Since its pilot in 2021, Give a Day has grown into a trusted platform for Cambodia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. To date, 45 Give a Day events across Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Battambang have engaged more than 1,481 participants from over 475 organisations.
The theme of the two provincial editions responded directly to priorities raised by entrepreneurs during previous Action Give a Day sessions and workshops. Participants had consistently requested practical support in cash flow management, financial record keeping, accounting, and preparation for accessing business finance. Earlier Give a Day discussions in Siem Reap also found that local businesses often offered strong products and services but lacked the financial foundations required to produce clear financial statements and demonstrate readiness to potential investors. The sessions were therefore designed to strengthen financial discipline and help SMEs use financial information more effectively for planning, decision making, and access to finance.
The one-day sessions were facilitated by Mrs. Pich Rath Mony, a financial mentor and trainer with more than 24 years of experience in financial management, planning, budgeting, grants, and business operations. The same curriculum was delivered in both provinces, covering financial management and accounting alongside business financing options. Although the topics and facilitator were the same, the composition and existing knowledge of the two participant groups shaped how the discussions developed in each location.
Both sessions examined the difference between standardised financial records, which can be understood by financial institutions, investors, and other external stakeholders, and informal records used mainly within a business or family. Participants were introduced to the profit and loss statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet as complementary tools for assessing business performance and financial position. Exercises on financial terminology, fixed and variable costs, and budgeting helped participants connect these concepts with capital planning, operating expenses, and future financial requirements.
In Battambang, the session primarily engaged business owners from sectors including education, food processing, and retail. Participants entered the session with more limited familiarity with financial terminology and structured business records, and many of their questions were grounded in their current business practices. Although several participants employed accounting staff, the discussion indicated a continuing need for owners themselves to understand the financial information required to plan, assess performance, and communicate with potential finance providers. Participants reported improved understanding of financial management, budgeting, the use of financial data, lender and investor requirements, and alternative ways to access finance.
The Siem Reap group began from a different position. Almost half of the participants worked in accounting or finance roles within SMEs and generally demonstrated a stronger foundation in financial management. For these participants, the session served partly as a technical refresher and enabled deeper discussion on financing readiness, the expectations of lenders and investors, and the role of accurate financial information in establishing business credibility. Business owners within the group particularly valued the facilitator’s ability to simplify technical concepts and connect them with practical decisions. Some participants nevertheless observed that detailed accounting and bookkeeping were less relevant to their roles than understanding how to interpret financial information for business decisions and access to capital.
The financing component enabled participants in both provinces to compare credit and loans, financing from friends and family, angel investment, joint ventures, and support from development partners or government. Participants examined the advantages and disadvantages of these sources and considered the information, and documentation businesses should prepare when seeking capital. While the Battambang discussion strengthened foundational understanding of financing requirements and loan readiness, the stronger technical base in Siem Reap allowed participants to engage more deeply with how financial statements, business performance, and management credibility affect relationships with lenders and investors.
The differences between the two groups were also reflected in their requests for follow-up support. Battambang participants expressed interest in taxation and business legalisation, suggesting a need to connect financial record keeping with formalisation and regulatory responsibilities. In Siem Reap, some participants requested a two-day format to explore the topics in greater depth, while others called for stronger emphasis on using financial data for decision making and adapting the tools to different sectors, including hospitality. These requests indicate that future provincial support may need to combine foundational financial literacy with more advanced and sector-specific applications.
Post-event feedback from both provinces indicated high satisfaction, improved knowledge of financial management, and strong interest in future Give a Day events. Most participants reported making new connections. Across the two locations, the feedback also demonstrated the importance of tailoring financial capability support to the participants’ roles and existing knowledge. Battambang participants required stronger foundations in financial terminology and record-keeping, while the Siem Reap group was positioned to engage more deeply with financing readiness, lender and investor expectations, and the use of financial information to strengthen business credibility.
The fourth Give a Day in Battambang and seventh Give a Day in Siem Reap reaffirmed the platform’s role in translating locally identified needs into practical learning and peer exchange. By connecting day-to-day accounting practices with business planning and access to finance, the sessions supported entrepreneurs to move from informal financial management to more structured and evidence-based decision-making. The different experiences across the two provinces also reinforced the need for future support to respond to participants’ starting points, business sectors, and priorities for growth.
Give a Day is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Khmer Enterprise (KE), and co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise (KE) and Swisscontact through the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) initiative.