Farhad Mukhtarov

Farhad Mukhtarov is an Assistant Professor of Governance and Public Policy at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at National University Singapore. He has worked at universities in England, the Netherlands, Hungary, Azerbaijan, and Singapore, bringing a global perspective to his research and teaching.

• International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam (2018-present)
• Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University Singapore (Adjunct Senior Research Fellow)
• Chairman of Academic Council, ADA University, Azerbaijan (2014-2016)

Mukhtarov's research focuses on the intersection of public policy and the environment in international development contexts. His work centers on three major themes: water governance, politics of knowledge, and theories of policy-making. He examines how knowledge influences politics in transnational contexts where global policy ideas shape national and local practices. His research employs frameworks like policy translation, which examines the politics of meaning, scale, and contingency during cross-jurisdictional policy travel.

His recent publications reveal a growing emphasis on critical perspectives on water governance, hydrohubs, and policy mobility. Mukhtarov's work increasingly addresses the commodification of water governance expertise through entities like the Netherlands, Singapore, and Turkey, analyzing how Northern countries leverage water governance for both development goals in the Global South and economic interests in the North. His research also focuses on water security in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus region, with several active projects examining transboundary water management.

• Prose Award for Environmental Sciences (for UN-Environment's Sixth Global Environmental Outlook)
• European Commission grants (including Erasmus+ mobility grant 2023-2026)
• UNIC seed fund for research on civil service receptiveness to multiple ways of knowing water
• Starter grant from Erasmus University Rotterdam (2023-2027) for water security research in Azerbaijan
• Chevening Scholarship from the Foreign Commonwealth Office of the UK

Mukhtarov actively supervises doctoral students, currently serving on the committee of four doctoral candidates. He has received numerous grants supporting his research on water governance, policy translation, and transboundary water management. His editorial role as Associate Editor of Environmental Science & Policy since 2020 demonstrates his leadership in the field. Mukhtarov frequently delivers keynote addresses at international conferences and has served on expert panels for the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, UN Environmental Programme, and UNESCO.

His research projects include the South Caucasus Water Academics Network (SWAN), which facilitates dialogue on transboundary water management, and studies examining OECD discourses on water governance. Mukhtarov collaborates with institutions across multiple countries, including University of Liege, University College Dublin, Koc University, and University of Oulu, reflecting the international scope of his work.