Abul Kalam Azad

My efforts play an important role to protect the pulse of the planet by focusing on the socioeconomic dimension of development in mountains. My research work provides a better understanding of multidimensionality and complexity of mountain food and nutrition security, diversity in and resilience of agriculture systems to climatic, socioeconomic and other risks, and non-agricultural income opportunities for strengthening food security. Inputs from those research outputs then inform policies, strategies and programmes.

I enjoy the teamwork while working with professionals from different academic disciplines, nationalities and genders.

I am passionate about supporting any effort towards eradicating extreme poverty and food insecurity in marginal areas (mountains, deserts etc.) in the developing world, particularly Hindu-Kush Himalayan region.

I am academically trained in development economics with a PhD in regional and rural development planning from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, from which I had earlier earned a Master’s degree in the same field of study. Before this, I completed the Superior Qualification in banking and finance from the Institute of Banking Pakistan. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

I have expertise and work experience in agricultural credit, commercial and microfinance, food and nutrition security, poverty and climate change adaptation. In total, I have 16 years of work experience, seven of which are at ICIMOD. Prior to joining ICIMOD, I served as Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics in the University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and also in the Department of Economics and Agricultural Economics at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. In these institutions, I was responsible for teaching advanced economics courses to MPhil and PhD students and supervising the research of postgraduate students who were working in agriculture and food security, energy conservation and women’s empowerment. In addition to academic institutions, I have also worked in development and in positions ranging from research to manager in different organisations, where I was involved in the formulation, implementation and management of research and development programmes at different scales. These organisations include Sungi Development Foundation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, the Agricultural Credit Department of MCB Bank Limited in Pakistan, AIT Consulting and the School of Environment, Resources and Development at AIT in Thailand.

I have been actively involved in research on food and nutrition security, agricultural credit, poverty, smallholder farming, conservation agriculture, urban water, and renewable energy. I have published book chapters and technical reports as well as several articles in peer-reviewed international journals. I am also a member of the editorial board of the journal Humanities & Social Sciences Communications-(Nature) for development studies and economics.