Members
Monika Jirel
Monika Jirel is a dedicated youth with a profound commitment to climate action, advocacy, and community engagement. She holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and has been contributing to the ClimAdapt Executive Team as a research assistant since August 2025. She has over 4 years of hands-on experience in organizations such as ClimAdapt, Wildlife Conservation Nepal, and Nepalese Youth for Climate Action. She has contributed to initiatives focused on youth engagement, climate advocacy, climate resilience, and capacity building for climate-vulnerable communities. Passionate about advancing Nepal’s climate goals, Monika advocates for meaningful youth participation and gender inclusion in climate governance while supporting community-driven approaches for sustainable development and building climate-resilient communities.
Pooja Pokharel
Pooja Pokharel is a young forestry professional from Nepal with a graduate degree in M. Sc. Forestry. She is deeply passionate about forest conservation, climate change, and advancing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). She brings extensive experience in youth-led environmental initiatives at both national and international levels. Her leadership roles includes serving as the President of CliMates Nepal to the Global Focal Point for the Major Group for Children and Youth under the United Nations Forum on Forests, UNCCD Youth Caucus, International Forestry Students’ Association and many others. Currently, she serves as the Membership and Outreach Manager for the GEF CSO Network and is an active member of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Youth Task Force.
Priti Sakha
Priti Sakha is a young environmental and climate change professional with expertise in climate adaptation, resilience-building, research, policy analysis, and inclusive development, with a master’s degree in Environmental Science. Her work focuses on integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) into climate policies, programs, and community-based initiatives. She has contributed to research, vulnerability assessments, climate advocacy, and policy development through collaborations with national and international organizations, supporting evidence-based decision-making and strengthening community resilience. Priti has experience in stakeholder engagement, project monitoring and evaluation, capacity building, and knowledge management. She is passionate about advancing equitable and locally led climate action, ensuring that the perspectives of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities are reflected in climate governance and sustainable development.
Prakriti Koirala
Prakriti Koirala holds a master’s degree in Environmental Science with a specialization in climate change. She began her journey as an activist in 2016, driven by a passion for environmental and social justice. Actively engaged in research-based advocacy, Prakriti has been involved in international climate change negotiations since 2021, focusing on loss and damage as a negotiator from Nepal. She also serves as the global youth coordinator for the Least Developed Countries Group. As a member of the Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, Prakriti is part of an international network dedicated to pushing for ambitious global action on loss and damage issues. Her dedication to the cause and her commitment to environmental conservation and climate justice is inspired by her name- Prakriti (nature).
Rabindra Shrestha
Mr. Rabindra Kumar Shrestha serve as the Admin & Finance Manager at Clim Adapt. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Studies (MBS) from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and has extensive experience working with various development organizations. His areas of expertise include financial planning, budgeting, financial monitoring, reporting, and overall administrative and financial management.
He has strong experience in managing due diligence processes, internal and external audits, and strengthening financial and internal control systems. He has also provided capacity-building support to partner NGOs and sub-grantees on fiduciary risk management, audit compliance, and internal controls, as well as conducted orientations for field staff. His expertise contributes to effective financial accountability, compliance, and organizational strengthening.
Regan Sapkota
Mr. Regan Sapkota brings over a decade of expertise in climate change, disaster risk reduction and natural resource research and management. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science, specializing in climate change. His diverse portfolio includes risk assessment, project development and implementation, provision of technical support, and facilitation of policy formulation processes for strengthening sustainable development practices and resilience-building. Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Sapkota has forged strategic partnerships with numerous governmental, non-governmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral organizations. His regional collaborations include work with The World Bank, ICIMOD, IWMI, OPM, and Practical Action, significantly advancing research and practical applications related to climate change. He also works as the visiting faculty at Nepal Open University and is involved in the development of curriculum or training module. In his recent work, he has closely worked with the government for the development of Multi hazard risk Assessment Framework, Green Finance Taxonomy, strategic action plan for Green Resilient Inclusive Development, sectoral vulnerability and risk assessment, development of loss and damage framework including several other. Over the years, Mr. Sapkota have contributed to the community through the publication of several of peer reviewed journal, report and policy documents.
Sabitri Rai
Sabitri Rai is a gender and climate practitioner with a strong background in inclusive development planning and GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion). She has extensive experience in developing and leading biodiversity conservation and climate resilience projects, particularly through community-based approaches. Her work focuses on advancing women’s leadership and fostering equitable, climate-resiliency.
Sama Shrestha
Sama Shrestha is a Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Specialist with over 20 years of experience in programme management, development policy on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian action. Using a strong intersectional approach, she possesses extensive expertise in mainstreaming protection, inclusion, and gender-responsive climate financing into resilience programme and policies. Her work has contributed to the integration of GEDSI priorities into global, national and local frameworks including Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, National GEDSI strategic action in DRR, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPAs), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF). Her technical strengths include GEDSI-responsive risk and vulnerability assessments, climate-smart approaches, and anticipatory action.  Sama has led critical studies on status of gender equality in climate change in Nepal, gender responsive disaster costing, climate smart technologies to reduce women’s drudgery, Indigenous women’s knowledge in adaptation planning, and financing for gender equality in humanitarian action.
During her 16 years with UN Women, including more than 13 years as Programme Specialist and Thematic lead for Climate Change, DRR, Humanitarian Action, and Women, Peace and Security, she led gender transformative programmes that strengthened resilience, protection, and disaster preparedness and response for vulnerable and marginalized communities. She works extensively with governments, civil society organizations, youth and women led groups and networks, development partners to advance inclusive, locally led climate action. Sama holds a Master of Arts in Humanities from Tribhuvan University and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Botany and Environmental Science from the University of Delhi.
Sandesh Singh Hamal
Over 33 years of experience at both strategic and field levels in programming and management (program development, planning, implementation, supervision, monitoring and reporting) complex and large development programs at national, regional levels and remote locations of Nepal. Led formulation and refinement of organizational and program-related policies and strategies. Experienced with programmatic frameworks, national priorities and grant management of major donors including USAID, UKAID (then DfID), EU and DANIDA. Proven record of accomplishment working in a multi-agencies environment including collaboration with federal and provincial government ministries and departments, international development organizations, national NGOs, private sector, federations and networks, research and academic institutions. Extensive experience in strategic planning, policy advocacy, government liaison, partnership management, human resource development, and large and diverse team management.
Key technical areas of expertise include sustainable infrastructure development, climate adaptation, social inclusion, policy discourse, strong analytical and conceptual skills.
Countries of work experience: Nepal, Thailand, Mongolia, India
Shailesh Rajbhandari
Shailesh Kumar Rajbhandari is a highly committed and dependable professional personnel with over 20 years of experience providing transportation, logistics, and administrative services for INGOs, NGOs, and government institutions. Throughout his career, he has closely supported senior government officials and project teams in dynamic field environment, demonstrating a strong focus on road safety, operational excellence, and effective logistical coordination for development initiatives across Nepal. His core competencies include supporting field missions, managing travel arrangements, maintaining documentation and vehicle logbooks, supporting procurement and inventory, and emergency response, including first aid awareness.
Mr. Shirish A. Adhikari
Shirish A. Adhikari is a seasoned program management expert with over 25 years of senior leadership experience focusing on infrastructure, Climate change Adaptation, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and disaster risk reduction. Holding a Master of Science in Municipal Water and Infrastructure from UNESCO-IHE in the Netherlands , he has successfully directed multi-million-dollar resilience programs in climate-vulnerable contexts. Shirish has a strong background in advancing locally led adaptation , having served as an Adaptation Expert for targeted climate interventions and led strategic learning for the Resilience, Adaptation and Inclusion in Nepal (RAIN) Programme. Throughout his career, he has managed high-profile projects funded by major international donors, including the FCDO, the European Union, and USAID. A civil engineer by training , Shirish is highly skilled in end-to-end program management and ensuring that development projects remain inclusive and climate-resilient.
Ms. Samjhana Shrestha
Samjhana Shrestha works as the Admin & Finance Assistant at Clim Adapt. She holds a Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.
With more than 10 years of experience in the development sector, Ms. Shrestha has developed strong expertise in administrative and financial management. She supports the organization’s day-to-day finance and administrative functions, including financial documentation, record keeping, procurement, logistics, and office operations. Her experience and commitment contribute to ensuring efficient administrative processes and sound financial management in support of the organization’s programs.