Historique

Poverty reduction and growth are the highest priorities of the Government. The Rectangular Strategy Phase III reaffirms government’s commitment to prioritize policies and investment in support of agriculture; infrastructure; private sector development and employment; and human resources development. The global economic crisis and the rise in food and fuel prices have led the RGC to adopt a dual approach. This aims to increase national competitiveness and diversify the economy; and to expand the social protection and safety nets[1]

The government has identified agriculture as the top priority for Cambodia’s socio-economic development, focusing on increasing productivity and diversifying within this sector. This is clearly reflected in the Rectangular Strategy III and the NSDP IV both covering the period 2014-2018. Similarly, the Cambodia Trade Integration Strategy 2014-2018 (CTIS 2014-2018) stresses the need for Cambodia to strengthen and accelerate the diversification of its export base above and beyond its original, two core export sectors – garments and tourism.  To support this major strategic orientation, CTIS identifies: (1) 10 product and service export potentials for export development focus (including cassava) (2) “cross-cutting” reforms and institutional developments required to unleash growth in those potential exports; and, (3) capacity developments in areas of trade policy and Aid for Trade management. The strategy was endorsed by the Sub-Steering Committee on Trade and Trade-Related Investment in December 2013 (the Committee serves as National Steering Committee for all Aid for Trade in Cambodia) and launched officially by H.E. Prime Minister Hun Sen in February 2014

This is also in line with the results of the country’s Trade Policy Review undertaken in 2011 in partnership with the World Trade Organization (WTO) that calls for Cambodia to move away from its dependency on garment and rice and urges to diversify and expand the country’s export basis.

Cassava is the second largest agricultural crop in Cambodia and growing rapidly.  Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) indicates production of nearly 4.250 million MT in 2010, up from 3.5 million MT in 2009.  MAFF sources estimate that 2013 production reached almost 8 million MT. The fast growing importance of the sector for export diversification and export revenues cannot be underestimated.  Additionally, the sector might have been generating anywhere between $300 to $400 million worth of “informal” export revenues in 2013.  Even though Cassava has become the second largest agricultural crop in term or income, employment, hectares cultivated, and exports (more on this in the next section), there is very little technical assistance support provided to the sector.

The Ministry of Commerce and UNDP Cambodia have partnered since 2008 to tackle the above challenges and provide know-how and best practices to Cambodia’s cassava sector. One key instrument developed under this cooperation was a Value Chain Analysis of the cassava sector carried out in 2009. Five year later, increased investment in the sector coupled with interests from new buyers (in particular from China) for raw and processed cassava products meant that Cambodia’s cassava value chain is changing deeply. As a result, UNDP wishes to update the existing Value Chain study as a tool to assess where support provided through the CEDEP II project could be best used.

[1] Cambodia CPAP 2011-2015, chapter 2.18

Devoirs et responsabilités

The project is working with the private sector to enter into new markets and increase export volumes to existing markets. Since entering new markets and maitaining market shares are the key challenges of the Cambodian exporters and processors, the project, in cooperation with IFC/World Bank, conducts a detailed market research to learn about the market trend, competition, buyer perception, market structure and business enabling environment for new exporters. Based on the findings and experiences of successful companies, the project will produce a market penetration strategy and guideline for the Cambodian exporters and processors to be ready to promote and sell their products in those markets.

Through this assignment, the consultant expects:

• To conduct detailed market analysis on the potential markets for Cambodian native starch identified by UNDP. The markets include but not limited to India, Bangadesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, United Kingdom and Germany
• Based on the findings from the market analysis, provide recommendations and practical strategies on how to promote Cambodian starch products in the markets
• Based on experiences and lessons learned, produce a brief guideline for Cambodian exporters and processors on how to prepare themselves for successful penetration into the markets

The consulting should develop a holistic analytical framework which relevant market aspects should include such as trade stystem, trade map, trade competitiveness, and business enabling environment as well as non market factors (import policies, trade agreements, product standards, protectionism of domestic industries etc). Below are key guiding aspects:

• Market structure
• Business enabling environment
• Market results
• Trade map

Interested Offerors must visit this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=40740 to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference, and Document Templates to be included when submitting this online application.

Compétences

• Time management (in managing deliverables)
• Team management
• Professionalism, courtesy, patience
• Outstanding inter-cultural communication, networking and coordination skills.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education: 

At least Master Degree in International Business, Business Administration and Trade or related fields.

Experience:

• Proven track record in managing large scale international market research (both quantitative and qualitative) and trade analytical works;
• Broad international experience in the international agricultural commodity trade, especially in relation to cassava native starch;
• Demonstrated capacity to network and work with a wide range of stakeholders in different countries, including businesses, international organizations, business support institutions and business associations;
• At least 5 years of experience in managing and leading international market research, excellent analytical skills and good knowledge of agricultural commodity;

Language Requirement:

Excellent written and oral English; knowledge of Khmer is an asset.

Interested Offerors must visit this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=40740 to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference, and Document Templates to be included when submitting this online application.

UNDP reserves right to reject any applications that is incomplete.

Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

Interested Offerors are required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system as the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email sereyvattana.chan@undp.org and cc procurement.kh@undp.org . While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.