Since being promoted to the Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet, I’ve had quite a lot of suggestions for issues around international development I should be campaigning or working one.
One was about championing a particular outfit working to aid encourage by investment in small businesses in the development field. I’ve been looking into its work, but thought – why not also ask more widely for what people think of its work? So – have a look at www.kiva.org and let me know what you think,
Lynne Featherstone 
Kiva looks like a very worthwhile project, and there are some pretty experienced people on the team, from a quick skim of their website. They seem to have some favourable coverage on blogs too. I’d have to read up a bit more, but they seem as if they’re worth looking into, for sure. Best of luck with all the development work!
Certainly looks like a good idea. Not sure of the details but attempting to do what development should do- help people build up their circumstance so they no longer need any aid.As its a loan, the incentive is also there to make it work, handing money out as gifts doesn’t have that incentive (although in disasters that is obviously most useful).I also like the way it lets contributors decide what businesses to lend money to rather than some committee deciding who is worthy.