Capacity-building and Sustainable Development
welcome to asta-ja research and development center
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.
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.