1.Background

The Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), in collaboration with Oxfam in Cambodia and with funding from the Irish Embassy, is implementing the Climate Resilience For All (CREFA) project. This initiative aims to reduce the vulnerability of humans or systems to climate change by increasing resilience and adaptive ability or reducing exposure to climate shocks and enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change by promoting sustainable financial practices and green finance solutions. Through effective project monitoring and governance from CMA’s management and technical team, the phase I project implementation was successfully delivered followed the agreed logical framework. Herewith, a crucial research paper on “Developing Green Finance Instrument for Microfinance Sector” was successfully conducted by the international expert on green finance which was very helpful for CMA’s members to understand the global trend as well as Cambodia context of Green Finance.  

Within this phase II planning, the project aims to hire a consultancy company to develop the green finance product development manual. The development of a Green Finance Product Development Manual for Cambodia’s Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) is critically important, as it directly aligns with key recommendations from experts in Green Finance Instruments for the Microfinance Sector. Research findings emphasize that MFIs require standardized guidelines, capacity-building tools, and structured frameworks to effectively design, implement, and monitor green financial products. Experts highlight that many MFIs (Small and Medium) lack the technical expertise and operational knowledge to integrate environmental sustainability into their lending practices, leading to missed opportunities in promoting climate-resilient investments. By providing a practical, step-by-step manual, this initiative addresses these gaps, ensuring that Cambodian MFIs can systematically develop green loan products—such as energy-efficient housing loans, solar financing, and sustainable agriculture credit etc—while managing risks and measuring impact. This effort not only supports Cambodia’s climate goals and sustainable economic growth but also operationalizes expert recommendations by bridging the gap between policy-level green finance strategies and on-the-ground implementation in the microfinance sector.

2. Objectives of the Consultancy

The primary objective of this consultancy is to develop a comprehensive and user-friendly manual that will:

• Provide step-by-step guidance for MFIs to develop and offer green finance products.
• Highlight best practices and case studies from Cambodia and other relevant contexts.
• Include tools, templates, and checklists to support product design, risk assessment, and monitoring.
• Address the specific needs and challenges of the Cambodian microfinance sector in promoting climate resilience.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

3.1 Desk Review and Stakeholder Consultation

• Conduct a desk review of existing green finance frameworks, tools, and manuals globally and in Cambodia.
• Consult with key stakeholders, including CMA, Oxfam, MFIs, green businesses, and other relevant actors, to understand their needs and challenges.

3.2 Development of the Manual

• Develop a draft manual that includes:
• An introduction to green finance and its relevance to the Cambodian context.
• A framework for identifying and assessing green finance opportunities.
• Guidelines for designing green finance products (e.g., green loans, energy efficiency financing, climate-resilient agriculture loans).
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies for green finance products.
• Monitoring and evaluation frameworks to measure environmental and social impact.
• Case studies and examples of successful green finance products.
• Tools, templates, and checklists for practical implementation.

3.3 Validation and Finalization

• Present the draft manual to CMA, Oxfam, and other stakeholders for feedback.
• Incorporate feedback and finalize the manual.

3.4 Capacity Building

• Develop a brief training guide or presentation to accompany the manual for use in capacity-building workshops.

4. Deliverables

The consultant will deliver the following:

1. Inception report outlining the methodology, work plan, and timeline.
2. Draft Green Finance Product Development Manual.
3. Final Green Finance Product Development Manual, incorporating feedback from stakeholders.
4. A brief training guide or presentation to support the manual.

5. Timeline

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 3 months from the contract signing date. The proposed timeline is as follows:

• Inception report: 2 weeks
• Draft manual: 6 weeks
• Final manual and training guide: 4 weeks

6. Qualifications and Expertise

The consultant(s) should have the following qualifications:

• Advanced degree in finance, economics, environmental studies, or a related field.
• Proven experience in green finance, sustainable finance, or climate finance.
• Strong understanding of the microfinance sector, particularly in Cambodia or similar contexts.
• Experience in developing manuals, toolkits, or guidelines for financial institutions.
• Excellent research, analytical, and writing skills.
• Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and facilitate consultations.

7. Budget and Payment Schedule

The budget for this consultancy will be negotiated based on the consultant’s proposal and experience. Payments will be made in installments linked to the delivery of key outputs:

• 20% upon submission and approval of the inception report.
• 40% upon submission of the draft manual.
• 40% upon submission and approval of the final manual and training guide.

8. Management and Reporting

The consultant will report to the CMA and Oxfam in Cambodia team. Regular check-ins and progress updates will be required throughout the consultancy period.

Contact Person:

Phone:

Email:

Website:

10. Application Process

Interested consultants should submit the following documents:

1. A technical proposal outlining the methodology, work plan, and timeline.
2. A financial proposal with a detailed budget.
3. CV(s) of the consultant(s) highlighting relevant experience.
4. Samples of previous similar work (e.g., manuals, toolkits, or guidelines developed).

The deadline for submission is on 15 August 2025.