Job Description
The Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain Program (CAVAC) is a large agricultural development program funded by the Australian Government. It focuses on ensuring accelerated growth in the value of agricultural production and smallholder income in the rice-based farming systems.
Term: For a period of three weeks, of which at least one will be in Cambodia. Expected start date in March
Reports to: CAVAC Team Leader
Location: Phnom Penh with travel within Cambodia as required
Study Background:
Farmers and businesses in the agricultural sector claim that a shortage within the unskilled labour market is becoming a serious constraint for business. Temporary labour migration to neighbouring countries is mentioned as one of the causes. However, currently there is no reliable data available to substantiate this claim.
This labour study aims to understand the current and possible future situation within the Cambodian labour market for unskilled and low-skilled labour including the duration and severity of the labour shortage. This will assist the Program in planning for future activities.
Methodology:
CAVAC is seeking a consultant to assess the present and future labour market for unskilled and low-skilled labour within Cambodia. The consultant will be expected to complete the following tasks:
- Perform desk based research of existing literature on the Cambodian labour market and labour migration both locally and internationally through formal and informal channels taking into account the demography, migration destinations, seasonality, wages and industry/sector specific labour absorption;
- Analyse CAVAC’s village survey field data and provide a model of five trends of labour demand and supply to develop scenarios for labour participation and wage growth;
- Prepare a brief and draft report for comments half way through the assignment;
- Prepare a final report with clear indication of whether there is a shortage of labour in agriculture or rural activities within Cambodia, and the possible impacts of this on relevant sectors; and
- Present a short presentation in Cambodia for a small group of interested partners on the report findings.
Key Responsibilities
For collecting information the consultant could use a combination of existing data within and outside Cambodia, combined with information from key labour market informants such as those involved in labour migration or major industries like the garment industry. Data collected from a well sampled country wide village survey will also be available for analysis.
Several future scenarios should be developed based on demographic data, migration and wage trends, industry demands and other elements placed in labour market models that are relevant in the region.
The present labour market appears so dynamic that data as recent as three or five years old may no longer be relevant. The study should also avoid basing the conclusion on perceptions and guesses of ‘key experts’.
Work will be required to take place in Cambodia with a possible visit to Thailand to be considered.
For more information, please download the attached Terms of Reference.
Key Selection Criteria:
- Extensive experience in labour market assessments;
- Experience in conducting field research in Cambodia or the region; and
- Experience in labour market modelling with the ability to develop indicators for labour demand, labour supply and labour market matching.
Employee Benefits
The position will be remunerated in line with DFAT’s Adviser Remuneration Framework (refer website http://aid.dfat.gov.au/Publications/Documents/adviser-remuneration-framework.docx
This position will fall within Discipline Group C, Job Level 3 (short term).
Contact
As part of the application the following information is to be submitted:
- Expression of Interest addressing the criteria stated in the Terms of Reference and detailed information on previous experience in similar research in Cambodia or the region.
- Proposed workplan and methodology for the assignment;
- Relevant previous publications on quantitative market assessments if available; and
- Curriculum Vitae.
Expressions of interest/proposals addressing the criteria stated in the ToR and a CV is to be submitted to:
Mr Chhun C. Tate at the CAVAC office
Paragon Building, 138 Norodom Boulevard, Phnom Penh.
Email: chhunctate@cavackh.org
No later than 3.00pm on 5 February 2014.
Confidentiality Statement:
All data and information received from CAVAC and its Partner Representative for the purpose of this assignment are to be treated confidentially and are only to be used in connection with the execution of these Terms of Reference.
All intellectual property rights arising from the execution of these Terms of Reference are assigned to CAVAC and its Partner Representative.
The contents of written materials obtained and used in this assignment may not be disclosed to any third parties without the expressed advance written authorisation of the CAVAC and its Partner Representative.
