microloans
Members of Cambodian youth group Khmer Thavrak protest outside the offices of Prasac and AMK, two of the country’s largest microfinance lenders, in Battambang province on May 9, 2020 (Licadho)

Three NGOs Allege Investor Ignored Own Evidence of Microfinance Abuse

Three human rights organizations have filed a complaint against a Netherlands-based microfinance investor on the grounds that it violated international responsible business standards and for years ignored its own evidence of harms linked to predatory lending practices.

Members of Cambodian youth group Khmer Thavrak protest outside the offices of Prasac and AMK, two of the country’s largest microfinance lenders, in Battambang province on May 9, 2020 (Licadho)

Report Calls on Germany to End Support for Cambodian Microfinance

A large public survey of rural Cambodian households commissioned by the German government to investigate microloans found over-indebtedness, pressure to sell land and aggressive door-to-door marketing, and calls for phasing out public funds from the sector.