Projects in Partnership with Social Performance Task Force (SPTF)
The SPTF and CMA have been engaging extensively since 2020. This engagement has included the inclusion of adherence to the Cerise+SPTF CP Pathway in Cambodia’s BFI Code of Conduct (CoC), and supporting the CMA to develop a Cambodia Responsible Inclusive Finance (RIF) framework. This effort culminated into an MoU between the CMA and SPTF in July 2022 to strengthen RIF in the country. Work effort under the MoU includes the harmonization of the CoC with the Cerise+SPTF CP Pathway (detailed below) and various sector training on RIF The abovementioned effort aligns with Enhancing the Responsible Inclusive Finance “RIF” through The Cambodia Consumer Protection Framework 2020-2025 “Toward the Sustainable Development of the Microfinance in Cambodia” that has been developed in in 2020 through the support from ADA Microfinance and the SPTF. For more details please visit the following link:
The projects will include the following:
The Financial Inclusion Index (FII) was developed by 60 Decibels (‘60Db’). It captures client voices through quantitative and qualitative data collection across six social performance-related dimensions, including access, business impact, household impact, financial management, resilience, and agency. SPTF and CMA have worked with 60Db to develop a Cambodia-specific client protection module as the seventh dimension. This dimension will dive deep into aggressive collection practices, transparency, and staff behavior. The SPTF is supporting CMA in conducting a CoC harmonization project that involves mapping the CoC principles and standards with the global client protection standards. It will also align the BFI CoC with the CP Pathway certification levels of bronze, silver and gold, providing stakeholders with an insight into where a BFI is on the global and sector client protection standards. The harmonization exercise will also include multiple sector stakeholder consultations to dispel the incorrect understanding that CP Pathway is only for microfinance. The first step in this direction has already been taken with the CMA, Association of Banks, and the SPTF scheduled to meet in November 2022.
Under the aegis of the CMA’s RIF framework and the SPTF+CMA MoU, the SPTF, in collaboration with the CMA, plan to undertake a set of strategic projects that will add to the overall policy advocacy efforts which captures the various elements of the framework of RIF in Cambodia and likely give impetus to RIF adoption amongst BFIs in the country.
