Dr. Karki acquired his doctorate in Education Administration and Policy studies from the George Washington University with a concentration in International Education. Dr Karki recently worked as International Education Advisor at the National Department of Education in Federated States of Micronesia (2017-19) where he assisted in developing the new School Accreditation System-2018, Education Data Digest – 2017/18, National Qualifications Framework – 2019, Higher Education Directives -2019, Technical and Vocational Education Program Concept -2019, and supported in developing Education Sector Strategic Plan (2020- 2024).

Most recently, Dr Karki provided technical support to the Ministry of Education in assessing the learning loss in schools due to COVID-19 pandemic and in developing a five-year Recovery and Accelerated Learning Plan – 2023-28. Similarly, Dr Karki also provided assistance to the Ministry in developing TVET Sector Strategic Plan – 2023-2032.

Prior to this assignment, Dr Karki served as Chief Technical Advisor to the USAID-supported Early Grade Reading Program in Nepal; and as Country Director of Room to Read/Nepal. Additionally, he has served as the principal writer for several national education plans and policy documents for Nepal’s Ministry of Education, such as the School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP, 2009-15), National Capacity Development Framework (2010), National Early Grade Reading Program (2014/15-2019- 20), and has also provided technical guidance and assistance for development of the School Sector Development Plan (2016-22).

Ms Karki, is dedicated personnel with a passion for assisting high-value clients in securing their futures and building successful businesses. She completed her postgraduate degree in Financial Management from The University of Winnipeg and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She has worked as an Office Admin at Silverlinings Healthcare, where she excelled in client support, billing processes, and software management.

Her experience as a Junior Research Officer at Roosterlogic Pvt. Ltd. in Kathmandu, Nepal, involved formulating research questionnaires, training a data collection team, and processing data using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Additionally, Ms. Karki worked as an Administrative Assistant at the Mechai Viravaidya Foundation in Buriram, Thailand, where she coordinated projects with sponsors and investors and assisted in fundraising and grant impact projects.

Ms. Lamsal is a dedicated and highly skilled finance professional with over seven years of experience in financial management, compliance, and administration within the non-profit and educational sectors. She has served as the Finance and Compliance Manager at the International Development Institute in Kathmandu, Nepal, where she expertly managed accounting activities, prepared precise financial reports, and coordinated project documentation to ensure financial soundness.

Ms. Lamsal has a proven track record of analyzing project profitability, creating detailed earnings reports, and overseeing tax filings. Her experience extends to conducting workshops for government employees and managing logistics for large-scale events. Additionally, she has worked as a data analyst on a national TVET Reform Project, showcasing her versatility and ability to collaborate with various stakeholders.

Dr. Howard Williams has over 40 years of experience in designing, directing, and evaluating education, health, and agricultural programs in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central America, and the U.S. Dr. Williams’ experience in Asia includes providing technical and programmatic assistance for education and health programs in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, and the Philippines.

In other roles, he has served as an external dissertation reviewer for Kathmandu University; co-chair of the Inter- Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)/Minimum Standards, Promotions & Analysis subgroup; Managing Director for the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Team Leader for AIR’s publication: Learning Standards: What Matters Most for Quality Education.

Dr. Pamela Allen has over 25 years of experience in designing, directing, and evaluating communication, health, education, and gender-focused programs among a diverse range of clients, partners, and stakeholders.

Dr. Allen has served as an Information Education Communication (IEC) Project Chief of Party in Nepal for a family planning program, technical trainer on health communication for India’s Ministry of Health and family welfare, USAID technical supervisor and advisor in Washington, D.C. and Ghana, and as technical advisor and consultant in multiple countries in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Eurasia, and Latin America. She also has written four published novels.

Ms. Kamala Dahal is a dynamic media professional with a bachelor’s in journalism and over five years of experience in news anchoring, field reporting, and video editing across leading Nepali television platforms. She brings a sharp eye for detail, strong critical thinking, and a proven ability to synthesize complex information into compelling narratives. Her hands-on experience mentoring junior staff and coordinating on-ground coverage demonstrates her leadership and collaborative skills. Her proficiency in Nepali typing, content creation, and cross-platform communication makes her a valuable asset for program implementation, stakeholder engagement, and media-driven advocacy.

Mr. Swadesh Maharjan is a seasoned Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) professional with over two decades of experience in international development programs. He specializes in designing and implementing effective MEL systems, fostering data-driven insights to enhance program impact. With expertise in consultancy services, data management, and training, he has led and mentored teams across several renowned organizations, including Save the Children, UNDP, and RTI’s EGRP II project.

His roles have ranged from monitoring progress and ensuring data quality to developing innovative tools like the Online Programme Management Information System (OPMIS) for USAID requirements. An advocate of integrating GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) considerations, he excels at forging meaningful stakeholder collaborations and delivering actionable recommendations. His academic foundation in anthropology and botany from Tribhuvan University further enriches his work.

Dr. Acharya has served as Managing Director and Executive Director since 2021, coordinating and managing all NIRT projects. He is now in deputation to the Technical Support Unit of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology as Project Coordinator for two years. Dr. Acharya has 30 years’ experience in teaching, research, coordination, and project evaluation.

As a Project Management Coordinator for NIRT, he provided technical and logistics support to the Ministry of Education during the preparation of Nepal’s ongoing School Sector Development Plan (SSDP 2016-2022), led the dissemination program of the USAID/Nepal-supported National Early Grade Reading Program, and worked as Team Leader to design and conduct Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Math Assessment (EGMA) for different various I/NGOs.