CO-CAM Sida FFA II Cambodia Program The Fair Finance Asia Program (FFA) envisages to reduce the negative impact of national and cross-border bank investments in Asia on human rights, the environment and climate change, and to increase adequate financial services for pro-poor, inclusive economic development. The goal is to establish a sustainable financial sector in Asia, with financial sector institutions operating at national and regional level being more transparent and accountable and adhering to Economic, Social and Governance (ESG)-criteria. FFA is funded by Sida.

Cambodia program will be implemented by Oxfam, country office in Cambodia. Fair Finance Cambodia (FFC) established itscoalition in 2019, with a solid commitment and roadmap to ensure the progress of sustainable finance within the country. This coalition established a partnership with the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC), which launched the Cambodia Sustainable Finance Principles and its Implementation Guidelines in March 2019. 47 national banks and microfinance institutions signed on to these principles which created a momentum through which FFC can continue to strengthen its influencing initiatives towards financial institutions in Cambodia to accelerate change in policy and practices addressing ESG and human rights (HR) considerations.

The Fair Finance Cambodia (FFC) coalition aims to reduce the negative impacts of cross-border investments on human rights, the environment and climate change, particularly those made by multinational financial institutions, banks and insurers while increasing inclusive economic development. FFC is operational in Cambodia – wherein the Fair Finance Cambodia Civil Society Organisation (CSO) coalition leads research and engagement with key stakeholders, including financial regulatory and policymaking institutions, banking and investment associations, multilateral development banks and academia. FFC is a member of Fair Finance Asia, a regional network of CSOs committed to ensuring that financial institutions' funding decisions in the region respect local communities' social and environmental well-being.

Cambodia over the last decades, has witnessed rapid economic growth which contributed significantly to poverty reduction. FDI and banking sector have largely filled financing needs for the fast pace of development, however, negative impacts on environment and society were also observed which could undermine sustainable developments.
With this context, FFC aims to work with stakeholders to strengthen a sustainable financial sectorin Cambodia that cares for the social and environmental well-being of all Cambodian people.

To realize the above FFC’s aim, FFC will focus on engaging with stakeholders to create a self-sustained mechanism for responsible financial sector through the following approaches/strategies:
• Strengthen CSOs’ capacity in contributing to the promotion of responsible finance
• Facilitate awareness raising among the public on responsible finance
• Increase awareness and political will among government agencies, regulators, banks and banking associations to be more adherence to responsible and sustainable finance standards and HR criteria
• Support key stakeholders to assume leadership in developing appropriate policies and regulatory initiatives that will improve social and environmental performance of banks.
• Facilitate a CSO and private sector- led platform on Cambodia’s Financial Outlook and Prosperity that brings together influencers, investors, decision makers and affected communities to build common understanding.

FFC mainly is managed and coordinated by a full time Project Coordinator with the management and part time technical support from NRG Programme Manager who, MEAL Coordinator, Program Finance Officer and Communication Coordinator.

The activities are jointlyplanned with FFC coalition members. The FFC coalition members especially NGO Forum, Transparency International (TI), CCC will locate their staff time to implement some activities. PACT Cambodia, Action Aid, SILAKA and OHCHR will participate, and they could provide resource persons into trainings or workshops as required by FFC Coalition. Since the project budget is limited, the project could not provide sub-grant to the above coalition members and Oxfam in Cambodia will hold the budget and will be disbursed to each coalition member when the respective coalition member conducts the activity under one off small grant mode.