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 - March 13, 2020

Kiva and ACAD have agreed to end their partnership after nearly 7 years and almost $400,000 in loans raised. This partner has repaid its outstanding balance to Kiva in full, and these funds have been distributed to lenders. We thank ACAD for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors.

Partner Description: 

ACAD for Financing and Development is the microfinance wing of Arab Center for Agricultural Development (ACAD), an organization operating in Ramallah, Palestine. Founded in 1993, it provides micro-loans, small loans, and agriculture loans to poor and low-income Palestinian entrepreneurs. ACAD for Financing and Development focuses on several areas of development including offering credit, fostering community development and building agricultural cooperatives.

Today, the organization has impacted over 11,000 people -- including 66 cooperatives -- with loan volume of over $22 million. Kiva lenders’ funds are used to help ACAD serve more people in remote areas, including farmers who already belong to cooperatives. Additionally, the funds enable ACAD for Financing and Development to offer loans at lower interest rates to make sure that even the poorest Palestinian borrowers have access to affordable credit.

A unique lending approach and partnerships

ACAD for Financing and Development provides a diverse range of financial products, business support services and facilitation of savings to entrepreneurs who want to start or expand their own businesses. Additionally, in response to the region’s salary freeze in 2007, the organization offers loans so that women can supplement their salaries and take better care of their families.

ACAD for Financing and Development currently works with several agricultural cooperatives to provide members with extension services, training, and technical support. ACAD for Financing and Development's field staff make regular visits to these farmers to provide them with free information about market prices and agricultural best practices.

ACAD's partners includes International Solidarity for Development and Investment (SIDI) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD).  SIDI specializes in financial and technical support for microfinance institutions, while AFD finances development around the world on behalf of the French Government. Historically, ACAD’s main sources of funding have been grants and loans from international institutions such as European Commission (EC),Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Kiva represents a unique source of capital for the institution to extend its reach.