Technical Specialist (Statistics and Geospatial Analytics) – SB-4

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist the government in developing policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources sustainably. Through the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP), FAO in Cambodia is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and National Institute of Statistics (NIS) to strengthen the agricultural data ecosystem, enabling evidence-based decision-making and digital transformation in agriculture.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Cambodia, the Technical Specialist (Statistics and Geospatial Analytics) reports to the Technical Team Lead (Data and Digital Transformation) and works under the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officers (LTO) at the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

Technical Focus

•     Agricultural data analysis, data visualisation and reporting.
•     Statistical modelling and capacity building.
•     Machine learning applications.
•     Geospatial analytics.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Technical Specialist (Statistics and Geospatial Analytics) will support the following tasks:

1.    Technical and Analytical Support
o    Provide support in developing integrated and interoperable agricultural data systems;
o    Contributes to the design and development of the digital rice monitoring platform and yield estimates; 
o    Contributes to the development of user-friendly interfaces and dashboards to visualise agriculture-related geospatial and statistical data for policy makers and stakeholders;
o    Support the development of spatial analytics and risk assessment models;
o    Support crop cutting exercises and ground truth data collection using GPS-enabled tools and mobile data apps;
o    Support the design and implementation of digital tools that integrate geospatial, remote sensing, and statistical data to monitor rice cultivation in real time;
o    Develop and apply statistical models to predict trends and outcomes, 
o    Support data cleaning, feature engineering, and machine learning model inputs; 
o    Contribute to model validation and dissemination;
o    Support the analysis and dissemination of statistical products, including SDG indicators and the Cambodia Agriculture Survey;

2.    Capacity Development
o    Support and facilitate in the development of training sessions on GIS tools, statistical modelling, geospatial analysis and statistical software;
o    Develop user manuals and training resources;

3.    Implementation and Coordination
o    Ensure smooth logistical and operational execution of project activities;

4.    Communication and Reporting
o    Draft technical notes and contribute to dashboards and reporting templates;
o    Translate technical documents and training materials between English and Khmer;
o    Develop outreach materials including video scripts and infographics.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    
•     University degree in Data Science, Statistics, Geography, Geographical Information System, Remote Sensing, or a related field
•     5 years of relevant experience working with data science tools
•     Working knowledge of English (level C)
•     National of Cambodia or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies
•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
•     Proficiency in data science tools (e.g., Python, R) for analysis, visualisation, and machine learning.
•     Experience managing and analysing large datasets; familiarity with national surveys or censuses is a plus.
•     Experience in leading and implementing statistical projects.
•     Experience with geospatial tools and spatial data analysis, satellite imagery, or remote sensing.
•     Proficiency in developing and applying statistical models.
•     Strong ability to translate data into insights and visual outputs.
•     Experience in the agriculture sector in Cambodia, including agricultural policy, economics, statistics, or analysis.
•     Understanding of agricultural statistics and SDG frameworks.
•     Experience in training and capacity building.
•     Experience working in multicultural teams.

Selection Criteria
•     Academic qualifications are considered an advantage

•     Proven ability to meet FAO core competencies.