Kiva conducts regular, ongoing monitoring of all Lending Partners, but only posts status updates here in response to relevant, major changes at the partner. 

June 9, 2020 - COVID-19 Update:

Kiva has been in contact with Interactuar to understand how we can best support their business and borrowers during the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of all staff, borrowers and their families as this global pandemic continues.

While country-specific responses to the crisis vary, most governments have imposed curfews, travel restrictions, and nation-wide shutdowns. Colombia has imposed temporary moratoriums on loan payments, affecting not only microfinance, but the economy as a whole. 

As a result, borrowers and Interactuar may experience difficulty making and collecting loan repayments due to the aforementioned restrictions or fallout effects of the virus. Over the coming months, it’s possible that lenders will see a delay in repayments and new loans posted by Interactuar. As an impact-first funder, Kiva is committed to serving our Lending Partners, as in past crises. We are sympathetic to temporary increases in repayment delays and delinquency in order to help Lending Partners and borrower communities recover. 

Kiva is working closely with Interactuar to support them and their borrowers through the COVID-19 crisis. Interactuar is sending regular updates to Kiva, and we'll update Partner Pages as we learn more. 

On behalf of Kiva and Interactuar, we’re grateful for your continued support through this difficult time. 

The Lending Partner

Interactuar is a non-profit institution offering microfinance, practical vocational courses and business development services to rural and urban micro-entrepreneurs in low-income communities in Colombia. Since 1983, they have been working to create sustainable employment opportunities for communities affected by its armed conflict, geographic exclusion and high unemployment. 

Interactuar's services target low-income microentrepreneurs to assist them in starting a business and/or growing the efficiency and competitiveness of their existing micro-business.

Unique Lending Approach:

Interactuar´s loans are offered to low-income aspiring or existing micro-entrepreneurs who don´t have access to normal streams of financing due to lack of credit history, collateral or rural/geographic exclusion. Interactuar goes to urban areas and remote towns that otherwise would not have access to financing.

Borrowers also have access to Interactuar´s full suite of business development services and vocational courses meant to prepare clients with practical experience.  This is an especially unique suite of services as bottom of the pyramid business owners do not usually have access to these kind of consulting services.

All of these services are designed to provide small business owners with holistic support in order to help generate sustainable businesses for low-income communities in Colombia.