Our Team




VIJAY KANT KARNA
EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON 

Former Ambassador to Denmark (2008-2012), Vijay Kant Karna is the Executive Chairperson of the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). Ambassador Karna is a professor of political science at Tribhuvan University. His interests include research and discussions on international relations, geopolitics, democracy, cros - border issues and working for the marginalized communities including Madhesis, Dalits, Tharus, Muslims and Janajatis. 

VIJAY KANT KARNA
EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON 
AJAYA BHADRA KHANAL
RESEARCH ADVISOR

Ajaya Bhadra Khanal is the Research Advisor of Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). He is the Director of Ukaalo Abhiyan and the Editor-in-Chief at Ukaalo.com. He is a former Editor of The Himalayan Times, an English broadsheet daily published from Kathmandu. He has more than 25 years’ experience as a journalist in Nepal in various institutions, capped by inside involvement in conflict transformation. Since the last two years, he has been carrying out research on corruption, impunity, governance and national security interests. His long term interest is academic research and public engagement aimed at enabling communities and national political institutions enforce rule of law and promote democracy.

AJAYA BHADRA KHANAL
RESEARCH ADVISOR
ANKITA BHETWAL
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Ankita Bhetwal is a Communications Officer at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). She is an MBA graduate of the Nonprofit Management program from King's College. She completed her bachelor's degree in PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Asian University for Women, Bangladesh. She is a people's person who loves to tell and listen to stories, discuss movies and advocate for inclusion and equality.

ANKITA BHETWAL
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
ARPAN GELAL
RESEARCH & PROGRAM COORDINATOR 

Arpan Gelal leads Research and Program at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). He completed Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree in International Development Studies (GLODEP) with honours from multiple universities of Czech Republic, France and Italy, fully funded by the European Union. He completed undergraduate degree in Development Studies with KU Vice chancellor Gold Medal and Nepal Bidhya Bhusan Padak. He has worked as a freelance consultant for various development related assignments. He is also a faculty member for Development Studies at National College, Kathmandu University. 

ARPAN GELAL
RESEARCH & PROGRAM COORDINATOR 
POOJA GAUTAM
MONITORING & EVALUATION OFFICER 

Pooja Gautam is working as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). She has comepleted her master’s degree in Business Studies from Tribbhuvan University, Nepal. She is also a lecturer of Business Studies and Finance. She loves to travel to different places.

POOJA GAUTAM
MONITORING & EVALUATION OFFICER 
KUMAR KARKI
ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE OFFICER 

Kumar Karki is the Accounts and Finance Officer at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). He has completed his Masters in Business Studies (MBS) from Tribhuvan university, Nepal. 

KUMAR KARKI
ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE OFFICER 
MAHESH KUSHWAHA
RESEARCH FELLOW

Mahesh Kushwaha is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Innovation and FOreign Policy (CESIF), whose interest of exploration spans political and security affairs.  He has an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s degree in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies (from University of Glasgow, Dublin City University, and Charles University in Prague) and an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Soka University of America. He has multiple years of research experience at different academic institutions and think-tanks, both in Nepal and overseas. 

MAHESH KUSHWAHA
RESEARCH FELLOW
SHREYA PAUDEL
RESEARCH FELLOW

Shreya Paudel is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). He holds an MSc in Conflict Studies from The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE and a BA (Hons) in International Political Studies from Middlesex University, London. He has worked in different capacities at various development organizations such as the National Democratic Institute (NDI), The Asia Foundation and Democracy Resource Center Nepal (DRCN). He also writes op-ed articles for newspapers including The Guardian, The Kathmandu Post and Nepal Saptajik. 

SHREYA PAUDEL
RESEARCH FELLOW
MILAN ACHARYA
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Milan Acharya is currently working as a Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). He is a recent graduate of Kathmandu University School of Arts with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. He has previously worked as an Intern at SAWTEE, Kathmandu, where he worked with the research team to develop research reports for various projects. His research interest lies in development issues, politics, and policy reforms.

MILAN ACHARYA
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
PRABISHA BASNET
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Prabisha Basnet is a Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). She is pursuing her Master's degree in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Poetry and travelling are some of her other subjects of interest.
 

PRABISHA BASNET
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
SHILA PARAJULI
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Shila Devi Parajuli is a Junior Research Fellow at Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). She is currently pursuing Masters in International Relations and Diplomacy at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy, Tribhuvan University. She has been selected to write her Masters thesis under the University Grant Commission(UGC.) Her areas of interest are refugees, global governance, strategic studies, and human security. 

SHILA PARAJULI
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
PRAKRITI ADHIKARI
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Prakriti Adhikari is a Junior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Innovation and Foreign Policy (CESIF). She holds a master's degree in international relations from South Asian University, New Delhi, India, achieved through the SJS scholarship. She is an ICCR alumnus, having obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Delhi. Prakriti's expertise lies in geopolitics and climate diplomacy; she is passionate about traveling.

PRAKRITI ADHIKARI
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW
GOMA PRADHAN
OFFICE ASSISTANT

Goma Pradhan is the Office Assitant at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF). She is pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Rural Development from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. She supports the administrative and finance department at CESIF. 

GOMA PRADHAN
OFFICE ASSISTANT