Press Release

Joint Statement: The Third NBC-UN High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Convening on Microfinance in Cambodia

24 September 2025

Phnom Penh, 9 September 2025 - The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), in collaboration with the United Nations in Cambodia, co-organized the third NBC–UN High-Level Multi-Stakeholder Convening on Microfinance. The event was honored by the presence of His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, whose participation underscored the government’s commitment to inclusive financial development. The convening brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from various government agencies; regulatory bodies; industry associations; banking and financial institutions; investors; civil society organizations; non-governmental organizations; development partners; UN agencies; and international financial institutions. Participants valued the depth and openness of the discussions and reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration moving forward.

Progress to date

The third High-Level Discussion reviewed and evaluated the progress made in implementing the 22 priority actions endorsed at the inaugural convening in July 2024 and the second convening in January 2025. To date, 10 priority actions have been completed, while 12 remain in progress across five key areas:

Regulation and Supervision – The Code of Conduct with Responsible Pricing principles will be finalized in late 2025. A Sectoral Fund Pool has been initiated by associations to finance consumer financial literacy, debt counseling, and awareness-raising activities. Work continues on incentive framework for responsible lending and compliance monitoring.
Borrower Protection – A Financial Consumer Center has been established to manage complaints, complemented by other mechanisms. Consumer protection laws are being strengthened, and nationwide financial literacy campaigns are scaling up.
Data – Stakeholders are converging on a hybrid data-sharing model across regulators, banks, MFIs and non-bank institutions to strengthen responsible lending. Standard definitions of microloans are being finalized.
Informal Lending and Local Authorities

A Joint Statement has been issued to advance financial consumer protection, targeting illegal lending practices, including the use of ID cards, family books, and equity cards as collateral.
Online land title system is being expanded to cover all registrations, improving transparency and industry access. Outdated land certification requirements have been removed to reduce fraud. Further law enforcement oversight is needed to curb predatory practices.
Stakeholders also recommended piloting community-based lending models—where groups act as collective collateral—and promoting realistic lending conditions from formal financial institutions to reduce reliance on informal moneylending.

Insurance and Alternative Financing – Efforts are underway to expand access to credit and risk protection for smallholder farmers through modern agricultural cooperatives and inclusive insurance products. Cost-sharing models are currently under discussion to improve affordability and reach among farmers.

Way Forward

Stakeholders reaffirmed that tackling over-indebtedness, ensuring responsible lending, and cracking down on illegal practices remain urgent priorities. Collaboration, transparency and community-level engagement will be key to safeguarding vulnerable households and advancing inclusive and sustainable development.

The next convening will take place in December 2025. Stakeholders reiterated their shared commitment to building a fair, inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem for all Cambodians.

More photos from the event

For more information, please contact:

National Bank of Cambodia

Tel: +855 23 990 196

Email: nbccommunication@nbc.gov.kh
United Nation in Cambodia, Ms. Keo Sreysros

Tel: +855 11 885 766

Email: sreysros.keo@un.org