AMK Launches WASH loan

Phnom Penh: AMK Microfinance Institution Plc. is delighted to announce that we are launching the pilot phase of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) loan in two provinces namely Siem Reap and Preah Vihear, effective October 2016. Customers there can now enjoy using the loan for building new toilets, clean water connection pipe and buying water treatment equipment.

Water, sanitation and hygiene have been considered as a challenge issue in Cambodia, especially for those who have lived in countryside. According to the report on “Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water” done by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released in June 2015 stated that 12% of Cambodian people are relying on unimproved water sources for their daily consumption and 47% are still practicing open defecation in rural areas. As a result, they have faced high risks related to their food and health related issues, trapping them in the poverty cycle.

With mission is to help large numbers of poor people to improve their livelihood options through the delivery of appropriate and viable microfinance services, AMK has always created new financial services and products to meet customer’s demands and provide benefits to our clients particularly customers living at countryside. It is imperative for AMK to create the WASH loan, aiming to provide customers’ opportunity for building new toilets, clean water connection pipe and buying water treatment equipment. With the WASH loan, AMK strongly believes that welfare of Cambodians will be promoted and improved so that their standard of living can also be enhanced.

Mr. Suon Pisey, Head of Credit of AMK said that “We have foreseen the demand and the lack of using clean water and sanitation in the rural areas. AMK created the WASH loan with the purpose to promote Cambodian welfare as they can access to clean water and sanitation. As a result, Cambodian poverty can be reduced.” He added that “When people have access to clean water and sanitation, their health also improves. They gain more time for business and avoid getting burdened by the high cost of health treatment services.”

AMK is in partnership with Water.Org, an international NGO with head office at the United States of America who provides technical and other supports, to create this WASH loan. It gives opportunities to all Cambodians to get financing to build new toilets, clean water connection pipes and buying water treatment equipment in the future. Clients can ask for the WASH Loan in KHR, USD or THB with the loan size up to KHR 22 million or USD 5,500 or THB 220,000. Clients can request and pay back the loan at villages and AMK’s office nationwide or call 023 22 02 02 or 1800 200 200.