Manohara Khadka
International Water Management Institute, Embassy of Switzerland, Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam International Institute of Social Studies, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Forestry
0000-0002-7490-645X
About
Dr. Manohara Khadka is the Country Representative of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Nepal. She is a Principal Researcher specializing in water and natural resources governance, with deep expertise in gender equality, social inclusion, and inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate resilience across South Asia and the Himalayan region.
Prior to joining IWMI, she served as Senior Program Officer–Natural Resource Management and Senior Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Advisor at the Embassy of Switzerland (SDC) in Nepal, where she managed a multi-donor national forestry programme in partnership with the Government of Nepal and development partners from Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Finland. She has also worked as an NRM and Gender Specialist at ICIMOD, and as a Forestry Development, Sustainable Soil Management, and Programme Coordinator for SDC- and Australia-funded community forestry and agriculture projects in Nepal.
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Khadka has led pioneering social science research grounded in feminist political ecology and advanced inclusive policy processes and programme management across South Asia and the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Her expertise spans water resources and irrigation, water security innovations, WASH, the water–energy–food–environment (WEFE) nexus, earthquake recovery, locally led adaptation and climate resilience, community forestry, REDD+, biodiversity, and decentralized agriculture.
Employment
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International Water Management Institute Country Representative2019 - Present
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Embassy of Switzerland Senior Gender and Social Inclusion Advisor2017 - 2018
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Embassy of Switzerland Senior Program Officer-Natural Resources Management2014 - 2016
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International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Gender Specialist (Natural Resources Management)2011 - 2014
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HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Program Coordinator2010 - 2011
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Institute of Social Studies Research Fellow2005 - 2009
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Nepal - Australia Community Resource Management and Livelihoods Project Community Development Specialist (Livelihoods and Gender)2003 - 2005
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Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project (NSCFP)/SDC Nepal District Project Coordinator2001 - 2003
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Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project (NSCFP)/SDC Nepal Forestry and Gender Development Officer.1995 - 1998
Education
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Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam International Institute of Social Studies PhD2005 - 2009
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Norwegian University of Life Sciences MSc1998 - 2000
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Institute of Forestry BSc Forestry1990 - 1994
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Institute of Forestry, Hetauda Intermediate Science of Forestry1985 - 1987
Projects & Funding
Projects & funding information is unavailable.
Publications (85)
- Mapping the Invisible: Groundwater Use, Access, Equity, and Governance in Nepal’s Southern Plains; Policy Pathways for Equitable and Sustainable Groundwater Use Save
- . Gender Responsive Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus Approach for Local Level Planning in Nepal: A Manual [in Nepali] Save
- Strengthening an Enabling Environment for Wastewater Reuse in Nepal’s Peri-Urban Agriculture Save
- CGIAR 10 Year Impact in Nepal Save
- Water, sanitation and hygiene in Federal Nepal: strengthening local government actions and citizen rights Save
- Gender Responsive Water-Energy-Food-Environment Nexus Approach for Local Level Planning in Nepal: A Manual [in Nepali]. Save
- Nepal examines strategies to transform its agrifood system Save
- Women in Nepalese farming community take lead to tackle disaster-induced challenges Save
- Stakeholders in Nepal work together to enhance collective action for municipal groundwater management. Save
- Mitigating the Madhes water crisis: action to protect province’s groundwater and solve flooding Save