Emerging Markets

Developing Strategy for a Microfinance Institution
A leading commercial microfinance institution needed help envisioning the next three years in a financial marketplace that is both young and dynamic, and came to EMC for assistance.

EMC facilitated a process with the client for better understanding the fundamentals of the sector. Our fact-based assessment and sizing of the microfinance market in Cambodia indicated potential market saturation, driving the need for sector consolidation. We helped the organisation to prepare to take advantage of that change and the opportunities that it would bring.

With agreement on the assessment of the microfinance market, we brainstormed and evaluated a broad range of strategic options with the client. “What were the key strengths and weaknesses of the institution, and how did those fit with the market fundamentals?” “Should the institution reposition itself as a bank?” “Should it focus on partnering with a bank to mitigate the regulatory limitations affecting non-bank financial institutions?”

The project team proposed the most appropriate strategic option, directed by close discussions with the management team of the client and informed by our extensive on-the-ground market knowledge and an understanding of the key drivers of the client’s business. In this engagement, EMC worked for and gained the trust of management and the Board of Directors, setting the stage for implementation of our strategic recommendations. A Board Member of the client credited the EMC team with advancing the firm’s strategic planning process, “2 years ahead, in 3 months”.
 

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Provincial Investment Profiles. EMC has been contracted by DAI to produce Investment Profiles for six Cambodian provinces for the USAID Cambodia MSME Project. This follows the success of profiles EMC produced in 2008 for six other provinces. The first six profiles can be accessed here.

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