Experts Roster

Born in Melchham-7, Humla, of the Karnali Zone in Nepal, now known as Chankheli Rural Municipality Ward No. 6, Gobinda Bahadur Shahi has dedicated his life to education, community development, and sustainable mountain development. Raised in a remote village by uneducated parents, Gobinda's determination to excel led him to complete his education in 1996, graduating in the first division from Mahadev Secondary School in Darma, Humla. Despite the school being a day's journey from the district headquarters, Gobinda's perseverance enabled him to pursue higher education. He earned his Intermediate in Education (I.Ed.) in health and English education in 1998 and a Bachelor’s in Education (B.Ed.) in English education in 2002 from Butwal Multiple Campus, Rupandehi. Later, he achieved a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) in English from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, in 2008. Gobinda began his professional journey in education, accumulating over nine years of experience. He served for five years at Cannon Higher Secondary Boarding School, Butwal, and two years as Head Teacher at Himjyoti Secondary School, Sarkegad, Humla. Additionally, he taught as an English teacher at Mansarovar Higher Secondary School, Simikot, Humla. In 2006, Gobinda transitioned to the development sector, motivated by a desire to work more closely with underserved communities in Nepal's most remote regions. Over the past 18 years, he has been an integral part of the Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Center (KIRDARC) Nepal, holding various leadership roles. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of KIRDARC Nepal, a member of multiple national and international networks and alliances. Gobinda’s influence extends beyond his organization. He is the Vice-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Mountain Partnership, a central committee member of the NGO Federation of Nepal, and the General Secretary of the Nepal Intellectual Council (NIC). His dedication to public service is further exemplified by his tenure as a board member of the Social Welfare Council, Nepal’s CSO regulatory body, and his role as the founding Secretary of the Association of Family Forest Owners Nepal (AFFON). With extensive experience in community-focused initiatives, Gobinda specializes in addressing the challenges of mountain communities, particularly those related to climate change. His efforts align with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring that no mountain community is left behind. Gobinda Bahadur Shahi’s commitment to education, community empowerment, and sustainable development underscores his reputation as a visionary leader dedicated to creating lasting impacts in Nepal and beyond.