Saving for Change’s Research Study in Banteay Mean Chey and Kampot Provinces Final Report – Evaluation and Baseline Prepared by: EMERGING MARKETS CONSULTING AND MARC WANCER Emerging Markets Consulting, Ltd. 2nd Floor, The Hong Kong Centre, Samdech Sothearos Blvd, PO Box 737, Phnom Penh, Cambodia +855 (23) 221890 [email protected] www.emergingmarkets.com.kh Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 ACRONYMS................................................................................................................................................................. 5 CURRENCIES AND OTHER UNITS OF MEASUREMENTS ................................................................................................ 5 MAP OF RESEARCH AREAS .......................................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................ 7 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................................................... 7 RESEARCH DESIGN OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................... 7 RACHA - OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CHALLENGES ............................................................................................................. 8 WHO IS BEING REACHED AND ARE THE VERY POOR JOINING? ..................................................................................................... 8 IMPACT OF SFC .................................................................................................................................................................. 9 CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS ........................................................................................................................................... 10 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 IMPLICATIONS OF BASELINE FINDINGS FOR SFC EXPANSION ....................................................................................................... 11 RESEARCH PURPOSE AND GOALS .............................................................................................................................. 12 METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 PHASE 1: BACKGROUND RESEARCH ...................................................................................................................................... 12 PHASE 2: RACHA AND OXFAMAMERICA STAFF INTERVIEWS..................................................................................................... 13 PHASE 3: FIELDWORK ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 TEAM, PILOT AND TRAINING ............................................................................................................................................... 15 METHODOLOGY STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES ....................................................................................................................... 15 CAMBODIAN RURAL FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR .................................................................................................... 17 MICROFINANCE INSTITUTIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 17 RURAL CREDIT OPERATORS – REGISTERED AND UNREGISTERED ................................................................................................. 19 INFORMAL SOURCES OF CREDIT ........................................................................................................................................... 20 BACKGROUND OF SFC PROGRAM IN CAMBODIA ....................................................................................................... 21 EVALUATION OF RACHA OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE ................................................................................................. 22 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ............................................................................................................................................. 22 LINES OF REPORTING ......................................................................................................................................................... 23 STAFFING POSITIONS AND NUMBERS .................................................................................................................................... 23 STAFF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................................................................................................................... 24 DPF RECRUITMENT, COMPENSATION, STAFF DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................... 26 STAFF PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS..................................................................................................................................... 27 STAFF TRAINING ............................................................................................................................................................... 27 PROGRAM METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................. 28 MONITORING AND EVALUATION .......................................................................................................................................... 31 SFC GROUPS STAGES OF INDEPENDENCE ............................................................................................................................... 32 RACHA-IDENTIFIED STRENGTHS OF SFC ............................................................................................................................... 32 RACHA IDENTIFIED CHALLENGES AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS ................................................................................................... 32 WHO IS BEING REACHED AND ARE THE VERY POOR JOINING? .................................................................................. 35 THE VERY POOR AND SFC – WHY THE LOW MEMBERSHIP RATES? ............................................................................................. 38 SUCCESSFUL STRUCTURES FOR PROMOTING ACCESS TO THE POOR ............................................................................................. 39 DO THE VERY POOR TEND TO JOIN LATE? .............................................................................................................................. 40 Oxfam_SfC_Final Report_EMC_v3.0 P a g e | 1 IMPACT OF SFC: SET 1 VILLAGES ................................................................................................................................ 40 INTERVIEWEE DEMOGRAPHICS ............................................................................................................................................. 41 SUMMARY OF MEMBER PERCEPTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 41 INCOME AND LIVELIHOODS ................................................................................................................................................. 42 SAVINGS.......................................................................................................................................................................... 43 LOANS ............................................................................................................................................................................ 46 ASSETS – HOUSEHOLD AND AGRICULTURAL ........................................................................................................................... 49 HEALTH ........................................................................................................................................................................... 51 FOOD AND NUTRITION ....................................................................................................................................................... 51 EDUCATION ..................................................................................................................................................................... 53 RESILIENCE TO SHOCKS ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 EMPOWERMENT ............................................................................................................................................................... 54 GENDER ....................................................................................................................................................................