During my time as a part-time Project Coordinator at the Centre for Ecological Studies Nepal, I played a vital role in driving projects focused on natural resource management, wildlife conservation, and environmental preservation. I collaborated closely with the District Forest Office in Sindhuli, community forest user groups, and local youth to implement initiatives that directly benefited both the environment and local communities.

I successfully secured international funding, including the Global Seed Grant 2021 from the Korea SHE Foundation, which significantly enhanced our capacity to tackle pressing environmental challenges. My leadership was evident as I mobilized stakeholders and engaged youth in conservation rallies, fostering a sense of responsibility and empowerment among mothers’ groups, conservation enthusiasts, and local communities.

I organized capacity-building training sessions on organic waste management, benefiting over 100 participants from the Nagarjun communities in Kathmandu District. Additionally, I coordinated a conservation education program that impacted eight schools in Sindhuli District and played a pivotal role in organizing the “Mobilizing Youth Students in Environment Cleanliness Rally” in collaboration with the District Forest Office.

Through these projects, I facilitated waste management initiatives and organized seminars on various environmental issues across four subdivisions of Sindhuli District, significantly advancing community engagement and knowledge dissemination.

Please find more about the work of this organization: https://www.facebook.com/CESNepal

As a part-time Program Coordinator at Teka Samuha Nepal, I empowered communities through impactful environmental conservation initiatives, both independently and as part of a collaborative team. Some detailed about my role include:

• Eco-Club Formation: I spearheaded the establishment of 25 Eco-Clubs in rural community and private schools across Sindhuli District, inspiring students and educators to embrace environmental and wildlife conservation as a shared responsibility.
• Sustainable Forest Management: I was instrumental in constructing increment plots to measure volume growth in community forests, working alongside a dedicated team to promote sustainable forestry practices that benefit both ecosystems and local livelihoods.
• Journalism and Advocacy: As a staff reporter for Snow Leopard Magazine, I organized engaging art workshops that raised awareness about snow leopards among local stakeholders and students. Through my advocacy pieces and interviews with conservation leaders, I highlighted critical issues like livestock insurance, fostering dialogue and understanding between communities and wildlife.
• Conservation Education Programs: I led the coordination of conservation education programs focused on pollution, climate change, and wildlife preservation, collaborating with my team to create a meaningful impact in local communities.

Throughout my journey at Teka Samuha Nepal, I demonstrated unwavering leadership and dedication, striving to make a lasting difference in the lives of the people I worked with and the environment we all share.

More about the organization: https://tekasamuhanepal.org.np/

During my 5-month internship at the Division Forest Office in Kathmandu, I conducted research on forest-based enterprises and biodiversity conservation as part of my B.Sc. in Forestry. This experience allowed me to develop practical skills in GPS handling and contribute to the establishment of Eco-Clubs aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

I played a significant role in urban waste management campaigns and mapped areas affected by forest encroachment. Notably, I contributed to the planting of 500 moso bamboo in a community forest, enhancing local ecosystems. Additionally, I reviewed operational plans for community forests, documented wildlife crimes in the Kathmandu Valley, and facilitated workshops to share insights and strategies with office staff.

Key contributions during my internship included:

• Facilitating the establishment of four Eco-Clubs to foster environmental awareness.
• Overseeing and monitoring thinning and pruning activities within a community forest.
• Conducting training sessions on organic waste management.
• Reviewing operational plans for community forests.
• Supporting restoration initiatives in the community forest.
• Assisting in the investigation of wildlife crimes.
• Documenting data on forest-based enterprises.
• Monitoring encroached areas.
• Disseminating information in wildlife crimes among the construction workers in Kathmandu districts

Project: Bioengineering Social Enterprise for Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood Upliftment

I am currently involved in the project titled “Bioengineering Social Enterprise for Disaster Risk Reduction and Livelihood Upliftment,” which focuses on empowering vulnerable communities across Nepal by mitigating landslide risks and enhancing disaster resilience through the expansion of bioengineering practices. The project aims to foster sustainable livelihoods by integrating traditional knowledge with nature-based solutions, thereby promoting environmental conservation and economic growth. By contributing to a circular economy, the initiative seeks to establish a national model for grassroots engagement in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. As a researcher, I am actively involved in documenting nature-based solutions across three diverse geographical regions of Nepal—Mahakulung Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu, Dhangadhimai Municipality in Siraha, and Rapti Municipality in Chitwan.

My role focuses on capturing local adaptation practices and the biophysical and socio-economic conditions in these areas to identify sustainable approaches for climate resilience and disaster risk reduction. I am currently working on disseminating the findings through various platforms, including research papers, blogs, and articles in national newspapers. As part of the knowledge management process, I contribute to making these insights accessible to a wider audience, ensuring that local practices and lessons are shared and integrated into broader policy frameworks. This dissemination is crucial for amplifying the role of nature-based solutions in fostering resilient communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods across Nepal​.

More about project: https://bighnaharta.org/what-we-do/projects/bio-engineering-social-enterprise-for-disaster-risk-reduction-and-livelihood-upliftment

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Pictures: Compilations of the stakeholders meetings, site visits, Focus group Discussion and Key Informant Interview in Solukhumbu Nepal and Siraha

Project: Economic Empowerment of Women through the Forest Based Solutions, ( April 2022-April 2024)

Funded by:  International Development Research Centre: IDRC

As a Research Officer at ForestAction Nepal, I was instrumental in driving the organization’s initiatives to enhance sustainable forest management and promote gender equality, particularly within the framework of the IDRC-funded project, Economic Empowerment of Women through Forest Solutions. I was responsible for developing and implementing robust data collection methodologies, utilizing a mix of quantitative surveys and qualitative ethnographic research. My work involved coordinating extensive fieldwork across Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok, and Nawalpur, where I engaged with diverse stakeholders, including local communities, women entrepreneurs, and forest user groups. This hands-on involvement allowed me to gather in-depth data on socio-economic conditions, forest resource usage, and the challenges faced by women in accessing and controlling these resources.

I led the collection and analysis of complex datasets, synthesizing key findings into detailed reports and actionable insights that directly informed project strategies and recommendations. These insights played a pivotal role in supporting the economic empowerment of 240 women entrepreneurs by securing resource rights, facilitating their participation in forest-based enterprises, and conducting market analyses to ensure their business sustainability. I also developed impactful case studies that helped scale project lessons and foster wider adoption of sustainable forest practices.

In addition to my research duties, I took on leadership roles in gender-focused initiatives, particularly in the ENLIFT 2 project, where I led training programs on gender equality and leadership development for women in natural resource management. I along with my co workers successfully led the restoration of 32,000 plants as part of resource creation efforts and led baseline and endline surveys in collaboration with a team of researchers, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of project data. My contributions were not limited to fieldwork—I also played a key role in organizing workshops and conferences, co-authoring scientific publications, and leading knowledge dissemination activities. This included sharing project findings through international young scientist forums, blogs, and national newspaper articles, amplifying the voices of rural women entrepreneurs and raising awareness about the intersection of gender, forests, and sustainable development.

My work extended beyond research to strategic communication, where I utilized digital storytelling and content creation to highlight the impact of forest-based enterprises on women’s lives. I contributed regularly to forestry journals like Forest and Livelihood and the Nepali journal Hamro Ban Sampadha, while also engaging with international platforms and blogs. Throughout my tenure, I effectively liaised with all three tiers of the Nepalese government and played an active role in policy discussions and labs, advocating for the sustainable use of forest resources and greater gender equity in natural resource governance. My role at ForestAction Nepal equipped me with extensive expertise in forest governance, climate change solutions, and Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), making me a key contributor to the success of the organization’s projects and its broader impact on community livelihoods.

Link: https://forestaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/EEWFA-Booklet-English-2023.pdf

Link: https://forestaction.org/teams/aarati-khatri/

Project Empowered women prosperous Nepal

Implemented by four UN agencies (ILO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women), 

In my role as a Qualitative Researcher with Oxford Policy Management (OPM), I engaged deeply with the complexities surrounding gender-based violence (GBV) and women’s empowerment in Nepal. This position involved conducting comprehensive literature reviews to inform our understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics influencing GBV and utilizing mixed-method approaches for data collection.

I completed the transcription and thematic analysis of 51 key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and small group interviews (SGIs), ensuring that the rich narratives captured were accurately represented and coded for recurring themes. My analytical skills allowed me to draw connections between qualitative findings and quantitative data, enhancing the overall depth of our research.

A crucial aspect of my role involved reviewing and analyzing the three tiers of government policies related to GBV, assessing their effectiveness and gaps in addressing issues of violence and discrimination. I explored potential livelihoods and employment opportunities for women, emphasizing how economic empowerment can mitigate GBV prevalence. Additionally, I evaluated the current status of legal procedures and available services for GBV victims, identifying barriers that hinder access to justice and support.

Furthermore, I was responsible for producing detailed reports that synthesized out findings, providing actionable recommendations to inform the implementation of the ‘Empowered Women, Prosperous Nepal’ program. My work not only aimed to elevate marginalized voices but also contributed to broader dialogues on gender equality and social inclusion, reinforcing my commitment to creating evidence-based strategies that empower women and combat GBV in Nepal.

Link: https://nepal.un.org/en/221902-empowered-women-prosperous-nepal

https://www.ilo.org/projects-and-partnerships/projects/empowered-women-prosperous-nepal-unjp

Research Project: The effects of integrated conservation and development projects on the livelihoods of local inhabitants: A
case study from Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal

The research project assessed the effects of Conservation Area establishment and governance on the livelihoods of rural high mountain communities in Nepal, using the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) as a case study. It focused on three key questions: the livelihood characteristics of local communities within the GCA, the opportunities and constraints affecting livelihood development under GCAP as perceived by local households, and the factors that enable or restrict locals’ ability to benefit from the project. The study aimed to analyze the interaction between GCAP and local institutions to shape community-wide livelihood outcomes, positing that effective governance and positive local perceptions can lead to more equitable conservation and development results.

During my 11 months as a Research Assistant for the master’s dissertation project at the University of Copenhagen, I played an integral role in the success of the research. I was responsible for coordinating meetings with key contacts in Nepal, providing input into the design of data collection methods, and facilitating regulatory approvals and documentation. In the field, I conducted over 70 interviews, utilizing household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with participants from two remote villages in Bulung, Dolakha, and Sindhupalchowk districts. I built strong local networks by effectively communicating with key stakeholders and local representatives. After the fieldwork, I took on the challenging task of translating and transcribing all interviews from Nepali to English, ensuring accuracy in every detail. I also assisted in data analysis, quality control, and editing, ensuring the final research met high standards. My involvement spanned all stages of the project, from planning to execution, showcasing my organizational, analytical, and communication skills.

Details about project: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-zg7R4R7R6FbaVhqvXl623ySFOgaEff1/view?usp=sharing