MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Cambodia Institute of Development Study Indicates Microfinance Borrowers Better Off Than Non-Borrowers

The Cambodia Institute of Development Study, a non-governmental research institute based in Phnom Penh, recently released a study indicating that borrowers from microfinance institutions (MFIs) are better off in terms of income, assets and women’s empowerment than are debtors who receive loans from other sources. According to the survey, approximately 54 percent of MFI borrowers and 32 percent of non-MFI borrowers increased their income during 2010. Sources of non-MFI loans are unavailable [1].

The study, which was funded by the Cambodia Microfinance Association and the Netherlands Development Finance Company, surveyed 1,876 MFI clients and 1,101 non-clients over the first nine months of 2011. 80 percent of the respondents were women.

The US-based nonprofit Microfinance International Exchange (MIX) reports on 17 MFIs in Cambodia, which had a total gross loan portfolio of USD 1.2 billion serving 1.2 million borrowers in the year 2010.

About Cambodia Microfinance Association
The Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) was established in 2004 by seven Cambodian microfinance institutions: AMRET Company Private Limited (formerly EMT), Hattha Kaksekar Limited (HKL), Seilanithih, VisionFund CREDO Foundation, Sathapana Limited, PRASAC (formerly PCA) and Maxima. CMA’s mission is “to facilitate microfinance operators in their operations and to strengthen their communications with authorities, national and international donors, creditors and investors.” CMA has 30 MFI members as of November 2011.

About Netherlands Development Finance Company
The Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO in Dutch) is a Dutch public-private partnership that aims to promote growth in the economies of developing countries by promoting entrepreneurship. Founded in 1970, FMO reports total assets of EUR 4.3 billion (USD 5.5 billion), as of December 31, 2010, including investments in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

Sources and Additional Resources:

[1] The Phnom Penh Post: “MFI Survey Claims Debtor Success” http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012011653946/Business/mfi-survey-claims-debtor-success.html

Cambodia Microfinance Association: “Report Summary: Impact of Microfinance Services in Cambodia,” http://cma-network.org/drupal/download/impact%20survey/Summary%20Report%20Final.pdf

MicroCapital.org story, May 27, 2011, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance in Cambodia Grows 10%, Described as ‘Trap,’” https://www.microcapital.org/?s=Cambodia+Microfinance+Association&x=0&y=0

Microfinance International Exchange: Microfinance in Cambodia: Country Profile http://www.mixmarket.org/mfi/country/Cambodia

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Cambodia Microfinance Association https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Cambodia+Microfinance+Association

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Netherlands Development Finance Company https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Netherlands+Development+Finance+Company+%28FMO%29

Browse the MicroCapital Universe and add your wiki to the entry at https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/

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