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 Inclusion and Federalism (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 Inclusion and Federalism (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 Inclusion and Federalism (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 Inclusion and Federalism (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 Inclusion and Federalism (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 
PRASHANTI POUDYAL
RESEARCH FELLOW


Prashanti Poudyal is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF).  She completed her Master's degree in Development and Governance as a DAAD scholar, from Germany. She has previously worked as a journalist and has authored a script for a romantic comedy series called ‘Maya Bhanne Cheez Yestai Ho’ that aired on AP1 television. 

PRASHANTI POUDYAL
RESEARCH FELLOW
PRAKRITI SHREE ADHIKARY
RESEARCH FELLOW

Prakriti Shree Adhikary is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF). She completed her MA specialization in International Relations in 2017 from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. Prior to CESIF, Prakriti worked in Transparency International Nepal and has worked as a freelance researcher in several development projects. Her interest includes national security, gender and social inclusion, international politics among others. 

PRAKRITI SHREE ADHIKARY
RESEARCH FELLOW
SOURAV DAHAL
RESEARCH FELLOW

Sourav Dahal is a research fellow at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF). He has a postgraduate in Advanced Study and Research (Political Science, Hons. & International Relations) from Ashoka University, India. He has previously worked as a writer-analyst and a teaching fellow. His research interests include geopolitics, political economy, international security, democracy and governance.

SOURAV DAHAL
RESEARCH FELLOW
MILAN ACHARYA
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

Milan Acharya is currently working as a Junior Research Fellow at the Center for Social Inclusion and Federalism (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
RESEARCH TRAINEE

Prabisha Basnet is a Research Trainee at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF). She is pursuing her Master's degree in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies from Tribhuvan University, Nepal and is currently working on her Thesis paper. Poetry and travelling are some of her other subjects of interest.
 

PRABISHA BASNET
RESEARCH TRAINEE
SHILA PARAJULI
RESEARCH TRAINEE

Shila Devi Parajuli is a Research Trainee at 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
RESEARCH TRAINEE
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