Management Team
Program Management
Ammar Bahadur Air
Executive Director
Mr. Air is a founder member of Sahakarmi Samaj. He joined the organization as a ‘Program Development Coordinator’ in 1997 and has served in different capacities. He has been working as an Executive Director since 2017. He is also an international board member of ‘FIAN INTERNATIONAL’, Germany. He holds a Master’s degree in Community Development from Future Generation University in Virginia America and Sociology from Tribhuvan University Nepal, whereas he completed Diploma in global leadership from Coady International Institute, Francis Xavier University, Canada in 2014. He is one of the pioneers of the Facilitation for Empowerment and Social Transformation (FEST) approach to organize and empower the poor and marginalised people of different areas of Nepal. His expertise is in governance; community and organization; human resource management; monitoring and evaluation; organizational capacity development and community development through a people-led approach. In addition, he has delivered numerous pieces of training at the national and international levels on the issues of his expertise. He has authored several publications including ‘Community Facilitators Guide’ published by Sahakarmi Samaj. He is also affiliated with numerous national and international networks advocating and lobbying to ensure people’s human rights access. He can be reached at: amarbdrair@gmail.com /ed@sahakarmisamaj.org
Rajaram Gupta
Senior Organisational Capacity Development Coordinator
Mr. Gupta has been serving at the Sahakarmi Samaj as a senior official since 1998. He joined the organisation as a community educator and served in different capacities including Senior Organisational Capacity Development Coordinator. Mr. Gupta has expertise in the field of organisation capacity development: Human Resource Development & Organisational Management. Mr. Gupta has 30 years of experience in community mobilization and organizational skills and knowledge development. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Science. He is a perfect trainer, who has delivered more than 200 training to different local, national, and international organisations on Workshop & Consultation to different CBOs, NGOs, INGOs, and GOs Like such as report writing, GESI concept and audit, GESI policy formation, Social audit, Basic community development, Advancement Empowerment, Coaching and TOT, Process Orientation, People-centred development training, periodic plan development training, Resource Management and Accounting, resource identification, and coordination building, Participatory Program Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Participatory Organizational Assessment, Participatory Policy formation, communication and facilitation skill development, Community mobilization, and many more. He has even published various articles related to organisational capacity development. He can be reached at: rajaram2026@gmail.com
Hema Budhathoki
Admin and Finance Manager
Mrs. Budhathoki joined the organization as Admin and Finance Assistant in 2010. She has been working as an Admin and Finance Manager since 2021. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from TU Nepal. She is the head of the Admin and Finance Section and has 14 years of experience in the management of overall Admin and Finance-related services. She has expertise in Admin and Human Resource Management. She can be reached at: hemabudhathoki.19@gmail.com
Raksha Khadka
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator
Raksha Khadka joined the organization in May 2022. She has been working as a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator for Sahakarmi Samaj. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. She is an expert in program development, program design, participatory tools, and techniques development, Agroecology, Climate Adapted Villages, etc. She has engaged herself in the need assessment of vulnerable communities, designing project activities for the projects vested in women empowerment and empowerment of marginalized communities. Moreover, she has been involved in on-farm and off-farm monitoring visits, presented reports, and provided evaluation findings for the projects. She can be reached at: raksyhakhadka98@gmail.com
Finance and Administration Advisor
Lal Bahadur Malla
Administrative and Finance Advisor
Mr. Lal Bahadur Malla joined the organization in 2003. Mr. Malla is a Finance and Administrative Advisor. He supporting for financial management, administration, procurement, and compliance to the finance team. He assists the Finance and Administration Manager in the finance and administration management of the Sahakarmi Samaj. He joined SS in 2003 as an Administrative and Finance Officer and was promoted to the post of Administrative and Finance Manager in 2018. Now he is supporting the team as a Finance and Administration Advisor since 2021. Mr. Malla has over 25 years long experience in financial management and he is a registered auditor. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He can be reached at: lalbdr.malla@gmail.com
Senior Program Staff
Champha Singh Bhandari
Program Coordinator
Mr. Champha S. Bhandari joined the organisation in 2005 and has worked as the Program Coordinator. He holds a double Master’s in Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology from Tribhuvan University. He is a trained civic educator for peace and democracy strengthening and has taken advanced courses in Conflict Transformation and Peace including Gender Equality and Social Inclusion. He is an expert in Policy analysis, using Social Accountability Tools, Story writing, training, and capacity building. He has long experience in human rights, advocacy, and good governance. He has great facilitation skill and interpersonal communication skills. He has facilitated different leadership and personal development training. He has expertise in right-based approach program development, news collection, report writing, and editing. He was involved in right-based campaigns and mass mobilisation during his past years. He has even published hundreds of articles on human rights, advocacy, and social and political issues. He can be reached at: champha.bhandari@gmail.com
Hari Prasad Upadhyaya
Program Coordinator
Mr. Hari Upadhyaya joined the organization in 2019 and has been working as the Program Coordinator. He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s of Science in Yoga Therapy. He completed the Professional Fellows Program on Governance and Society in 2018, an exchange fellowship program organized by US State Department and World Learning. He has done two similar national fellowship programs in Nepal: Nepal Emerging Leaders Program 2019 by Leadership Academy and University of San Diego, USA, and the Youth Leadership Development Program (2019-20) by Lead International. He has expertise in accountability mechanisms, GESI, local-level planning processes, using governance tools, civic engagement, E-governance tools, Citizen engagement approaches for sub-national good governance, Yoga for community empowerment and healthy lifestyle practices, etc. He can be reached at: uhari.sahakarmi023@gmail.com
Punaram Panthi
Organizational Capacity Development Officer
Mr. Punaram Panthi joined the organization in 1998 and has been working as the Organizational Capacity Development Officer for Sahakarmi Samaj. He is an expert on Local Organization Capacity Building, Social Mobilization, using Social Accountability Tools, and GESI. He can be reached at: punaram623@gmail.com
Netra Narayan Regmi
Organizational Capacity Development Officer
Mr. Netra Narayan Regmi joined the organization in 1998 and has been working as the Organizational Capacity Development Officer for Sahakarmi Samaj. He oversees the functioning of Community Based Network Organizations developed/partnered as an autonomous entity by Sahakarmi Samaj and helps in their capacity building. He has expertise in using social accountability tools, GESI, Social mobilization, and Capacity building of CSOs. He can be reached at: regmi.netra27@gmail.com
Nabina Giri
Program Coordinator
Ms. Nabina Giri joined Sahakarmi Samaj as a Program Coordinator in the Strengthening Access to Justice Program (SAJP). She has 13 years of experience in knowledge management, learning, data collection, and communication. She is a skilled facilitator and has managed large groups of people of diverse backgrounds on various occasions. She has worked in multi-cultural work environments of non-government sector and UN agencies. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has good knowledge of data management and documentation, documentation management. Communication, coordination, and team building. She holds good knowledge of national and international treaties and laws. She advocated in the provincial government for the right of persons with disabilities. She gained experience in collecting and processing data for reporting and support in information management and province profile presentation, assisting in the provincial focal agency WFP, and coordinating with UN agencies, government, and non-governmental organizations while she was incumbent as Province Information Management Officer (PIMO) in the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO). She too has experience working with People with Disabilities (PwD) while she was at the National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (NFDN). She can be reached at: Nabinagiri0811@gmail.com
Ghanshyam Aacharya
Organizational Capacity Development Officer
He has been working as the Organizational Capacity Development Officer for Sahakarmi Samaj. He oversees the functioning of Community Based Network Organizations developed/partnered as an autonomous entity by Sahakarmi Samaj and helps in their capacity building. He has expertise in using social accountability tools, GESI, Social mobilization, and Capacity building of CSOs. He can be reached at: bhurtiacharya@gmail.com
Thematic staff
Sarita Shah
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Ms. Shah joined the organization in 2022 and has been working as the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) focal person. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH). She has over 6 years of experience in the Public Health and Gender Equality Sector. She capacitates all the staff from different projects on GESI issues. She also has years of experience designing and implementing GESI interventions in the overall projects the organization implements. She has good experience of working with the governing body in WASH and climate change sectors and a proven record of diverse community outreach through effective communication strategies. She can be reached at: sarita.shah222@gmail.com
Bianca Shahi Thakuri
Water, Sanitation and Health
Ms. Bianca Shahi joined the organization in 2023 and has been working as the Program Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from TU Nepal. She has more than five years of experience in women’s empowerment and the inclusion of marginalized people for access to services by the government. She can be reached at: biancashahi33@gmail.com
Aakash Tiwari
Agro-ecology and Climate Change
Mr. Aakash Tiwari joined the organization in July 2022. He is currently working as a Program Coordinator for Sahakarmi Samaj. He is an expert in Community-led Agroecology, Climate Adapted Village, etc. He holds a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. He can be reached at: aakashtiwari98.at@gmail.com
Ram Bahadur Air
Local Governance and Community Empowerment
Mr. Ram Bahadur Air joined the organization in 2008 as Community Educator and as a Senior Community Educator three years later. He is currently working as a District Team Leader. His expertise is in local governance, community empowerment, and capacity building of community educators. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science. He facilitated different vocational trainings and engaged with women-empowerment-related organizations in Achham and Biratnagar from 2017 to 2019. He re-joined Sahakarmi Samaj in 2020 and has been leading and liaising all programs of Sahakarmi Samaj in Bajura district since then. He has a keen knowledge of local governance and is facilitating Local Government for policy analysis dialogues for review and formation. He can be reached at: ramairss77@gmail.com
Sujata Gharti Magar
Agro-ecology and Climate Change
Ms. Sujata joined the organization in January 2023. She is currently working as an Agroecology Officer for Sahakarmi Samaj. She has expertise in Climate Adapted Village, Agroecology, Climate Smart Agriculture, etc. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. She can be joined at: sujatagharti2017@gmail.com
Finance and Administration- Key Staff
Suraj Rai: Suraj joined the organization as Finance and Compliance Officer in 2019. He is responsible for all the procurements and compliances of the organization and the different projects run by the organization. He has 12 years of experience in accounting and expertise in grant and procurement management. He can be reached at: raisuraj98@gmail.com
Bandana Devkota : Bandana joined the organization as Junior Finance Officer in 2019. She is responsible for assisting the Admin and Finance Manager and documentation of the cash bills and vouchers. She can be reached at: bandanadc6@gmail.com