Technical Specialist (Access to Finance)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Job Overview:
The Technical Specialist (Access to Finance) plays a crucial role in the implementation of the PEARL project, which focuses on enhancing climate resilience among farmers and local communities in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin. This position is designed to strengthen climate-resilient agricultural finance by improving access to inclusive financial services for smallholder farmers and farmer organizations. The specialist will be responsible for supporting investment readiness of business plans, facilitating partnerships with financial service providers, and building capacity for inclusive and sustainable rural finance. The role emphasizes the design and implementation of innovative financial products, assessing investment readiness, and ensuring that financial solutions are gender-responsive and climate-aligned. The specialist will work closely with various stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the FARM mechanism, which aims to assist smallholder farmers in adopting climate-resilient practices and technologies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Technical Specialist (Access to Finance) will undertake a variety of tasks, including:

• Supporting the design and implementation of inclusive financial access approaches for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.
• Assessing the financial capacity and investment readiness of target farmer organizations.
• Reviewing and strengthening financial structures and co-financing proposals in business plans.
• Contributing to agro-insurance development.
• Identifying existing value chain finance models and proposing scaling options.
• Designing climate-aligned loan products in collaboration with financial service providers.
• Providing technical inputs to FARM financial procedures and conducting financial reviews of business plans.
• Collaborating with service providers to improve financial documentation and projections for farmer organizations.
• Mapping and assessing financial products and facilitating dialogue between farmer organizations and financial institutions. 1
• Conducting financial literacy training and building capacity among stakeholders. 1
• Liaising with government and other partners to promote climate-sensitive financial products.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree in finance, agricultural economics, business administration, rural development, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in rural finance, agricultural credit, value-chain financing, or financial inclusion is required. Candidates must have a working knowledge of English (C1) and fluency in Khmer. Additionally, candidates should be nationals of Cambodia and demonstrate core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The position requires a university degree in a relevant field such as finance, agricultural economics, business administration, or rural development. Higher educational qualifications must be obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 5 years of professional experience in areas related to rural finance, agricultural credit, or financial inclusion. Experience in designing and implementing inclusive financial products for smallholder farmers and agribusinesses is essential. Familiarity with value chains of high-value crops and knowledge of premium market standards is also beneficial. Candidates should have experience working with farmer organizations and agricultural cooperatives in Cambodia, particularly in the context of enterprise development or market access.

Languages:
Fluency in Khmer is mandatory, and a working knowledge of English (C1) is required. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The position may require frequent travel to project provinces, including Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, and Oddar Meanchey, to meet stakeholders and support field implementation. All travel must be approved in advance and will be reimbursed according to FAO rules and procedures. FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates will be assessed against the minimum requirements outlined in the job description.