The self-help-group is the community development project established by KAD in January 2002 with the aim of helping people to save money, and providing them with small amount of business capital. Each self-help group consists of 20-30 members.

Between 2000 and 2003, 20 groups were created with a total of 437 members (255 females, 212 males).  The members met once a month and contributed their monthly saving according to their means and a collective agreement. Each member was entitled to borrow from the fund at a 3% interest rate to start up or expand their business. KAD coordinated the self-help group and provided them the guidance and administrative support.

The results and impacts were the furtherance of sustainable development in Cambodia: the members had access to the business capital necessary to start-up or expand their own business and for other purposes, and they didn’t face the confiscation of their property by private money lenders.