About FAO in Uzbekistan
FAO and Uzbekistan have been cooperating since 2001, when Uzbekistan became a member of the Organization. A key milestone in this partnership was the opening of the FAO Representation in Tashkent in 2014, which strengthened FAO’s country-level presence and expanded cooperation with national institutions.
FAO’s assistance in Uzbekistan supports national efforts to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. Cooperation covers a wide range of areas, including food security and nutrition, food safety, agricultural statistics, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable management of land, water, forests and rangelands, biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction and rural development.
Particular attention is given to strengthening food safety and nutrition, advancing One Health surveillance, promoting sustainable natural resources management, reducing environmental risks and hazards in agriculture, and supporting national priorities under the FAO–Uzbekistan Country Programming Framework 2026–2030.
FAO’s assistance in Uzbekistan supports national efforts to build more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems. Cooperation covers a wide range of areas, including food security and nutrition, food safety, agricultural statistics, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable management of land, water, forests and rangelands, biodiversity conservation, disaster risk reduction and rural development.
Particular attention is given to strengthening food safety and nutrition, advancing One Health surveillance, promoting sustainable natural resources management, reducing environmental risks and hazards in agriculture, and supporting national priorities under the FAO–Uzbekistan Country Programming Framework 2026–2030.
FAO Representative
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Viorel Gutu
Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia; FAO Representative for Uzbekistan
Viorel Gutu serves as Assistant Director-General (ADG) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia. In this senior leadership role, he provides strategic direction across a diverse region, overseeing FAO’s policy, technical, and operational engagement with Member States and guiding the implementation of the Organization’s Strategic Framework at regional and country levels.
In parallel, he has held the position of FAO Representative for Uzbekistan, where he has been instrumental in shaping FAO’s country engagement and strengthening its strategic positioning. His leadership has supported the deepening of FAO’s cooperation with national authorities and contributed to the expansion of a results-oriented programme portfolio addressing priorities such as sustainable agriculture, food systems transformation, environmental sustainability, and rural development.
At the regional level, Viorel Gutu leads FAO’s efforts to address complex, interlinked challenges including climate change, land degradation, food security, and the modernization of agrifood systems. He promotes integrated approaches that combine policy advisory services, investment support, innovation, and knowledge exchange, ensuring that FAO’s interventions are both technically robust and aligned with country-specific development pathways.
His work emphasizes strengthening institutional capacities and enabling policy environments that facilitate long-term transformation. This includes supporting governments in designing and implementing reforms related to land governance, resource efficiency, and sustainable value chains, as well as advancing regional cooperation and South–South knowledge sharing.
Viorel Gutu also plays a key role in representing FAO within the United Nations system and in high-level international forums, fostering partnerships with development banks, regional organizations, and other stakeholders. His leadership contributes to mobilizing financial and technical resources, enhancing coordination across agencies, and scaling up impact through multi-country and regional initiatives.
Overall, his contribution reflects a strong focus on translating global priorities into actionable regional and national programmes, supporting countries in achieving resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Viorel Gutu serves as Assistant Director-General (ADG) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia. In this senior leadership role, he provides strategic direction across a diverse region, overseeing FAO’s policy, technical, and operational engagement with Member States and guiding the implementation of the Organization’s Strategic Framework at regional and country levels.
In parallel, he has held the position of FAO Representative for Uzbekistan, where he has been instrumental in shaping FAO’s country engagement and strengthening its strategic positioning. His leadership has supported the deepening of FAO’s cooperation with national authorities and contributed to the expansion of a results-oriented programme portfolio addressing priorities such as sustainable agriculture, food systems transformation, environmental sustainability, and rural development.
At the regional level, Viorel Gutu leads FAO’s efforts to address complex, interlinked challenges including climate change, land degradation, food security, and the modernization of agrifood systems. He promotes integrated approaches that combine policy advisory services, investment support, innovation, and knowledge exchange, ensuring that FAO’s interventions are both technically robust and aligned with country-specific development pathways.
His work emphasizes strengthening institutional capacities and enabling policy environments that facilitate long-term transformation. This includes supporting governments in designing and implementing reforms related to land governance, resource efficiency, and sustainable value chains, as well as advancing regional cooperation and South–South knowledge sharing.
Viorel Gutu also plays a key role in representing FAO within the United Nations system and in high-level international forums, fostering partnerships with development banks, regional organizations, and other stakeholders. His leadership contributes to mobilizing financial and technical resources, enhancing coordination across agencies, and scaling up impact through multi-country and regional initiatives.
Overall, his contribution reflects a strong focus on translating global priorities into actionable regional and national programmes, supporting countries in achieving resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sherzod Umarov
Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan
Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan
Sherzod Umarov serves as the Assistant Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Uzbekistan. In this capacity, he plays a central role in coordinating and advancing FAO’s country programme, supporting the implementation of strategic priorities aligned with national development goals, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and FAO’s Country Programming Framework (CPF).
He contributes to the overall management and delivery of FAO’s portfolio in Uzbekistan, which encompasses a wide range of technical assistance, policy support and investment programmes aimed at transforming agrifood systems, strengthening food security and promoting sustainable rural development. His responsibilities include facilitating collaboration with government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, academia and the private sector, ensuring integrated and results-oriented programme implementation.
Sherzod Umarov’s work is closely linked to FAO’s strategic transition in Uzbekistan, from project-based interventions toward a systemic, policy-driven and partnership-oriented approach. This includes active engagement in the design and operationalization of the CPF 2026–2030, which focuses on inclusive rural livelihoods, food safety and nutrition, and environmental sustainability, with an overall programme envelope exceeding USD 33 million.
He supports high-level policy dialogue and institutional reform processes, including contributions to national strategies on land governance, climate resilience, food safety and gender equality. FAO’s role as a trusted technical advisor to the Government of Uzbekistan, particularly in areas such as Land Code revision, social protection integration, and One Health policy frameworks, is delivered through coordinated efforts in which Sherzod Umarov plays a key operational and coordination role.
In addition, Sherzod Umarov contributes to strengthening FAO’s operational effectiveness and partnership model in the country. Under his coordination, FAO Uzbekistan has expanded its portfolio of multi-stakeholder partnerships, mobilized significant financial resources, and enhanced collaboration across the UN system, including joint programmes with UNDP, WHO, and UNICEF. These efforts support integrated delivery of development outcomes in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, rural employment and public health resilience.
His leadership and coordination have also been recognized internally. As noted in official correspondence, many of FAO’s successful programme implementations and operational achievements in Uzbekistan have been facilitated through his initiatives and effective coordination of technical and organizational processes.
Overall, Sherzod Umarov’s work contributes to consolidating FAO’s role as a key development partner in Uzbekistan, advancing innovation, strengthening institutional capacities and supporting the country’s progress toward sustainable agrifood systems transformation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sherzod Umarov’s work is closely linked to FAO’s strategic transition in Uzbekistan, from project-based interventions toward a systemic, policy-driven and partnership-oriented approach. This includes active engagement in the design and operationalization of the CPF 2026–2030, which focuses on inclusive rural livelihoods, food safety and nutrition, and environmental sustainability, with an overall programme envelope exceeding USD 33 million.
He supports high-level policy dialogue and institutional reform processes, including contributions to national strategies on land governance, climate resilience, food safety and gender equality. FAO’s role as a trusted technical advisor to the Government of Uzbekistan, particularly in areas such as Land Code revision, social protection integration, and One Health policy frameworks, is delivered through coordinated efforts in which Sherzod Umarov plays a key operational and coordination role.
In addition, Sherzod Umarov contributes to strengthening FAO’s operational effectiveness and partnership model in the country. Under his coordination, FAO Uzbekistan has expanded its portfolio of multi-stakeholder partnerships, mobilized significant financial resources, and enhanced collaboration across the UN system, including joint programmes with UNDP, WHO, and UNICEF. These efforts support integrated delivery of development outcomes in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, rural employment and public health resilience.
His leadership and coordination have also been recognized internally. As noted in official correspondence, many of FAO’s successful programme implementations and operational achievements in Uzbekistan have been facilitated through his initiatives and effective coordination of technical and organizational processes.
Overall, Sherzod Umarov’s work contributes to consolidating FAO’s role as a key development partner in Uzbekistan, advancing innovation, strengthening institutional capacities and supporting the country’s progress toward sustainable agrifood systems transformation and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our Team
FAO’s professional team in Uzbekistan brings together national and international specialists supporting the country’s efforts to advance sustainable agriculture, food security and rural development.
The team provides technical expertise, policy support, capacity development and project implementation assistance across key areas of FAO’s mandate. Working closely with national institutions, development partners, research organizations, civil society and local communities, FAO supports Uzbekistan in applying modern, evidence-based and sustainable approaches across the agriculture and food sectors.
The team provides technical expertise, policy support, capacity development and project implementation assistance across key areas of FAO’s mandate. Working closely with national institutions, development partners, research organizations, civil society and local communities, FAO supports Uzbekistan in applying modern, evidence-based and sustainable approaches across the agriculture and food sectors.