Capacity-building and Sustainable Development

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  • HOME
  • ASTA-JA USA
  • ASTA-JA RDC
  • ASTA-JA ICC
  • NEPAL VISION 2040
  • NOAAN
  • NEWS
  • PROJECTS
  • PUBLICATIONS
  • PHOTO GALLERY

welcome to asta-ja research and development center

About Asta-Ja Research and Development Center

  

Asta-Ja Research and Development Center (Asta-Ja RDC) is a registered (Registration Number 715/070/071, Kathmandu, Nepal, Registered on Wednesday, Baisakh-10, 2071,  accordingly Wednesday, April 23, 2014) non-profit and non-governmental organization with headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal. Asta-Ja RDC is dedicated to enhance grassroots community involvement in state-of-the-art research and development of Asta-Ja (Eight-Ja), Nepali letter 'Ja', meaning, Jal (water), Jamin (land), Jungle (forest), Jadibuti (medicinal & aromatic plants), Janashakti (manpower), Janawar(animals), Jarajuri (crop plants), and Jalbayu (climate) for poverty alleviation and socio-economic transformation of Nepal. We envision an economically prosperous, environmentally sound, and socially just Nepal through sustainable development and management of Asta-Ja resources. 

Our Approach

  

Asta-Ja RDC is guided by the eight principles of Asta-Ja: 

Principle 1. Community awareness  

 Principle 2. Community capacity-building 

Principle  3. Policy advocacy   

Principle 4. Interrelationships and linkages 

Principle 5. Comprehensive assessment 

Principle 6. Sustainable technologies and practices  

Principle  7. Institutions, trade and governance

 Principle 8. Sustainable development and socio- economic transformation 

Our Team

Our team is composed of experts in various disciplines including commercial agriculture, forest industrialization, medicinal and aromatic plant industries, engineering and technology,  climate change adaptation, land and water resources, minerals and mines, environmental quality, Information Technology and Artifical Intelligence, Businesses and Supply Chains, Social Mobilization, Tourism, Finace and Economics, Global Trade, Education, and many more. We have a great presence of Medical Doctors, Nurses, and Technicians in our team.

ASTA-JA RDC EXECUTIVE BOARD, 2025-2026

PRESIDENT, DR. RAMJI NEUPANE

senior vice-president, dr. ambika prasad gautam

senior vice-president, dr. ambika prasad gautam

Dr. Ramji Prasad Neupane has more than 25 years of professional experience with various organizations (inside and outside Nepal) in development planning, agroforestry, and entrepreneurship development. He is also involved in academic teaching and research activities. He received his Ph.D. degree from AIT, Bangok, Thailand.  

senior vice-president, dr. ambika prasad gautam

senior vice-president, dr. ambika prasad gautam

senior vice-president, dr. ambika prasad gautam

Dr. Ambika Prasad Gautam received a Ph.D. degree in Natural Resources Management (NRM) from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, Thailand. He has about 40 years of experience in developing, managing, and implementing NRM programs and teaching NRM and forestry subjects in reputed universities in in south and south-east Asia.

Vice-President, Mr. Rishiram Pangeni

senior vice-president, dr. ambika prasad gautam

Vice-President, Mr. Rishiram Pangeni

Mr. Rishiram Pageni has work experience as Joint Secretary of the Government of Nepal, and General Administrator in Election Management, Land Administration, and Industry and Supply.

general secretary, mr. bidur koirala

general secretary, mr. bidur koirala

Vice-President, Mr. Rishiram Pangeni

Mr. Bidur Koirala has expertise in public relations,  accounting, management, and Nepali language and literature. He is a campaigner for agroforestry development.

secretary, mr. sanjaya baral

general secretary, mr. bidur koirala

secretary, mr. sanjaya baral

Mr. Sanjaya Baral is a social worker with expertise in accounting, auditing, and entrepreneurship.

treasurer, mr. gopal khatri

general secretary, mr. bidur koirala

secretary, mr. sanjaya baral

Mr. Gopal Khatri is an expert in Accounting.

member, mr. udhav prasad poudel

member, mr. udhav prasad poudel

member, mr. udhav prasad poudel

Mr. Udhab Prasad Poudel is an expert in community mobilization and local leadership. 

member, ms goma chapagain

member, mr. udhav prasad poudel

member, mr. udhav prasad poudel

Ms. Goma Chapagain is an expert in Business Management.

member, mr. binod koirala

member, mr. udhav prasad poudel

member, mr. avinash upadhaya

Mr. Bindod Koirala is a successful Community Developer.  

member, mr. avinash upadhaya

member, mr. avinash upadhaya

member, mr. avinash upadhaya

Mr. Avinash Upadhaya is an Engineer and has expertise drinking water supply. 

member, ms samikshhya ghimire

member, mr. avinash upadhaya

member, ms samikshhya ghimire

Ms. Samikshhya Ghimire holds a Bachelor's degree in Geology. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Health in Disaster at the Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Her current academic focus is on understanding and mitigating the impacts of environmental disasters, aiming to contribute to sustainable solutions for disaster risk reduction and resilience. 

permanent advisory board

Dr. Durga D. Poudel
​Soil and Environmental Scientist
​Founder of the Asta-Ja Framework
Founding Member Asta-Ja Abhiyan Nepal
International Coordinator Asta-Ja ICC
Founding President Asta-Ja RDC 

Founding President Asta-Ja USA 

    past presidents

    The Founding President, Professor Durga D. Poudel, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Louisiana, USA, was the  first President of Asta-Ja RDC, April, 2014-March, 2018. Professor Poudel is a ​Soil and Environmental Scientist, the ​Founder of the Asta-Ja Framework, Founding Member Asta-Ja Abhiyan Nepal, International Coordinator Asta-Ja ICC, Founding President Asta-Ja RDC and the Founding President of Asta-Ja USA.

    The Second President,  Mr. Pushpa Lal Moktan,  is an expert on Monitoring and Evaluation, Value Chain, and  Agricultural  Economics.  Mr. Moktan received his B.Sc. degree from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,  Pakistan, and M.Sc. degree in Rural Development from AIT, Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Moktan served the Asta-Ja RDC as the president from 2019- 2024.

     

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    Asta-Ja Research and Development Center

    Gairigaun, Matatirtha, Chandragiri-8, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Email: astajardcnepal2014@gmail.com

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