Dr. Vinod Ahuja has been appointed as the FAO Representative in Viet Nam with effect from 3 June 2025.
Dr. Ahuja is a recognized professional in agricultural policy and food systems transformation, with over 30 years of experience in strategic leadership, policy advisory, and sustainable agrifood development. He joined the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in August 2009 as Livestock Policy Officer at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok. From August 2018 to September 2024, he served as FAO Representative in Mongolia, and from September 2024 to March 2025, he held the position of FAO Representative ad interim for China, Mongolia, and DPRK.
In these roles, Dr. Ahuja led engagement with national governments, development partners, and the UN system, contributing to inclusive development, institutional capacity building, and agricultural resilience. In Mongolia, he supported policy dialogue and reforms aimed at strengthening food security and sustainable agrifood systems.
Earlier in his FAO career, he led regional teams in conducting food security assessments and advising on investment planning across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand. His work played a key role in promoting evidence-based policies across the region.
Dr. Ahuja began his career in 1994 as a Research Economist at the World Bank in Washington, DC. In 1997, he joined the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, where he held multiple academic positions before becoming a full Professor in 2009. His academic work focused on the impact of policy interventions in agriculture and rural development, often in collaboration with international organizations such as FAO and the World Bank.
He has contributed to global discussions on food systems, authored several influential reports, and supported capacity building through mentoring. His work has been recognized with honors including the Friendship Medal from the President of Mongolia and an award from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand.