Tissue Culture Expert for Cashew Variety

KEY INFORMATION
Position: Tissue Culture Expert for Cashew Variety
Reports to: Trade, Investment and Agri-food Innovation Lead
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Period of Assignment: August 2026 to July 2027
Duration:  up to 90 days (virtual and including travel to Cambodia)
Employment type: International Consultant
Contractual arrangement: Eligible for individual international expert
 
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The CAPRED Facility is Australia's flagship bilateral economic development program in Cambodia. 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 and climate are central to all CAPRED's work.

POSITION SUMMARY
To advance Cambodia's agri-food innovation ecosystem, CAPRED is seeking for a highly qualified Cashew Tissue Culture Expert. The expert will play a crucial role in improving the quality, uniformity, and availability of cashew planting materials. This consultancy aims to build local capacity and develop a viable protocol for the micropropagation of high-value Cambodian cashew varieties, particularly the M-23 cashew variety. The successful candidate will work closely with the CAPRED team, researchers from the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), and the lead plant breeder of the M-23 cashew variety to establish a foundation for a modern cashew propagation system in Cambodia.
 
RESPONSIBILITES
Phase 1: Information gathering and Recommendations

• Develop an inception report and workplan outlining the methodology, timeline, stakeholder engagement approach, and key assessment activities.
• Undertake a scoping assessment of tissue culture propagation for the M-23 cashew variety in Cambodia, drawing on Australian expertise to assess technical feasibility, commercial potential, and scalability.
• Engage with key industry stakeholders, including the M-23 plant breeder, nursery operators, farmers, processors, researchers, and other relevant actors to identify opportunities, constraints, and priority areas for investment and capacity development.
• Assess the institutional, technical, and commercial requirements necessary to establish a sustainable tissue culture system for Cambodian cashew varieties, particularly M-23.
• Identify practical entry points for CAPRED support and provide recommendations to strengthen commercialization, industry adoption, and long-term sustainability.
• Submit a final assessment report consolidating findings, recommendations for potential CAPRED interventions, implementation options, indicative budget estimates, and a proposed roadmap for scaling sustainable tissue culture propagation of Cambodian cashew varieties, particularly the M-23 variety.

Phase 2: Potential Implementation Support - The consultant may be engaged to undertake phase 2 implementation work, subject to satisfactory performance under phase 1 and CAPRED's requirements.

• Based on the study findings, the consultant may undertake the following scope of work:
  • Develop and validate tissue culture propagation protocols for selected Cambodian cashew varieties, with a primary focus on the M-23 variety.
  • Lead the technical implementation of tissue culture activities, including explant initiation, multiplication, rooting, acclimatisation, and quality assurance processes.
  • Design and deliver practical training and capacity-building programs for selected partners, including researchers, plant breeders, and commercial nursery operators.
  • Support the establishment and management of nursery and field trials for tissue-cultured planting materials, including the development of technical guidelines and monitoring frameworks.
  • Collaborate with CAPRED and local partners to monitor plantlet performance, assess commercial viability, and identify pathways for scaling tissue culture propagation within Cambodia's cashew sector.

 SELECTION CRITERIA

• At least a master's degree in plant biotechnology, Horticulture, Plant Science, or a related field, preferably Australian expert.
• A minimum of 10 years of demonstrated experience in plant tissue culture and micropropagation like cashew variety.
• Direct experience with cashew (Anacardium occidentale) tissue culture is highly desirable and will be a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering technical training and capacity-building programs to researchers and technicians.
• Familiarity with the Cambodian cashew context is a plus.
• Excellent communication and mentorship skills, with an ability to work effectively in a cross-cultural environment.
• Experience working on international development projects, preferably in Southeast Asia.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in implementing GEDSI principles and climate resilience into assessments and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to work constructively with a diverse team, including the CAPRED team, other experts, and CAPRED's partners.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Please send your cover letter and CV with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees with your daily rate expectation to recruitment@capred.org mentioning the position you apply for in the subject line "Tissue Culture Expert for Cashew".
 
Closing Date: We are seeking the most qualified candidate and therefore do not have a formal application deadline. We encourage interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis, starting one to two weeks after this announcement is posted.
 
Women are highly encouraged to apply.
 
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.
 
ABOUT US
Founded in 1985, Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company. Headquartered in Ottawa and with corporate hubs in Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Manila, Nairobi, Singapore and Stockholm, Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies since 2017. 

We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow with Cowater International.