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

Status update — November 8, 2024

Kiva has decided to pause BPW's access to fundraising on the Kiva platform due to their failure to meet repayment obligations, stemming from the inability to secure the necessary approvals to transfer funds outside of Nepal. BPW is currently working with the Central Bank of Nepal to resolve this issue. Kiva will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

BPW Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (formerly known as Patan Business and Professional Women) was established in 1995 as the Patan Chapter of Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW Nepal) a pioneer social, non-profit, and voluntary organization. BPW’s office is located in Patan, also known as Lalitpur, a city that borders Kathmandu to the south and is famous for producing art and handicrafts.

In July 2002 BPW became a regulated Financial Intermediary after obtaining license from Nepal Rastra Bank (Central Bank of Nepal), the regulatory authority of the country’s financial sector.

BPW started its micro-credit program with the main objective of improving the socio-economic status of impoverished women by increasing their access to resources for productive activities.

Mission and Objectives

The principal mission of BPW is to improve women’s business skills across different occupations for self-employment and to enhance the overall socio-economic condition of women. BPW serves women by fulfilling the following objectives:

·       Increasing the number of women who enter the workforce and enhancing their professional skills by providing a forum for dialogue, organizing different activities, and working as a peer group.

·       Increasing the literacy rate of women by promoting and providing a relevant literacy training program.

·       Focusing on human resource development by empowering urban-educated women as well as more disadvantaged women to bring about changes in themselves, their families, and their society. 

Salient Features of Micro Credit Program

1. Families living below the national poverty line (Nepalese Rupees 5,500, or about USD $84.00, in per capita income) are eligible for getting membership in a micro credit group. Only one member of a family can become a member of the group.

2. The eligible members are required to attend a week-long Pre-Group Training (PGT). After completing training, women are organized into small lending groups of five members. These lending groups are clustered in centers, with a center consisting of a maximum of eight groups.

3. No physical collateral is necessary; instead, the loans are guaranteed on a solidarity group basis. Group members are jointly liable for payment in the case of a borrower’s default.

5. A flat interest rate of 10% is charged on an annual basis. The repayment period is one year, and the installments are paid monthly.

6. Compulsory savings is one of the basic components of this program. Members can also contribute additional savings on top of the required amount. Members earn an annual interest rate of 5% on their savings.

8. BPW has maintained a repayment rate of 100% from the very beginning of its microcredit operations.