Description of assignment title

Agribusiness Analyst

Assignment country

Cambodia

Duty stations

Phnom-Penh

Work location

On UN premises

Expected start date

02/01/2027

Duration

12 months

Sustainable Development Goal

Decent work and economic growth

Host entity

FAO KHM

Modality

Onsite

Type

International

Volunteer category

Associate UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

Mission and objectives

FAO Office was opened in Cambodia in 1979 as the Liaison Office and full Representation Office was opened in Phnom Penh in 1994. Since 1979, the FAO Representation in Cambodia has contributed both emergency and technical assistance to the Royal Government of Cambodia in many areas including agricultural productivity, diversification, irrigation, animal production and health, fisheries, technical information management and statistics, food security, consumer protection and food safety, promotion of access to new markets, forestry, environment, climate change, Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) and small-scale agro-industry.

Context

Under the Agricultural Value Chains thematic area, FAO Cambodia supports the transformation of Cambodia’s agrifood systems through agricultural value chain development, investment promotion, and policy support initiatives that enhance the productivity, competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of the agriculture sector. As part of these efforts, FAO works closely with government institutions, development partners, private-sector stakeholders, producer organizations, and financial institutions to identify and address key constraints to agricultural development, facilitate strategic investments, and promote inclusive, market-oriented growth. The volunteer will contribute to the implementation and monitoring of agricultural value chain development projects and support investment promotion initiatives, including those under the Cambodia Agriculture Forum and Exhibition (CAFE). The assignment will involve supporting the identification and prioritization of investment opportunities, conducting investment and policy analyses, facilitating stakeholder engagement and public-private dialogue, and assisting in the development of evidence-based recommendations to improve the business and investment environment for Cambodia’s agriculture sector. Through this role, the volunteer will gain practical experience in agrifood systems transformation, agricultural investment, value chain development, trade and investment promotion, and policy analysis, while contributing to FAO Cambodia’s efforts to advance sustainable agricultural development, private-sector engagement, and rural economic growth.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Assistant FAOR (Programme), the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Support the Country Office in monitoring and implementing agricultural value chain development projects, tracking progress against work plans, identifying emerging challenges and changing contexts, and recommending improvements to achieve project outcomes and objectives.
Support the development of trade and investment needs and opportunities for strategic commodities identified through the Cambodia Agriculture Forum and Exhibition (CAFE) and related initiatives.
Assist in conducting agricultural value chain analysis and developing evidence-based investment cases for priority commodities.
Support the promotion and realization of identified trade and investment opportunities by facilitating stakeholder engagement, business linkages, public-private partnerships, and investor outreach activities.
Assist in conducting analytical work on policies, regulations, trade barriers, and investment constraints affecting the productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability of Cambodia's agriculture sector, and provide recommendations for improvement.
Contribute to developing concept note, project idea notes, and proposal related to agricultural value chain.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

1 month

Donor priorities

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Additional eligibility criteria

This assignment is funded by the Government of the Czech Republic and therefore specific criteria apply:

Only nationals of the Czech Republic can be considered.
Candidates who already served on a UN Volunteer assignment funded by the Government of the Czech Republic are not eligible.

APPLICATION - You may apply to a maximum of three assignments and indicate the order of preference in the ‘Additional remarks’ field when filling in the application form.

SELECTION - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The selection will be done by the UN Host Entity at the level of the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

No experience required

Languages

English, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Agricultural Development, Development Economics, Economics, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field.

Competencies and values

Accountability
Adaptability and Flexibility
Building Trust
Client Orientation
Commitment and Motivation
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Communication
Creativity
Empowering Others
Ethics and Values
Integrity
Judgement and Decision-making
Knowledge Sharing
Leadership
Managing Performance
Planning and Organizing
Professionalism
Respect for Diversity
Self-Management
Technological Awareness
Vision
Working in Teams

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest and/or experience (up to two years) in:

Experience in agricultural value chain development, agribusiness, investment promotion, market analysis, rural development, project implementation, or policy analysis.
Experience supporting research, data analysis, stakeholder consultations, investment studies, business development, trade promotion, or public-private partnerships in the agriculture sector is desirable.
Familiarity with Cambodia's agriculture sector, agrifood systems, and related development challenges is an advantage.
Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in:

Knowledge of agricultural value chains, agribusiness development, and agrifood systems.
Strong analytical, research, and quantitative skills.
Ability to conduct market, competitiveness, and investment analyses.
Understanding of agricultural policies, trade, investment, and private sector development.
Strong report writing and communication skills in English and Khmer.
Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data and prepare technical reports.
Strong stakeholder engagement, coordination, and facilitation skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
Good organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
Knowledge of project monitoring, results-based management, and development programmes is an asset.

Area(s) of expertise

Economics, poverty reduction, livelihoods, Finance, accounting, Natural resources management

Driving license

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

Cambodia offers a relatively comfortable living environment for international personnel, particularly in Phnom Penh and other major cities. A wide range of housing options, healthcare facilities, international schools, banking services, and telecommunications are available. Essential goods and services are readily accessible, and internet and mobile connectivity are generally reliable. Overall, Cambodia provides a welcoming environment with a reasonable cost of living compared to many countries in the region.

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

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