Living Goods
Approved to post Kiva loans from: Kenya, Uganda
Kiva and Living Goods have mutually agreed to end their partnership after nearly 2 years. Living Goods is no longer in need of Kiva financing and this Lending Partner has repaid its outstanding balance to Kiva lenders in full. We thank Living Goods for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors.
Partner description:
Living Goods is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to improve the lives of people in the developing world by creating a delivery system for life-saving, essential health products. They are headquartered in California with offices in Uganda and Kenya.
Living Goods creates and trains networks of micro-entrepreneurs who go door-to-door teaching families how to improve their health and wealth in developing countries. The entrepreneurs sell products like simple treatments for malaria and diarrhea, fortified foods, safe birthing kits, clean cook stoves and solar lights. As they work to improve the lives of their customers, Living Goods agents also significantly improve their own incomes, confidence and leadership in their communities.
A unique lending approach:
Living Goods loans posted on Kiva will be used by groups of borrowers to purchase consumer goods like clean cookstoves, water filters and solar products for distribution.
The borrowers then go door to door and educate their neighbors about the health and income benefits of the products. Cookstoves reduce the cost of wood and charcoal for a household, and reduce indoor air pollution. Solar products reduce the cost of kerosene and also reduce indoor air pollution. Water filters reduce incidence of diarrhea and other water-borne disease.
Living Goods entrepreneurs also provide other high-impact services such as pregnancy support, family planning and nutrition education to their neighbors.
Partner description:
Living Goods is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 to improve the lives of people in the developing world by creating a delivery system for life-saving, essential health products. They are headquartered in California with offices in Uganda and Kenya.
Living Goods creates and trains networks of micro-entrepreneurs who go door-to-door teaching families how to improve their health and wealth in developing countries. The entrepreneurs sell products like simple treatments for malaria and diarrhea, fortified foods, safe birthing kits, clean cook stoves and solar lights. As they work to improve the lives of their customers, Living Goods agents also significantly improve their own incomes, confidence and leadership in their communities.
A unique lending approach:
Living Goods loans posted on Kiva will be used by groups of borrowers to purchase consumer goods like clean cookstoves, water filters and solar products for distribution.
The borrowers then go door to door and educate their neighbors about the health and income benefits of the products. Cookstoves reduce the cost of wood and charcoal for a household, and reduce indoor air pollution. Solar products reduce the cost of kerosene and also reduce indoor air pollution. Water filters reduce incidence of diarrhea and other water-borne disease.
Living Goods entrepreneurs also provide other high-impact services such as pregnancy support, family planning and nutrition education to their neighbors.
Repayment Performance on Kiva
| This Lending Partner | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Start Date On Kiva | Jun 24, 2014 | Oct 12, 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Loans | $3,950 | $2,048,758,690 | |
| Amount of raised Inactive loans | $0 | $348,325 | |
| Number of raised Inactive loans | 0 | 296 | |
| Amount of Paying Back Loans | $0 | $153,933,040 | |
| Number of Paying Back Loans | 0 | 183,991 | |
| Amount of Ended Loans | $3,950 | $1,852,324,370 | |
| Number of Ended Loans | 18 | 2,496,556 | |
| Delinquency Rate | 0.00% | 11.72% | |
| Amount in Arrears | $0 | $10,838,102 | |
| Outstanding Portfolio | $0 | $92,466,642 | |
| Number of Loans Delinquent | 0 | 38,146 | |
| Default Rate | 0.00% | 1.82% | |
| Amount of Ended Loans Defaulted | $0 | $33,752,032 | |
| Number of Ended Loans Defaulted | 0 | 89,003 | |
| Currency Exchange Loss Rate | 0.00% | 0.47% | |
| Amount of Currency Exchange Loss | $0 | $12,742,203 | |
| Refund Rate | 0.00% | 0.53% | |
| Amount of Refunded Loans | $0 | $10,938,345 | |
| Number of Refunded Loans | 0 | 9,670 |
Loan Characteristics On Kiva
| This Lending Partner | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Loans to Women Borrowers | 84.21% | 78.48% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Loan Size | $46 | $393 | |
| Average Individual Loan Size | $50 | $586 | |
| Average Group Loan Size | $229 | $1,910 | |
| Average number of borrowers per group | 5 | 8.3 | |
| Average GDP per capita (PPP) in local country | $1,800 | $5,592 | |
| Average Loan Size / GDP per capita (PPP) | 2.55% | 7.02% | |
| Average Time to Fund a Loan | 0.07 days | 9.12 days | |
| Average Dollars Raised Per Day Per Loan | $640.68 | $43.08 | |
| Average Loan Term | 3.68 months | 11.5 months |
Journaling Performance on Kiva
| This Lending Partner | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Total Journals | 0 | 1,222,149 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journaling Rate | 0.00% | 41.92% | |
| Average Number of Comments Per Journal | 0.00 | 0.02 | |
| Average Number of Recommendations Per Journal | 0.00 | 0.55 |
Borrowing Cost Comparison (based on 2013 data)
| This Lending Partner | Median for MFI's in Country | All Kiva Partners | ||
| Average Cost to Borrower | 30% APR | 36.00% PY | 26.44% PY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profitability (return on assets) | N/A | 0.5% | -1.32% | |
| Average Loan Size (% of per capita income) | N/A | 56.00% | 0.00% |
Country Fast Facts
- Country:
- Kenya
- Capital:
- Nairobi
- Official Language:
- English (official), Kiswahili (official)
- Population:
- 45,010,056
- Avg Annual Income:
- $1,800
- Labor Force:
- agriculture: 75%, industry and services: 25%
- Population Below Poverty Line:
- 43.40%
- Literacy Rate:
- 87.40%
- Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000):
- 40.71 deaths
- Life Expectancy:
- 63.52 years