day Per Loan $175.23 $86.68
  Average Loan Term 20.75 months 9.61 months

Kiva HelpJournaling Performance on Kiva

    This Field Partner All Kiva Partners
  Total Journals 102 203,136
  Journaling Rate 8.09% 39.95%
  Average Number Of Comments Per Journal 0.29 0.11
  Average Number Of Recommendations Per Journal 0.42 2.73

Kiva HelpBorrowing Cost Comparison (based on 2011 data)

    This Field Partner Median for MFI Peers in Country All Kiva Partners
  Portfolio Yield 18.30% 27.10% 35.02%
  Profitability (Return on Assets) 8.1% 5.8% -0.38%
  Average Loan Size (% of Per Capita Income) 129.30% 117.90% 46.53%

Kiva HelpCountry Fast Facts

Field Partner Staff

Fares Abdel Nour
Fawz Abuhijleh
mohammed alshawaf
Kathy Guis
Yusra Jamous
Hind Jarrar
Shereen Masoud
Amani Zaid