Senior Agri-Food Policy Expert

NTU International is preparing a proposal for the EU-funded project “EU Assistance for the Uzbekistan AgriFood Development Strategy 2020–2030”, which aims to support the Government of Uzbekistan in the implementation of a sustainable, market-oriented, inclusive and climate-smart agri-food system. The project focuses on strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities, and public sector governance in support of the Agri-Food Development Strategy 2020–2030. The Technical Assistance will support the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant institutions in improving agri-food sector governance, agricultural policy implementation, food security, market-oriented reforms, climate adaptation, and inclusive rural development across Uzbekistan.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the development, implementation, and review of agri-food sector policies, strategies, and reform programmes;
• Provide technical assistance on market-oriented agricultural reforms, value chain development, and rural development policies;
• Support policy analysis related to food security, agricultural subsidies, land management, agricultural financing, and climate-smart agriculture;
• Advise the Ministry of Agriculture and other counterpart institutions on policy coherence, institutional coordination, and sector governance reforms;
• Contribute to preparation of policy studies, sector analyses, reform recommendations, and strategic planning documents;
• Support integration of climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and social inclusion into agri-food policies and programmes;
• Conduct comparative analyses, benchmarking exercises, and evidence-based policy assessments;
• Support stakeholder consultations, inter-ministerial coordination, and policy dialogue processes;
• Deliver workshops, training sessions, and capacity-building activities related to agri-food policy and sector governance;
• Contribute to monitoring, reporting, and analytical outputs related to implementation of the AgriFood Development Strategy 2020–2030.

Education:

Master’s degree in agricultural economics, agri-food policy, rural development, economics, public policy, or another relevant field.

General Professional Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in agricultural policy, agri-food sector development, rural development, or public policy advisory services;
• Proven experience working on agricultural reform or rural development projects in developing or transition economies;
• Experience in international development cooperation and donor-funded programmes.

Specific Professional Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in agricultural policy analysis, policy reform implementation, or agri-food sector governance;
• Demonstrated experience with agricultural market reforms, value chain development, food security policies, or rural development strategies;
• Experience related to agricultural subsidies, land management, climate-smart agriculture, or public finance in agriculture is considered an advantage;
• Experience working with Ministries of Agriculture, public institutions, or international organisations is considered a strong asset;
• Experience supporting projects financed by the EU, World Bank, IFAD, ADB, FAO, or other international financial institutions is considered an asset;
• Experience in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, or post-Soviet countries is considered an advantage.

Languages:

English (C1 mandatory); Working knowledge of Russian is considered a strong asset.

Please note that inclusion in the expert pool does not guarantee immediate assignment. Experts will be contacted based on project requirements and matching qualifications. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.