Deputy Team Leader / National Tourism Planner – Tajikistan

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Deputy Team Leader / National Tourism Planner for a consultancy assignment financed by Asian Development Bank - AsDB26520TJK1 in Tajikistan.

Aninver Development Partners is seeking an expert Deputy Team Leader / National Tourism Planner for an upcoming consultancy assignment supported by the Asian Development Bank in Tajikistan. The overarching initiative focuses on advancing the country's tourism sector by prioritizing high-potential regional investments, driving institutional reforms, and strengthening destination governance to unlock sustainable economic growth along ancient Silk Routes.

The selected expert will play a vital role in supporting preliminary project scoping, strategic tourism assessments, and the preparation of comprehensive feasibility studies and destination management plans. Working closely with national authorities and international specialists, the Deputy Team Leader will ensure seamless coordination, stakeholder engagement, and alignment with national development priorities and international sustainability standards.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Support the national tourism authority in conducting preliminary scoping and prioritization of regional tourism investment projects.
• Contribute to the preparation of robust feasibility studies, strategic tourism assessments, and destination management blueprints.
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement and coordinate closely with local institutions, communities, and international development partners.
• Ensure alignment of tourism planning activities with sustainable destination standards and regional development frameworks.

Scope of work

• Contribute to strategic tourism assessments aligned with sustainable destination standards and regional development frameworks.
• Support the development of institutional and governance blueprints for destination management organizations.
• Facilitate community and resident participation in defining destination visions, planning priorities, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
• Contribute to comprehensive rural, urban, and landscape tourism master plans and tourist journey guidelines.
• Support market-sounding exercises and the identification of capital investments required to support regional destination visions.
• Assist in preparing project information memoranda, business cases, and investment briefs supporting local enterprises, women, and youth.
• Support environmental and social risk screenings and the preparation of stakeholder engagement plans.

Your role as Deputy Team Leader / National Tourism Planner

• Assist the Team Leader in overall project management, administrative coordination, and technical delivery across all assignment stages.
• Lead local stakeholder consultations and coordinate planning activities with regional authorities and national agencies in Tajikistan.
• Provide localized expertise on tourism planning, destination development, and regional market dynamics.
• Contribute to the drafting of feasibility studies, master plans, and technical reports for prioritized tourism investments.
• Support the integration of national regulatory requirements into project design and implementation frameworks.
• Facilitate communication between international experts, local counterparts, and community stakeholders.

Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree in tourism, urban, or regional planning
• ≥12 years in Tajikistan or Central Asia
• Languages: Tajik and Russian (English required for key personnel)

Desirable

• Prior experience working on projects funded by the Asian Development Bank or other international financial institutions.
• Familiarity with Global Sustainable Tourism Council destination standards and modern destination management frameworks.
• Demonstrated track record in facilitating public-private dialogues and community-based tourism initiatives.

An experienced national tourism planning professional with over 12 years of background in Central Asia, combining deep institutional knowledge of Tajikistan with strong expertise in master planning and stakeholder coordination.

Assignment details

• Location: Tajikistan
• Financed by: Asian Development Bank - AsDB26520TJK1
• Expected input: 8 person-months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a Asian Development Bank - AsDB26520TJK1-financed project in Tajikistan.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.