Isbandiyar Valiyev joined ICARDA in June 2024 as a Resource Mobilization Officer, based in Cairo, Egypt. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of resource mobilization strategies across ICARDA's 18-country CWANA region portfolio. His responsibilities encompass identifying funding gaps, coordinating engagements with multilateral funds, and fostering partnerships with the private sector and development partners to support ICARDA's mission of climate-resilient agriculture in dry areas. Additionally, Isbandiyar coordinates ICARDA's involvement in global climate negotiations.
Before joining ICARDA, Isbandiyar worked at the Global Crop Diversity Trust in Germany, where he developed donor engagement strategies and coordinated multilateral partnerships supporting global crop diversity conservation. He holds a Master's degree in Conflicts and Development from Sciences Po Lille, France, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Rennes 1, France. Fluent in six languages, Isbandiyar combines strategic thinking with strong communication skills to advance sustainable agriculture initiatives in fragile and dryland regions.