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 — May 14, 2019
Kiva and Kopernik have agreed to end their partnership after nearly 6 years and more than $50k in loans raised. This partner has repaid its outstanding balance to Kiva in full, and these funds have been distributed to lenders. We thank Kopernik for the years of collaboration and wish them success in their future endeavors.

Status Update — February 17, 2017

Kiva has moved this Lending Partner to inactive status which means Kopernik is no longer fundraising loans on Kiva. Kopernik has repaid its full outstanding balance to Kiva lenders. If and when this partner requests to fundraise again on Kiva, Kiva will first conduct any additional monitoring and due diligence tasks we believe necessary.

Partner description:

Kopernik is a nonprofit organization that helps rural retailers in Indonesia sell simple, life-improving technologies to their communities. Founded in 2009, it connects technology producers with local partners in remote areas to address needs like clean water, electricity, food security and healthcare. Watch a short video that explains Kopernik’s mission to serve last-mile customers here. 

Kopernik works with 50 local partners to distribute technology products to rural communities. Currently, Kopernik has “Tech Kiosks” operating across Indonesia, with a particular focus on East Nusa Tenggara, one of Indonesia’s poorest provinces.

Indonesia lacks an established large-scale distribution network to its rural areas. Small kiosks and local shops account for approximately 85% of Indonesia’s retail market, but are often found in remote locations. As a result, distribution to these locations is time consuming and very expensive. Even if a supply chain is established, the product’s price must be high for end consumers to cover all the costs.

Kopernik is committed to addressing these supply chain challenges by distributing technology products via “Tech Kiosks” located in rural stores, thus lowering costs and increasing availability. Kiva funding will enable retailers to purchase more inventory at a better price, thereby increasing the distribution of life-improving technologies in rural communities.

A unique lending approach:

Kopernik works to sustainably provide communities with access to clean water, solar light, cleaner cooking equipment and improved health care by supporting local shop owners to sell life-changing technology products to local customers.

To establish Tech Kiosks in their stores, shop owners must fill out an application, receive an onsite visit and pass an interview. If they are selected, they receive training on product specifications, maintenance, after-sales service, data collection and reporting requirements. They then select which products they want to sell from a catalogue based on community needs and product demonstrations, and also receive promotional materials.

In addition to supporting shop owners to establish Tech Kiosks, Kopernik works with local partners to train residents to sell technologies in their communities. These salespeople are called Tech Agents. Tech Agents receive technologies on consignment that they then sell to their communities. Once they make a sale, they earn a commission, repay Kopernik for the cost of the products and replenish their inventories.