Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei)

The overall goal of the 3Ei is for the private sector to actively contribute to the Cambodia's socio-economic development and attaining the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The achievement of this overall goal will be driven by two outcomes: enhanced coordination, and collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and increased business performance and investments in the ecosystem.
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Phnom Penh
11.5563738
104.9282099
Project duration
2023 - 2027
Financed by
  • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC
  • Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
  • Khmer Enterprise

The Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) is a five-year initiative (2023 – 2027) implemented by Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact and co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Ministry of Economy and Finance (Khmer Enterprise). The initiative works closely with the entrepreneurial ecosystem actors in Cambodia to strengthen Cambodia's socio-economic development. The overall goal of the 3Ei is for the private sector to actively contribute to the Cambodia's socio-economic development and attaining the goals of the SDGs. 

The Project

The approach of the 3EI project sets up the four intervention areas in a way that the first three help to blend finance for the impact investors and help decrease the capital. This should then see an increase in investments in impact start-up and growth enterprises.

  • Enhance Connections and Collaborations Among System’s Actors

Under this Intervention Area, the 3EI initiative aims to scale up the Give a Day, Ecosystem Builders Network (EBN) and CAMESCO and institutionalize the three collaboration platforms.

  • Strengthen Mentorship in Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Under this Intervention Area, the 3EI initiative aims to collaborate with the Entrepreneurs In Residence (EIRs) from the Swiss EP program and bring the EIRs to Cambodia as per the demand of the Ecoystem Support Organisations (ESOs). The initiative will also help ESOs for applying a gender lens to their organization, program, and ecosystem through the Gender Lens Incubation and Acceleration (GLIA) toolkit and “Promote Cambodia Gender Smart Entrepreneurial and Investment Ecosystem”.

  • Establish Cambodia Blended Finance Services Facility

Under this Intervention Area, the 3Ei initiative aims to address the financial and non-financial barriers faced by early and growth enterprises and start-ups through the Cambodia Blended Finance Service Facility.

  • Strengthen data to foster investments

Under this Intervention Area, the 3Ei initiative aims to track start-up performance as well as identify gaps and opportunities to improve supporting structure. It urges an urgent need to track start-up benchmark index to allocate resources (funding programs) in the right direction. Additionally, the initiative will also develop an investment index to reduce perceived risk of Cambodia market and potentially attract new investors. Furthermore, the SNA report conducted by Impact Hub Phnom Penh and Swisscontact in 2019, recommended a detailed, regular update of data on a periodic basis. Under the 3EI initiative, the sample size of the study will be expanded to generate a picture over time of how the ecosystem is evolving. 

Project Goals

The achievement of this overall goal will be driven by two outcomes.

  1. Enhanced coordination, and collaboration within the entrepreneurial ecosystem; and
  2. Increased business performance and investments in the ecosystem.

Expected Results

News

Cambodia
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
11.03.2024
Give a Day 21: Unveiling the Key Findings on Gender Lens Investing Landscape Study in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, March 6th, 2024, the 21st  edition of Give a Day was successfully organized by Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) to share the key findings of the Cambodia Gender Lens Investing (GLI) Landscape Study conducted in 2023 and published in 2024. This workshop served as a crucial event for advancing gender equality and sustainable development through inclusive investment practices in Cambodia. 
Cambodia
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
05.02.2024
Give a Day 20: Paving the Way for Impactful Entrepreneurship in Cambodia 
The 20th edition of Give a Day unfolded on February 1st, 2024, under the topic “Navigating Impact Management and Transparency to Achieve the SDGs: Learning from Global Markets." co-hosted by Khmer Enterprise, Swisscontact and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG). 
Cambodia
Entrepreneurial ecosystems
19.12.2023
EBN 6: Charting Cambodia's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Roadmap with Key Supporting Functions in Focus
In a continued effort to transform Cambodia's entrepreneurial landscape, the Entrepreneurship Builder Networking (EBN) convened its 6th meeting on November 1, 2023, marking the third and final gathering for the year.