International Expert on Government-Private Sector Forum (G-PSF)

KEY INFORMATION
Job Title: International Expert on Government-Private Sector Forum (G-PSF)
Sector: Customs, Trade and Investment Climate
Position Type: Part-time
Duration/Level of Effort: Short-term
Position Location: Cambodia and home-based
Contractual arrangement: International recruitment

SUMMARY OF THE PROJECT
The Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) is Australia's flagship bilateral economic development Facility in Cambodia, focusing on economic recovery and resilience until May 2027, with a possible three-year extension.

The Facility supports Cambodia to 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.
 
CONTEXT
The Cambodian Government-Private Sector Forum (G-PSF) was established in 1999. The G-PSF is a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) mechanism. It is the highest level of public and private sector engagement in Cambodia. The G-PSF is structured around a plenary forum chaired by the Prime Minister of Cambodia. This forum is officially recognised as a Cabinet Meeting. Consequently, decisions made during the G-PSF are considered formal decisions of the executive branch of government.

Under the G-PSF plenary platform, 16 Working Groups (WGs) have been established by government Sub-Decree. The WGs represent specific industries or, in some cases, thematic areas (e.g. law, tax and governance). The government is represented by the responsible line ministry, while private sector representation is led by the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) G-PSF Task Force. Cambodian Business Membership Organisations (BMOs) are an official part of each WG. The WGs are co-chaired by the relevant RGC Minister and a designated representative of the private sector for each working group.

CAPRED's work on the G-PSF is aimed at enhancing the efficacy and efficiency of the G-PSF model. This implies that issues raised within the G-PSF have a higher chance of moving from issue discovery at the level of the Private Sector Working Group (PSWG) to issue resolution or escalation. The Australian Government has a longstanding history of supporting the G-PSF. The initial support lasted from 2002 to 2007 with a joint Australian /World Bank Group collaboration.

The Australian Government, through CAPRED, recommenced support in March 2023. The objective of this support is to establish a robust, sustainable, and institutionalised G-PSF. A significant amount of work has already been undertaken since 2023 to support the revitalisation of the G-PSF mechanism. CAPRED's support is now moving to a new phase of support. The key priorities now are to build systems and processes to ensure consistent application across working groups, develop reporting systems for Cambodia's senior leaders to monitor progress against promised reforms, and support the CDC and CCC to introduce governance reforms that enhance the functionality and legitimacy of the G-PSF as Cambodia's primary mechanism for PPD.

The G-PSF has a large number of institutional stakeholders. This assignment requires close collaboration with the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the Customs-Private Sector Partnership Mechanism (CPPM), the Tax-Private Sector Partnership Mechanism, G-PSF line ministries, and other business membership organisations stakeholders, including those representing women and marginalised people. It will also work seamlessly with other development partners in respective sectors and closely collaborate with all CAPRED technical teams.
 
SCOPE OF WORK
CAPRED is looking for an international PPD expert to provide technical support to the program's G-PSF team.
In consultation with the CDC and the CCC G-PSF Coordinating Committees, and other G-PSF stakeholders, provide high-level technical support to develop short-, medium-, and long-term vision and strategies, including supporting reform measures to enhance efficacy and legitimacy of the G-PSF. Key tasks are to support the G-PSF technical team to:

• Encourage governance reforms for PSWGs that enhance legitimacy and enable more inclusive membership
• Support the private sector working groups to develop a strategic advocacy agenda, a membership service offering and a resource mobilisation strategy.
• Secure approval for Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that formalise the operation of the G-PSF Working Group structure.
• Provide technical advice on the development of sustainable transparency systems, such as the G-PSF Management Information System (MIS), website, and SOPs.
• Work with relevant stakeholders to design a strategic communication plan that enhances and supports transparency.
• Provie technical support to develop and implement an M&E framework for the G-PSF.
• Work with CDC to improve the quality of the six-monthly G-PSF progress report, esp. embedding supporting evidence in the reports.
• Design behavior change interventions to enhance inclusive participation in G-PSF linked activities.
• Work with CDC to provide technical support to implement WGs processes.
• Support selected PSWGs to develop a strategic communication and advocacy agenda, including the use of the website and other media platforms to build knowledge, transparent information-sharing and enhance legitimacy among the private sector.
• Oversee escalation of structural challenges to the CDC and CCC G-PSF Coordinating Committees.
• Work with other CAPRED domain teams (Rice, Cashew, infrastructure, trade and investment, GEDSI, climate etc.) to identify entry points to leverage CAPRED's broader impact.
• Support implementation of a partnership agreement between CAPRED partners with GIZ on provincial G-PSF pilots.
• Technical and strategic support for the preparation toward the 20th G-PSF plenary.

*Note: The above tasks are indicative and may alter based on changes in the context and operating environment. A detailed workplan, with deliverables and timelines, will be developed in consultation with the successful candidate. 
 
SELECTION CRITERIA
Qualifications:
These tasks require multidisciplinary skillsets. The international expert must demonstrate the following:

• A minimum of 10 years of global practical experience in designing, managing and advising on Public Private Dialogue (PPD) mechanisms, particularly multi sectoral PPD engagements.
• This requirement may be substitutable for a candidate that does not meet this specific experience requirement but possesses existing direct and proven relationships and work experience with G-PSF main stakeholders such as the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and the Council for the Development of Cambodia, BMOs, private sector associations such as foreign chambers of commerce, and development partners in Cambodia.
  • This would need to be combined with a deep understanding of the challenges in the business enabling environment, particularly Cambodia's investment and Foreign Direct Investment climate.
• Have a strong theoretical, working knowledge, and strong comprehensive understanding of the PPD theory and practice.
• Has demonstrated capacity to take a strategic vision for complex multistakeholder platform and make these work in a practical setting.
• Experience leading and developing the Standard Operating Procedures for complex and multistakeholder PPD platforms is a plus.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, especially with high-level stakeholders in the public and private sector.
• Demonstrated experience producing communication products including the policy briefs and strategic documents.
• An in-depth knowledge of how development partners work to support economic growth and how they can be engaged within the G-PSF to achieve outcomes.

Additional Requirements: 
The international expert should be familiar with the following:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in implementing GEDSI principles into PPD frameworks is highly desirable.
• Demonstrate high ethical standards, personal and professional integrity.
• Excellent organisational, time-management, research, analytical and consultation skills.
• Flexibility, responsiveness and resilience in challenging contexts.
• Strict compliance with DFAT Child Protection Code of Conduct and policy: (https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/child-protection-policy.pdf).
• Strict compliance with DFAT's Preventing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) Policy, and other relevant policies.

This is a Short-Term Advisory (STA) position, with up to 180 days input over a twelve-month period, with an attractive monthly remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience. Candidates living outside Cambodia will be expected to spend at least 60% of their time in-country. 

APPLICATION PROCESS
CV and cover letter, with name and contact details (phone and email) of three professional referees with your expected daily rate, along with work and fee proposals shall be emailed to: recruitment@capred.org mentioning the position you apply for in the subject line "International Expert on G-PSF".
 
Closing Date and Time: 30 November 2025 at 5:00 P.M. (Cambodia time)
 
Only applicants shortlisted will be contacted for interview
 
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.
 
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