KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: Technical Expert on Agri-Food Export Readiness
Sector: Investment & Trade, Agriculture, Export Readiness
Position Type: Part-Time
Period of Assignment: January to September 2024
Duration: up to 35 days
Duration/Level of Effort: Long-Term
Position Location: Remote (with travel to Cambodia)
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT & ROLE BACKGROUND
The CAPRED Facility is Australia’s flagship bilateral economic development program in Cambodia, focusing on economic recovery and resilience over the next four years, with a possible three-year extension.
The Facility supports Cambodia in implementing a range of necessary economic interventions and reforms to maintain the country’s economic transition. These interventions and reforms are primarily aimed at encouraging more productive and inclusive public and private investment, which promotes a resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy (RISE).
CAPRED interventions fall under three technical components including: Agriculture and Agro-processing; Trade, Investment and Enterprise Development and Infrastructure Development; and one Cross-Cutting component comprising: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI); Climate Resilient initiatives, and policy support. GEDSI is at the heart of all that CAPRED does.
CAPRED’s grant support for export readiness is a new initiative designed to help Cambodian agri-food businesses and exporters increase their export capacity and competitiveness to international markets. In this round, 14 agri-food businesses, that attended the Cambodia agri-food study mission to Australia in early May 2023, organised by CAPRED, are eligible to apply for the grant. In addition, the grant support on export readiness can be used for a variety of activities to help the enterprises based on their actual need assessment to become export ready especially for Australia market, such as on market intelligence, Market-fit-product development, contract negotiation and management, enhancing cost-competitiveness, marketing and branding. These agri-food enterprises are encouraged to submit individual proposals on their specific export readiness requests. Through the application process and criteria assessment, only up to 8 businesses will be selected for the grant, which will be awarded on a competitive basis and involves a co-investment partnership.
SUMMARY OF THE POSITION
The technical expert will be responsible for the following tasks:
1) Support CAPRED team to evaluate proposals from eligible agri-food businesses and exporters to export to Australia. This includes rapid assessment of the company’s products, markets readiness, export plans, and expected results. The expert is also expected to provide technical recommendations on each proposal for improvement, including an actual need assessment for the selected proposal(s).
2) Conduct a scoping review of the current services (both local and regional) to develop key cost estimates associated with post study mission requests.
3) Develop action plan for scaling up the export readiness mechanism in a sustainable manner. This is expected to identify other best practices on export readiness modality, and essentially potential partners or agencies for export readiness services to SMEs in Cambodia should be identified and CAPRED’s entry point to work with these potential partners/ agencies.
4) Ensure stakeholders will operate within Cowater and DFAT-related codes of conduct and policies including all inclusion-related policies such as Child Protection and PSEAH; antifraud and corruption; value for money and other policies.
KEY DELIVERABLES
The technical expert will deliver the following:
· Report on the evaluation of export readiness requests and proposals, including inputs and feedback to selection criteria and call for proposal procedure to be more effective.
· Draft and final Report on the scoping review of export readiness services and cost estimates.
· Draft and final report on plan for scaling up the export readiness mechanism in a sustainable manner. This is also expected to identify other best practices on export readiness modality, and essentially potential partners or agencies for export readiness services to SMEs in Cambodia should be identified and CAPRED’s entry point to work with these potential partners and agencies.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications
The technical expert must demonstrate your qualifications with the following:
· Advanced degree in International Trade/Business, Agribusiness, or a related field.
· At least five to seven years of experience in international retailers and work with SMEs to ensure products fit with targeted markets.
· At least five to seven years of experience in providing technical assessment to SMEs’ export readiness, export actualisation, especially agricultural and food products to international markets, preferably Australia or other premium markets.
· Excellent understanding and practical knowledge on export readiness programs and initiatives, related to support agri-food products especially from less developed countries to international markets, including Australia.
· Demonstrate ability to conduct technical assessments and develop recommendations to each proposal for export readiness support.
· Demonstrate excellent connections and network with international markets including Australia.
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in both written and verbal communication in English (Khmer language is a plus)
· Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to work with CAPRED team, Cambodian agri-food SMEs and other stakeholder to implement this assignment in an effective manner.
Additional Requirements
The technical expert should be familiar with the following:
· The Australian market and its requirements for agricultural and food products.
· The Cambodian agri-food sector and its export potential.
· The export readiness process and the challenges faced by SMEs in this area.
· Sustainable business practices and their relevance to export readiness.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates are encouraged to apply by 5:00PM (Phnom Penh time) on 15 December 2023/as soon as possible.
Please send your cover letter and CV with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees with your expected daily rate (for consultants) to recruitment@capred.org mentioning the position you are applying for in the subject line “Technical expert on agri-food export readiness”.
Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. Cowater does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, age, or any other basis protected by law.
We thank all applicants, however only those shortlisted will be contacted.
