Mr. Mohan Das Manandhar Chairperson

Mohan Das Manandhar is an expert in climate change, political economy analysis, energy policies, socio-political dimension of government and social inclusion. He has more than 35 years of hands- on experience in government agencies, development organizations, academic institutions, and private sector enterprises in Nepal, South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan), South East Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Myanmar), and Africa (Liberia).

Mr. Manandhar is Chairperson of Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Nepal and Executive Chairperson of Organisation Development Centre (ODC). He was Executive Director of Niti Foundation. He also served as chairperson of development bank. Mr. Manandhar was the Political Economy Consultant for Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Political Economy Analysis (PEA) of energy and electricity sector of Nepal in designing an economic reform programme for the Government of Nepal. He also served as senior academic advisor to Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC). Mr. Manandhar was a visiting scholar at the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. He is also an adviser of Displacement Research and Action Network (DRAN)/MIT and is a member of Nepal Research Advisory Group, the Program of Resilient Communities, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. He was board member of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), a government institution established with the objective of developing and promoting renewable/alternative energy technologies in Nepal.

He did his BE (Civil) from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Roorkee and MBA from International University of Japan (IUJ).

Ms. Sarita Karki Managing Director

Sarita Karki is leading Sustainable Prosperity Initiative (SPI) Nepal, a professional firm established in 2001, working mainly in development programs and projects; providing institutional strengthening and organization development services; supporting state agencies in making public policies inclusive; and building organizational capacities of development partners. SPI Nepal is currently focusing on clean cooking, carbon financing, energy transition and policy advocacy for the sustainable development and prosperity of Nepal.

She was engaged in Asia Market Assessment of Innovative Sanitation Technologies (especially Reinvented Toilets and Omni Processors) in Indonesia and Pakistan for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as Regional Research Coordinator. She has more than 9 years of experience in working in development and private sectors including ActionAid International Nepal, Teach for Nepal, Niti Foundation, Urja Developers, and CE Construction Pvt. Ltd.

She holds MBA degree from Bangalore University, India and MBS degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

 

Mr. Purushottam Ghimire Senior Advisor - Policy

Purushottam Ghimire served more than 32 years in the Government of Nepal in a different capacity and 15 years in the field of Climate Change (CC), Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a Joint Secretary, he served as Chief of Environment and Climate Change Division and Focal Point of UNFCCC in the Ministry of Environment. He also led climate change projects such as NAPA, LAPA, PPCR, EBA and others, and the Nepalese delegation in many times to UNFCCC process. He was elected board member to the Global Mountain Partnership from the Asia Pacific Group for three year and focal point ICIMOD and UNDESA.

He also worked as Policy Expert for USAID and Oxford Policy Management (OPM), a DFID support program in Nepal. He also served as Governance Advisor to the “Development of a Collaborative Disaster Risk Reduction Mechanism for Hydropower Projects and Communities through EWS Installation. He also worked as policy adviser to the UNFCCA and contributed Clean Cooking Campaign in Nepal and supported in preparing Clean Cooking National Guideline.

Ms. Reetu Rajbhandari Program Coordinator

Reetu Rajbhandari has wide experience and knowledge on Conventional Wastewater Treatment Systems, Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS), Faecal Sludge Management (FSM), City Sanitation Planning (CSP) and Sanitation Safety Planning (SSP). She was engaged as technical consultant in carrying out Asia Market Assessment of Innovative Sanitation Technologies (especially Reinvented Toilets and Omni Processors) in Indonesia and Pakistan for Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She also worked as Sanitation engineer for various projects managed by local government and communities with the Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO) in Nepal. She also had experience of community mobilization for water and sanitation facilities.

She holds Master’s degree in Urban Water and Sanitation from IHE-Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands, and is a civil engineer.

Mr. Shirish Singh Program Coordinator

Shirish Singh has good experience in program and field coordination. He led study assessing logistic capacity for WFP. He was engaged with World Vision International as sourcing coordinator for Nepal earthquake response work and worked as procurement and logistics officer. He was also involved in career counselling and a coach.

He holds Bachelor’s degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston USA.

Mr. Animesh Ghimire Research Fellow

Animesh Ghimire, M.Ed. (Research), MN, BN, is an interdisciplinary researcher whose work resides at the intersection of health, education, and policy. He skillfully elucidates the complex dynamics between these sectors, offering novel perspectives on attaining sustainable well-being. His research critically examines the ethical dilemmas inherent in these intersecting domains, interrogating the moral implications of healthcare access, resource allocation, and the influence of socio-economic disparities on health outcomes. Animesh demonstrates a particular commitment to addressing inequities within the Global South, advocating for policies and practices that uphold the principles of fairness, justice, and the holistic well-being of all individuals, irrespective of their geographical location.

Currently Animesh is working as Lecturer at Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Australia

Ms. Samridhi Pant Consultant - Private Sector Expert

Samridhi Pant is a seasoned private sector expert with a diverse portfolio encompassing business environment assessment, local economic development, private sector development amid federalization, and policy-making. With a wealth of experience, Samridhi has successfully navigated and contributed to a wide range of international projects, showcasing a keen understanding of the intricate dynamics within the business landscape. Known for strategic thinking and effective policy implementation, she continues to make impactful strides in shaping and enhancing the private sector across various domains.

Ms. Aju Nyachhyon Consultant - Market Systems Expert

Aju Nyachhyon is a systems thinker and a seasoned professional with experience in various fields of business, technology and economic development. She is a food technologist with an MBA degree, passionate about private sector engagement and creating a better business environment for socio-economic prosperity.

Ms. Chija Adhikari Cookstove Training Coordinator

Chija Adhikari is currently serving as the Cookstove Training Coordinator at Sustainable Prosperity Initiative Nepal. Her prior roles include Program Officer at Centre for Rural Technology Nepal, Community Mobilization and Gender Expert for the SIEMENPUU Foundation Project, and Senior Technician at the Regional Cookstove Testing and Knowledge Centre (RTKC) Nepal. Chija has significant experience in community mobilization, technical monitoring of Improved Cook Stoves (ICS), and training programs. Her career reflects a strong commitment to enhancing rural livelihoods and promoting sustainable energy solutions in Nepal.
Chija Adhikari holds a Master’s degree in Rural Development from Gramin Adarsha Multiple Campus, Kathmandu.

Ms. Chandrakala Shrestha Accountant

Chandrakala Shrestha has more than 5 years of experience in accounting and financial management specifically at audit firms. At SPI Nepal, she is responsible for preparing and examining financial records, reconciling bank statements, and ensuring financial information are accurate and up to date throughout the year.

She holds Bachelor’s of Commerce degree (specialization in Accounting and Finance) from Tribhuvan University.

Mr. Dhanesh Khadka Admin & Finance Assistant

Dhanesh Khadka has more than 8 years of experience in administration and logistics. He worked as Communication and Information Assistant at National Development Volunteers Service (NDVS) for more than 5 years and also worked as Communication Officer at J.P. Foundation.

Ms. Sugi Chaudhary Office Support

Sugi Chaudhary is responsible for keeping office building and surrounding areas neat and organized.

Mr. Ramesh Kumar Basnet Gardener

Ramesh Kumar Basnet is responsible for keeping garden and spaces around office premises green, healthy and beautiful.