Team Members
Dr. Prakash Bhattarai
Executive Director
Dr. Prakash Bhattarai is currently acting as Executive Director of Centre for Social Change (CSC). Dr. Bhattarai has 20 years of professional and leadership experience with his association in a number of national and international civic and humanitarian organizations as well as the UN agencies with his significant focus on issues around governance, peacebuilding, migration, labor, climate justice, and civic engagement.
Dr. Bhattarai holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Otago, New Zealand. He also holds master’s degrees in Population Studies (Tribhuvan University, Nepal) and in International Peace Studies (University of Notre Dame, USA), and has been a visiting research scholar at the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden and at Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), Germany. He is also a 2018 Asia Global Fellow at Asia Global Institute, University of Hong Kong. Since July 2023, Bhattarai is also appointed as a Research Associate at Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), Hiroshima University, Japan. He has published articles in peer reviewed journals such as International Negotiation, International Journal of Conflict Management, Journal of Peacebuilding and Development, Asian Survey Journal, and Third World Quarterly. Bhattarai is also a co-editor of a forthcoming (May 2024) book titled “Nepal’s Peace Process: Issues and Challenges,” from the Routledge Publishing.
Shradha Khadka
Research Coordinator
Ms. Shradha Khadka has been a strong member of CSC team since 2020. She is currently working as the Research Coordinator, bringing a unique blend of research, elements of visual design, and creative applications.
Having completed her Master’s degree in Humans and Natural Resources from Kathmandu University, Ms. Khadka has gained her academic experiences from Germany, USA and Nepal. A researcher at heart, her work mainly focuses on matters related to natural resources of Nepal, climate governance and sustainable development. Ms. Khadka has presented her research papers in various academic conferences and dialogue programs and pursues her career in academics.
Nishu Ratna Bastakoti
Program Officer
Ms. Nishu Ratna Bastakoti holds a Masters in Crisis Management Studies from Tribhuvan University with a focus on conflict management, humanitarian assistance and national security.
With over five years of experience in the NGO and development sector, she has focused her efforts on projects addressing gender equality, women’s empowerment, conflict management and social inclusion. She brings extensive research experience and project management expertise to her work. With extensive research experience and project management expertise, Nishu has collaborated with both national and international organizations, institutions, and research institutes. Her passion for research is matched by her belief in peace and justice, and she is a keen advocate for both.
Kabita Phuyal
Admin/Finance Officer
Ms. Kabita Phuyal is an Admin and Finance Officer at the Centre For Social Change. She holds a master’s degree in management from Shankar Dev Campus, Kathmandu. She has more than 7 years of experience as an Admin and Account Officer at an audit firm. She is skilled in preparing financial statements, handling taxation, ETDS and online filing at IRD. Additionally, she has more than 2 years of experience in an NGO, where she gained expertise in budgeting, financial planning, monitoring, reporting, logistics, coordination and communication.
Pratiksha Giri
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Associate
Ms. Pratiksha Giri is an environmental professional with a strong background in research, project management, and community engagement. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, specializing in climate change resilience, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development. Her work with organizations such as Restless Development and the Climate Risk and Resilience Lab has equipped her with practical expertise in project implementation, data collection, stakeholder consultations, and community mobilization. She is also skilled in GIS, remote sensing, and monitoring and evaluation, further enhancing her ability to manage complex environmental projects. Driven by a passion for inclusive, community-based initiatives, Pratiksha is dedicated to working with diverse stakeholders to strengthen resilience and sustainability in vulnerable regions.
Basanta Dahal
Research/Program Associate
Mr. Basanta Dahal holds master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University. Over the past five years, he has dedicated himself to research in environmental conservation, resource economics, climate change and biodiversity, contributing to both national and international journals. His expertise is further honed by his close works with PhD scholars in these domains. In addition to his environmental work, Basanta has been a freelance consultant for the Nepal Human Rights Year Book published by INSEC, playing a pivotal role in giving it a shape for comprehensive understanding of human rights issues in Nepal. He has also worked in national consultation on civil society’s report to Universal Periodic Review as the resource person. These reflect his commitment in integrating human rights issues with his core knowledge in environmental science.
Kalpana Khadka
Admin/Finance Associate
Ms. Kalpana Khadka is currently working as a admin /finance associate at Centre for social change. She graduated from Tribhuvan university with a Bachelor of management.
She has been working in the non-profit sector since 2015 gaining different skillsets in Admin/Finance that include financial planning, monitoring, budgeting, and procurement. She has better experience in financial management, payments and disbursements, financial analysis, office management and Nepalese taxation and ETDS.
Samita Aryal
Office Assistant
Ms. Samita Aryal is currently working in Centre for Social Change as an Office Assistant. She has completed her higher secondary education from Ideal English High School, Kathmandu.
She has few years’ experience of working as an office assistant. She is an important force in workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage herself and the entire CSC team. She is quick learner and dedicated towards her work.
Nitu Rauniyar
Policy Research Fellow
Astha Pokharel
Policy Research Fellow
Ms. Astha Pokharel is an early career researcher. She has completed B.sc in Agriculture from Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. Her academic achievements include proposal writing runner-up, NAPA Research Mini-Grant, five months long PMAMP internship in her dissertation period. Previously, she has contributed her skills and expertise as a Research Assistant at Nepal Agriculture Research Council. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she cultivated a strong foundation in community development and research methodologies. She is driven by a passion for sustainable agricultural development and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of vulnerable communities, especially in the field of social science and agriculture.
Brinda Adhikari
Policy Research Fellow
Pratima Chhetri
Multimedia Consultant
Proficient in industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma, Adobe XD, After Effects, and DaVinci Resolve, she delivers visually compelling designs that communicate effectively across platforms. Currently pursuing Fine Arts at Sirjana College of Fine Arts, she blends her technical expertise with artistic expression to create meaningful, purpose-driven designs.