Technical Specialist (Business Planning) – SB-4

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist the government to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The Public-Social-Private Partnerships for Ecologically-Sound Agriculture and Resilient Livelihood in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin (PEARL) is a six-year project (2023 – 2029), funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). This adaptation project aims to enhance the climate resilience of farmers and local communities in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin (Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, and Oddar Meanchey) through public-social-private partnerships and improved access to growing segments of the premium agricultural product market while ensuring climate-resilient practices.

A Business Planning Consultant will be recruited to design and deliver a practical, targeted training program that builds the capacity of Commune Agriculture Officers (CAOs) and public extension providers to support farmer organizations in preparing business plans aligned with climate-resilient and high-value agricultural production. The consultant will focus exclusively on business planning and entrepreneurial skill development, enabling CAOs to guide farmer organizations (FOs) in developing crop-specific business plans that align with provincial value chain roadmaps and certification schemes (e.g. Organic, CamGAP, GI, SRP).

A Business Planning Consultant will be recruited to closely support the International Business Planning Consultant by facilitating local engagement, assisting in data collection, and ensuring effective implementation of training and business planning activities at the community level. The consultant will provide critical support in localizing training content, coordinating field activities, and offering continuous on-ground support to Commune Agriculture Officers (CAOs) and farmer organizations (FOs), including Modern Agricultural Communities (MACs), Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs), Community Forests (CFs), and Community Protected Areas (CPAs).

Reporting Lines

The Specialist will report to the Senior Project Officer and work under the direct technical guidance of the International Business Planning and work directly with the PEARL Component 2 Lead.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will design and implement a targeted training program for CAOs and public extension providers. This role focuses on equipping CAOs to assist farmer organizations in crafting detailed business plans aligned with climate-resilient practices and high-value markets. The incumbent ensures training materials are tailored to agricultural contexts, incorporating relevant certification schemes. Ongoing mentoring and support will enhance economic resilience and productivity in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Cambodia, and in close collaboration with FAO Representation teams, governmental counterparts, and other technical specialists, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks\:

Preparation and assessment (13 days)
• Support the international consultant in organizing meetings with the Department of Agricultural Cooperative Promotion (DACP) to present the assignment’s objectives and explore potential cooperation opportunities.
• Facilitate consultations and meetings with CAOs, PDAFFs, PDoEs, farmer organizations, and other local stakeholders to identify and validate business planning needs and challenges.
• Assist in conducting capacity assessments to identify skill gaps among CAOs regarding business planning, financial literacy, market access, and climate-resilient agriculture.
• Support the translation of key assessment documents between Khmer and English. Deliverable\: Needs Assessment Report.

Curriculum and training material development (17 days)
• Support the adaptation and localization of the Training of Trainers (ToT) curriculum and training materials developed by the International Consultant, ensuring alignment with local contexts, language, and cultural nuances.
• Assist the international consultant to consult and validate the training materials with relevant government line department, e.g. Department of Agricultural Cooperative Promotion (DACP) of the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) and other stakeholders.
• Translate training materials and resources between Khmer and English, ensuring accessibility and usability by local stakeholders.
• Ensure training content alignment with certification requirements (e.g. Organic, CamGAP, GI, SRP…). Deliverable\: Complete ToT curriculum and training package.

Training delivery and mentoring (30 days)
• Coordinate logistics, preparations, and arrangements for provincial-level ToT workshops conducted in Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear.
• Co-facilitate ToT sessions, ensuring active engagement and understanding by CAOs and extension agents.
• Support the implementation of pre- and post-training assessments to evaluate knowledge and skills gained by CAO participants.
• Provide regular field-based mentoring, technical support, and follow-up visits to CAOs and farmer organizations during the roll-out of business planning activities. Deliverable\: Provincial Training Completion Reports (4)

Monitoring, reporting, and documentation (20 days)
• Regularly monitor and document the quality and progress of business planning training delivered by CAOs and the effectiveness of business plans developed by farmer organizations.
• Facilitate linkages and communication between farmer groups, financial institutions, certification bodies, and market actors as needed.
• Capture and document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories highlighting gender-responsive and climate-resilient business planning cases.
• Prepare detailed provincial progress reports, summarizing field activities, outcomes, participant feedback, and recommendations.
• Support the International Consultant in preparing the final consultancy report, summarizing field-level achievements, challenges, and practical recommendations for sustaining local capacity in business planning. Deliverable\: Final consultancy report.
• Perform any other relevant tasks as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agricultural economics, rural development, agribusiness, business administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience supporting agricultural training, business planning, or financial literacy programs with farmer groups, cooperatives, or extension service providers.
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Cambodia or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working with agricultural cooperatives (ACs), farmer associations (FAs), community forests (CFs), Community Protected Areas (CPAs) or producer groups (PGs) in Cambodia, particularly in the context of enterprise development or market access.
• Familiarity with the value chains of high-value crops such as cashew, mango, organic rice, and vegetables, and with premium market standards in Cambodia.
• Knowledge of certification schemes (e.g. Organic, CamGAP, GI, SRP…) and their practical application at the farmer level is an advantage.
• Proven ability to support training logistics, facilitate participatory workshops, and mentor local actors, including Commune Agriculture Officers (CAOs).
• Experience translating or adapting technical materials between Khmer and English and supporting bilingual training delivery.
• Strong coordination and communication skills, with demonstrated experience liaising between international experts, government agencies, and rural stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel frequently to project sites in Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey, and Preah Vihear provinces.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact\: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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