Irrigation Economist / Tariff and Affordability Specialist / Financial Modeler – Kazakhstan

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Irrigation Economist / Tariff and Affordability Specialist / Financial Modeler for a agriculture, engineering, media consultancy assignment financed by EBRD in Kazakhstan.

Aninver Development Partners SL is seeking an expert for the Irrigation Economist / Tariff and Affordability Specialist / Financial Modeler position for an upcoming feasibility assessment in Kazakhstan financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The assignment focuses on modernizing, rehabilitating, and expanding agricultural water management infrastructure to enhance climate resilience, water security, and productivity in the target regions.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role within the technical and economic due diligence workstream. The expert will lead financial modeling, farm economics analysis, and tariff reform studies to ensure the long-term operational sustainability and commercial viability of the irrigation investments while maintaining affordability for local farming communities.

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

• Evaluate the economic and financial viability of proposed irrigation infrastructure modernization and expansion works.
• Design robust cost recovery mechanisms and sustainable irrigation tariff structures.
• Conduct comprehensive farm economics and distributional affordability assessments.
• Support the preparation of a bankable feasibility assessment aligned with EBRD standards and international best practices.

Scope of work

• Assess current irrigation infrastructure, large-scale water management assets, and proposed rehabilitation works across the project regions.
• Perform green assessment evaluations covering climate change mitigation and physical climate risk adaptation.
• Evaluate economic and financial viability, farm economics, cost recovery, and affordability analyses.
• Establish data, performance indicators, and water-accounting frameworks to enhance operational governance.
• Develop advanced procurement strategies and tender packages for works and support consultancy services.
• Prepare implementation schedules, institutional strengthening plans, and capacity-building frameworks for executing agencies.

Your role as Irrigation Economist / Tariff and Affordability Specialist / Financial Modeler

• Lead the economic and financial due diligence for the irrigation and agricultural water management project.
• Develop dynamic financial models to project cash flows, capital expenditure, and operational expenditure of the rehabilitated systems.
• Design equitable and sustainable irrigation tariff policies and cost recovery mechanisms.
• Perform detailed farm-level economic analyses and distributional impact assessments to evaluate financial burdens on end-users.
• Conduct affordability assessments for different categories of agricultural water users and propose targeted subsidy designs if necessary.
• Collaborate closely with technical, institutional, and environmental specialists to integrate economic findings into the overarching feasibility report.
• Contribute to stakeholder consultations with regional authorities, agricultural associations, and state entities regarding tariff structures and financial sustainability.

Requirements

• Education: Advanced degree in economics, agricultural economics, finance or related discipline
• Demonstrated experience in irrigation tariffs, subsidy design, cost recovery, farm economics, distributional analysis, affordability assessment, and financial modeling

Desirable

• Preferably >7 years professional experience
• Prior working experience in Kazakhstan or the broader Central Asia region.
• Familiarity with EBRD or other International Financial Institution (IFI) financial and economic evaluation methodologies.
• Working knowledge of Russian or Kazakh.

An experienced irrigation economist and financial modeler with a strong background in tariff design, cost recovery, and affordability assessments for agricultural infrastructure projects in transition economies.

Assignment details

• Location: Kazakhstan
• Financed by: EBRD
• Sector: Agriculture, engineering, media
• Estimated duration: 5 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 EBRD-financed project in Kazakhstan.
• 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.