About Andrew Laitha
I am a doctoral student in the Food Systems Economics and Policy (FSEP) Group at ETH Zürich. My research interest lies in the intersection of the agricultural sector, rural transformation, and sustainable development with a focus on labor. Prior to FSEP, I worked as a Research Analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and as a consultant in the Responsible Supply Chains in Asia Program for the International Labor Organisation (ILO). I have also engaged in providing policy support to the Government of Myanmar (GoM) as a Research Associate at the Myanmar Development Institute (MDI) under Prof. Dr. Sean Turnell and the Minister of the Ministry of Planning, Finance, and Industry (MoPFI).
I have been involved extensively in humanitarian and community development services by working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Malaysia and other civil society organizations, including the Burmese American Community Institute (BACI) based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
I received an MSc in International Development and Agricultural Economics from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Delhi.
My project focuses on conflict and agri-food labor issues in countries in Southeast Asia. I am implementing my Ph.D. project under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Eva-Marie Meemken and Prof. Dr. Bart Minten.
Facilitated bilateral meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic and Myanmar counterpart, 2016
Advocacy trip to Washington DC, 2017
Facilitated the Myanmar Ministry of Education's delegation study trip to international institutions in the U.S.A, 2018
Advocacy trip to Geneva, 2018
