Capacity-building and Sustainable Development
Capacity-building and Sustainable Development
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr. Bidur Koirala has expertise in public relations, accounting, management, and Nepali language and literature. He is a campaigner for agroforestry development.
Mr. Sanjaya Baral is a social worker with expertise in accounting, auditing, and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Gopal Khatri is an expert in Accounting.
Mr. Udhab Prasad Poudel is an expert in community mobilization and local leadership.
Ms. Goma Chapagain is an expert in Business Management.
Mr. Bindod Koirala is a successful Community Developer.
Mr. Avinash Upadhaya is an Engineer and has expertise drinking water supply.
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
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.