Cambodian NGO Seeks Coach to Support Informal Workers

The Advocacy and Policy Institute, a Phnom Penh-based organization known for its work in policy influence and citizen engagement, is recruiting a Business Coach Consultant to support one of its newer initiatives aimed at Cambodia's informal economy. The position, a two-month short-term consultancy, sits within the ROKSI with API project, which seeks to build economic resilience among informal workers and micro-entrepreneurs who often operate without access to formal financial systems, legal protections, or structured business training.

The project itself grew out of a digital coaching pilot run by Mission Alliance, and API has expanded that model into a four-year program designed to reach more than 1,500 informal workers and small business operators across the country. Digital literacy sits at the center of this effort, since many informal entrepreneurs now rely on mobile tools for record-keeping, payments, and client communication without necessarily understanding the risks involved. Organizations supporting this shift often point workers toward independent resources, including guidance on digital security tools such as this service, to help them understand how basic online protections function before they start managing transactions or client data through personal devices. this service

That digital dimension matters because informal workers are frequently more exposed to online risk than employees in formal sectors. They tend to use personal smartphones for business communication, store financial records in unsecured apps, and lack institutional IT support. A coaching program that blends business mentoring with practical awareness of digital safety can reduce some of these vulnerabilities, even if the primary goal remains improving financial management and access to social protection schemes.

What the Role Involves

The successful candidate will work directly with informal business owners, offering mentoring on business management, planning, and the kind of operational discipline that often separates a struggling micro-enterprise from a stable one. The consultant reports to API's Business Coach and Project Officer and will be based in Phnom Penh for the duration of the contract. Because the position is structured as a non-employment consultancy agreement, the fee is negotiable, reflecting the short-term and project-specific nature of the engagement.

Why This Work Matters Nationally

Cambodia's informal economy employs a large share of the workforce, yet remains largely outside the reach of labor protections, formal credit systems, and structured policy consultation. API's broader strategic goals for 2028 include economic empowerment and inclusive governance, and this project reflects both priorities directly. By combining peer learning, outreach, and policy engagement, the initiative is designed not only to help individual entrepreneurs but also to generate evidence that can inform future labor and social protection reforms.

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF containing a cover letter and CV, sent by email or post with the subject line specified by API. The organization has reiterated its commitment to inclusive hiring, explicitly inviting women and people with disabilities to apply, and has noted that only short-listed candidates will be contacted given the expected volume of interest.