Banking & Finance
• 2 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
NBC and UN Convene Fourth High-Level Meeting on Microfinance, Review Progress on 16 out of 22 Priority Actions
PHNOM PENH, August 28, 2026 – The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the United Nations in Cambodia have co-organized the Fourth High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Convening on Microfinance, bringing together 110 stakeholders to review progress on 22 priority actions for responsible and inclusive finance.
The meeting, held on August 20 in Phnom Penh, marked the second year of implementation of the priority actions endorsed at the inaugural convening in July 2024. Participants included representatives from government agencies, regulatory bodies, industry associations, financial institutions, investors, civil society, development partners, and UN agencies.
Progress to Date
Of the 22 priority actions, 16 have been completed, with the remaining 6 being advanced across five strategic areas:
Regulation and Supervision – Implementation of the Code of Conduct has been strengthened through an independent assessor. Sector associations have developed a Sectoral Fund Pool framework to support financial literacy, debt counselling, and awareness-raising activities. Incentive frameworks and ethics guidelines have been endorsed and implemented.
Borrower Protection – The Financial Consumer Protection Center (FCPC) has been introduced and is being operationalized. Collaboration with the National Authority for Alternative Dispute Resolution (NAADR) has been strengthened, and nationwide financial literacy campaigns are being expanded.
Data – A hybrid credit data-sharing architecture is advancing, with a dedicated data strategy and gateway being developed for the non-bank financial sector.
Informal Lending – Following the September 2025 Joint Statement on the unauthorized use of identification documents as collateral, cooperation with the Ministry of Interior has been deepened to combat illegal lending through enhanced coordination and information exchange.
Insurance and Alternative Financing – Agricultural insurance services have been introduced to support Modern Agricultural Cooperatives (MACs), helping farmers manage climate and production-related risks. The positive experience from the rice MAC has encouraged other communities to explore agricultural insurance.
Way Forward
The consultation welcomed continued engagement of all stakeholders, particularly civil society, in contributing to consumer protection and a fair, inclusive, and sustainable financial ecosystem. The next High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Consultation is scheduled for June 2027.
— Source: National Bank of Cambodia / United Nations
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The meeting, held on August 20 in Phnom Penh, marked the second year of implementation of the priority actions endorsed at the inaugural convening in July 2024. Participants included representatives from government agencies, regulatory bodies, industry associations, financial institutions, investors, civil society, development partners, and UN agencies.
Progress to Date
Of the 22 priority actions, 16 have been completed, with the remaining 6 being advanced across five strategic areas:
Regulation and Supervision – Implementation of the Code of Conduct has been strengthened through an independent assessor. Sector associations have developed a Sectoral Fund Pool framework to support financial literacy, debt counselling, and awareness-raising activities. Incentive frameworks and ethics guidelines have been endorsed and implemented.
Borrower Protection – The Financial Consumer Protection Center (FCPC) has been introduced and is being operationalized. Collaboration with the National Authority for Alternative Dispute Resolution (NAADR) has been strengthened, and nationwide financial literacy campaigns are being expanded.
Data – A hybrid credit data-sharing architecture is advancing, with a dedicated data strategy and gateway being developed for the non-bank financial sector.
Informal Lending – Following the September 2025 Joint Statement on the unauthorized use of identification documents as collateral, cooperation with the Ministry of Interior has been deepened to combat illegal lending through enhanced coordination and information exchange.
Insurance and Alternative Financing – Agricultural insurance services have been introduced to support Modern Agricultural Cooperatives (MACs), helping farmers manage climate and production-related risks. The positive experience from the rice MAC has encouraged other communities to explore agricultural insurance.
Way Forward
The consultation welcomed continued engagement of all stakeholders, particularly civil society, in contributing to consumer protection and a fair, inclusive, and sustainable financial ecosystem. The next High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Consultation is scheduled for June 2027.
— Source: National Bank of Cambodia / United Nations
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
