Nisha is a gender and climate change expert with over a decade of experience in managing research projects, capacity-building programs, building women’s networks, and advocating at the national, regional, and international levels. She has led policy research across South Asia and Southeast Asia on climate change adaptation, women’s empowerment, and the intersection of gender and climate change. She has presented papers at numerous regional and international workshops and conferences and is actively involved in gender and climate change scholar networks. She has also published papers and book reviews in peer-reviewed journals.

Nisha holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Economics from Bethel College, Kansas, and earned both her Master's and PhD in Gender and Development Studies from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. She also serves as the Regional Coordinator for WOCAN, a women-led international organization.

Dr. Pukar Malla has been leading parallel careers as a leadership coach, community organizer, and innovation specialist. As a Founder and Executive Chairperson of a leadership non-profit, Daayitwa, he has been organizing youth to lead innovative solutions in the government, business and civil society sectors,

As a Former Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School, he investigated and piloted frameworks for communities of innovations to lead change. As a Senior Innovation Policy Specialist at the World Bank, he supported Indian, Chinese and Ghanian governments to promote innovation and inclusive growth. Prior to that, he led technology designs at Intel, AMD, Silicon Graphics, and a Silicon Valley startup, and secured 2 US patents. He received his Bachelors from Swarthmore College, with a focus on engineering and economics. He spent 3 years at Cornell, attaining a MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering with a Minor in Business Management. He earned his MPA from Harvard Kennedy School. While at Harvard, he also led the university-wide Harvard Graduate Student Government as its elected President.

Sucheta Pyakuryal is advisor at Governance Lab . She is a visiting faculty at Tribhuvan University’s Central Department of Gender Studies . She teaches courses in Gender and Politics/Policymaking for graduate and postgraduate programs. She has been serving as one of the five jury members for the Integrity Icon of the Accountability Lab, Nepal Chapter, and as an advisor to the Inter-generational Feminist Forum (IGFF), a feminist platform in Nepal. She is also a country core group member of Sangat South Asia.

She has also worked at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) as the Director at the Center for Governance.

She has worked as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of North Florida, where she was also a member of the university’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion (CODI). An alumna of the Regional Center for Strategic Studies of South Asia, her work focuses on the study of democratic development and good governance in the region. She has several publications on bureaucracy, public sector ethics, ethical knowledge management, and aid politics.

Mr. Krishna Gyawali served the Government of Nepal for over 30 years, retiring as Industry Secretary in 2014. He also held secretary-level positions in the ministries of environment and local development and led the Foreign Aid Coordination Division (now IECCD) of the Ministry of Finance, serving seven years as Joint Secretary. He was Nepal’s first National Coordinator for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (2015–16). His international experience includes assignments with UN peacekeeping missions in Cambodia, South Africa, East Timor, and Kosovo, and a year with the BBC Nepali Service in London.

He received academic and professional training in Nepal, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including studies at Tribhuvan University, the University of Birmingham, Michigan State University, and Harvard Kennedy School. He is currently an independent researcher and writer on political economy, governance, and development, with several journal publications. His passion involves spiritual self- reflection.

Contact: [email protected].

Chandra Bhandari is a Senior Research Manager at Inclusion Economics Nepal at Governance Lab. He initially joined as the first Research Associate when the research commenced in 2017. After four years of dedicated work, he pursued a master's program in public policy at Yale University. He is interested in exploring how research and evidence can influence public policy.

A graduate of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s in Gender and Women’s Studies, Rakshya is a dynamic and deeply committed governance professional driven by a passion for social inclusion, gender justice, and the empowerment of marginalized youth and women. With a strong academic foundation spanning the UK and Poland, and a distinction-awarded dissertation exploring menstrual segregation practices in Nepal, she brings both critical insight and global perspective to her work. Rakshya is dedicated to translating research into action- designing inclusive programs, fostering equitable systems, and creating spaces where diverse voices can meaningfully shape decision-making.
Currently serving as Senior Governance Coordinator at Daayitwa, Rakshya plays a pivotal role in bridging youth and government through innovative policy initiatives. She has led high-level policy dialogues, coordinated national symposiums, and worked closely with ministries, parliamentarians, and experts to drive evidence-based policymaking. From orchestrating fellowship programs that produce impactful policy research to developing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, her work reflects both strategic vision and hands-on leadership. With prior experience in rigorous field research Rakshya combines analytical strength with grassroots understanding, making her a passionate changemaker committed to building a more inclusive and just society.

Puja Sharma is the People's Operations Coordinator at Governance Lab. She plays a key role in managing human resources and operational functions, ensuring smooth coordination within the organization. With expertise in HR processes, staff engagement, and organizational development, she is dedicated to fostering a positive and efficient work environment. Puja also provides relevant support to other entities of Daayitwa Abhiyaan.

Srijana is the Finance and Administrative Coordinator at Govlab, specializes in budgeting, financial reporting, and office management. With keen analytical skills and attention to detail, she ensures efficient financial planning and seamless daily operations. Her expertise plays a crucial role in optimizing resources, supporting strategic decision-making, and enhancing organizational efficiency.

Dilasha is the Communications and Outreach Officer at Governance Lab. With expertise in strategic communication, she drives engagement, manages public relations, and cultivates connections with stakeholders. Dilasha plays a pivotal role in enhancing the organization's public image and amplifying its impact through effective outreach initiatives. She also provides relevant support to other entities of Daayitwa Abhiyaan.

Aarya is a Research Associate at Inclusion Economics Nepal (IEN) at Governance Lab. At IEN, she focuses on cleaning, producing, and analyzing research data, supporting field research, and maintaining partner relations to aid research projects and outputs.

She aspires to better understand the economic lives of the developing world and enjoys exploring the intricacies of mathematics and statistics.

Asim is a Research Associate at Inclusion Economics Nepal at Governance Lab. He loves numbers and economics. At IEN, he primarily works on cleaning, preparing, and analyzing research data. His interests lie in quantitative economics, political economy, and institutional economics.

Apurva is broadly interested in researching the economics of education, migration and labor markets in developing countries. Outside of work, you will probably find Apurva playing the piano, going on runs, cooking and teaching music.  

At IEN Tenzin is responsible for supporting the project in the part of human resources, administration and finance. She holds an undergraduate degree in social work and has experience in the field of finance and administration.  

Sulav serves Daayitwa's social innovation portfolio, designing and managing programs that strengthen grassroots, government collaboration, accelerate rural enterprises, and advance evidence-based policy. Aligned with the Daayitwa Abhiyaan vision of an enterprising Nepal, he works across program design, partnership building, and field research, turning insights from communities and government counterparts into practical pathways for inclusive economic growth.

Sulav brings over a decade of experience in development consulting, research, and multi-stakeholder coordination across Nepal, Southeast Asia, and the ASEAN region. He has contributed to assignments with the World Bank, IFC, USAID, Ernst & Young, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), spanning provincial investment climate assessments, public–private partnership frameworks, MSME resilience, and community-based humanitarian work. Research and evidence synthesis sit at the centre of his work, designing analytical frameworks and KPIs, conducting participatory field studies, and converting mixed-methods data into clear recommendations for governments and donors. He works fluently with data analysis tools, and integrates AI into his research practice to accelerate policy analysis, sharpen investment-climate and PPP diagnostics, and structure stakeholder data. Sulav holds an MBA in International Business with a China–ASEAN Economy specialization from the Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Bangkok, completed on a full scholarship with honours, and an earlier MBA in General Management from Ace Institute of Management.

Email: [email protected]

Aanandita is the Program and Research Officer at GovLab, bringing three years of public service experience across local and state government in Boston and Massachusetts. With a Master's in Social Work from Boston College, she approaches governance with honesty, innovation and connection. She's committed to weaving lessons from around the world into Nepal's story, while sharing Nepal's wisdom beyond its borders. When not working, you'll find her nurturing her garden, horse riding, or sharing laughs with her nephew over FaceTime. 

Asika is a Research Associate at Inclusion Economics Nepal (IEN) at Governance Lab. She is broadly interested in political economy, development economics, and economic history. She aims to understand decision-making patterns of economic actors across varied contexts and constraints. In her free time, she enjoys exploring books on psychology, history, and economics  both fiction and non-fiction.

Samhita Rana is a Governance Manager at Governance Lab, with over a decade of experience in democratic governance, electoral reform, and gender and social inclusion in Nepal. She has led and managed complex governance and democracy programs, working closely with election management bodies, civil society organizations, women leaders, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities to strengthen inclusive political participation and accountability.

Prior to joining Governance Lab, Samhita held senior program management roles at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), where she provided technical support to the Election Commission of Nepal on inclusive elections, electoral law reform, and institutional capacity building. Her expertise spans governance and federalism, GEDSI integration, civil society strengthening, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Liverpool John Moores University.

Aashika Gautam recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication from St. Xavier’s College. She has prior experience working as a journalist at the Kathmandu Post and event coordinator for events. At Governance Lab, Aashika works as a Communications Assistant.  

Radha Adhikari is an enthusiastic development professional with over 18 years of experience working in governance, gender equality, social inclusion, health, and education programme in Nepal. She has a varied experience coordinating with local governments, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders to strengthen inclusive and accountable governance systems.

Her work focuses on programme coordination, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and supervision of field-level initiatives related to gender-responsive and inclusive governance. Radha has supported policy dialogues, community engagement processes, and institutional strengthening at the local level. She is currently accomplishing a master’s degree in Sociology from Tribhuvan University.

Prakriti Pokhrel is the People Operations Assistant at Daayitwa. She supports recruitment, onboarding, HR documentation, and employee record management while ensuring compliance and confidentiality.

Prakriti also assists with staff engagement initiatives and contributes to maintaining a positive and well-organized work environment.

Sonia is a research assistant at Governance Lab and a licensed advocate under the Nepal Bar Council. She enjoys working at the intersection of law and policy. Her current work includes monitoring and evaluation of different projects under Daayitwa Abhiyaan, contributing to Governance Lab’s tourism initiative, and supporting the UN Women project led by Governance Lab. Outside of work, Sonia finds balance through yoga, painting, and spending time with her dog, Benny.

Pratisha Joshi is the Program and Partnership Coordinator at Daayitwa Abhiyaan, where she spearheads the design and stewardship of strategic collaborations that strengthen evidence-informed governance and public sector innovation.

With an academic foundation in Mathematical Physics and Sociology, she brings analytical rigor and sociopolitical insight to her work as a public policy researcher, with publications in Public Administration Research and the Global Journal of Health Science.

Her professional experience spans engagement with the Federal Parliament of Nepal, equipping her with a nuanced understanding of legislative processes, institutional reform, and multi-stakeholder coordination.

A national-level public speaking champion, she combines strategic clarity with persuasive communication to advance inclusive policy making, youth leadership, and women-led social innovation. Her work is driven by a sustained commitment to bridging research and practice, ensuring that knowledge systems generate tangible, community-centered impact.

Raju Lamichhane is a dedicated finance and administration professional with experience in accounting operations, financial reporting, documentation management, administrative coordination, and office support.

He is recognized for his detail-oriented approach, strong sense of responsibility, and commitment to maintaining accuracy and efficiency in his work.

Raju is continuously focused on strengthening his professional skills and contributing effectively to organizational goals.

Aaryaa Subedi is a Research Manager at Inclusion Economics Nepal at Governance Lab. A Chevening Scholar, she holds an MSc in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol.

She also serves as Visiting Faculty at KUSOM and KUSOA and was previously a Daayitwa Public Policy Fellow. With experience leading initiatives on private capital mobilisation and enterprise development, she brings to IEN a strong combination of academic rigour, policy insight, and development finance expertise.

Bipan is a Research Associate at Inclusion Economics Nepal.

He is an economics undergraduate with research interests in development economics, specifically migration and fiscal financing. In his downtime, he loves tea and old Bollywood music. 

Ullas Timilsina has joined Governance Lab as an intern for 10 weeks, where he is learning from and assisting the Nepal Action Research for Tourism Solutions initiative. A rising junior at Swarthmore College, double-majoring in Economics and Mathematics, he is keenly interested in development economics, labor economics, migration, and social equity. Outside of academics and professional pursuits, he enjoys learning languages, taking dance classes, and connecting with people.

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