In Part I of this post we blogged about how Kiva stands to benefit greatly by adopting a more social design and, more importantly, incorporating game-like mechanics to expand its user base and create a rich, engaging environment for lenders. On Friday, GamesBeat(VentureBeat) published a post on the trend in "gamification" of applications, and how VCs are increasingly putting money into this space.  While not expressly referencing microfinance, or Kiva, the post does cite financial services as one industry ripe for gamification.

Then, in the midst of our research on gamifying Kiva, we ran across something very interesting - UNICEF's new Facebook app, Help a Child, which allows users to adopt a virtual child and to purchase virtual goods such as vaccines and clothing.  The revenues then go to support real-world UNICEF programs.  Help a Child appears to satisfy two goals - to raise awareness of UNICEF's important mission, and to raise money.  Users (i.e. donors) are kept more engaged (giving) through the game environment, and UNICEF gains a revenue stream through microtansactions generated from the sale of virtual goods.

We've decided that this topic deserves a bit more attention than what can be presented in a blog post or two.  So rather than focus solely on Kiva, we're taking this problem to our drawing board and working on designing a gamification strategy for micronfinance in general.  And we're going to publish it.  Soon.  Stay tuned.