In an effort to support women-led micro, small and medium-size enterprises and build the capacities of Cambodian women entrepreneurs in improving financial management and enhancing their financial decision-making skills, SHE Investments conducted eight two-day trainings on Financial Literacy for over 140 women entrepreneurs from September to December 2022.
Tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs across the four provinces of Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang and Kampot, the workshops aim to enhance participants’ capacities in developing a comprehensive business plan which includes rationale for business, expected clients, cash flow projections, income statements, expenditures, loan and other capital requirements, and overall business management plan, as well as in making informed financial decisions.
Prior to these workshops, 200 Cambodian women from seven provinces had already benefited from the SHE Financial Literacy programs in 2021. In addition, SHE Investments’ basic bookkeeping Mobile app, KOTRA Riel, has more than 4,500 registered users. SHE has also strengthened the capacities of 50 trainers to deliver financial literacy trainings for communities in the country. Training manuals and materials were developed in English and Khmer languages, and covered contents such as professional facilitation skills and basic business management and bookkeeping tools for women entrepreneurs.
These activities were undertaken as part of ESCAP’ s programme on “Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship - Creating a Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” funded by the Government of Canada. The project endeavors to advance women’s economic empowerment and increase women entrepreneurs’ access to capital through innovative financing mechanisms, increase women entrepreneurs’ use of business development services and financial technologies, and support the development of gender-responsive business development and investment policies and programs. In addition to Cambodia, the programme is being implemented in Bangladesh, Fiji, Nepal, Samoa, and Viet Nam.