Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry

Muhammad Aslam Chaudhry serves as Research Professor of Economics at the University of Utah with a concurrent appointment as Adviser in the Office for Global Engagement. His career spans over 24 years at the United Nations Secretariat in high-level managerial roles including Director of the UN Office for Sustainable Development in Incheon and Chief of multiple branches at UN Headquarters in New York.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics from Colorado State University (1985)
• MS in Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics from Colorado State University (1982)
• MS in Agricultural Marketing from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan (1974)

Dr. Chaudhry's research centers on sustainable development with specialized expertise in water governance and natural resource economics. His work integrates academic theory with practical implementation through capacity building initiatives, institutional reform frameworks, and participatory decision-making models across developing nations. He has significantly influenced global sustainable development agendas including the Rio+20 Conference through technical assistance to UN intergovernmental bodies.

His distinguished honors include:

• Honorary Citizenship from City of Incheon/Government of ROK (2012)
• Staff Recognition Award from United Nations (2011)

As Chief of Party for USAID's US-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water project, he secured substantial development funding while managing complex multinational initiatives. His grant leadership extends to UN-executed programs across Pakistan, Yemen, Ethiopia, Syria, Gambia, Lesotho, and Tajikistan, focusing on water security and institutional capacity building. During his UN tenure, he served as Secretary of UN-Water (2007-2009) and advised ECOSOC, General Assembly, and Commission on Sustainable Development processes.

Dr. Chaudhry directs field operations across multiple continents with emphasis on stakeholder engagement strategies and governance reforms for sustainable resource management, maintaining active partnerships between academic institutions and developing country governments.