ACCOUNTABILITY LAB NEPAL
NARAYAN ADHIKARI
CEO and Country Director
Narayan Adhikari has over two decades of experience in civic engagement, accountability, democracy, and governance, working closely with governments, civil society, youth groups, and international networks to promote inclusive, community-driven change in Nepal and beyond. An inquisitive forestry graduate by academic background, his early connection with nature and ecosystems continues to shape both his professional and personal values. Although he began his career in government service, he later chose to move into the development sector to work more directly with communities and social change initiatives. Over the years, Narayan has taken on several global leadership roles, including as a Think Tank Fellow at Atlas Corps, a New Voices Fellow at The Aspen Institute, and an Asia Society Young Leader at Asia Society, co-chaired The Civil Society 7 (C7). He was also recognized among Nepal’s 100 Most Influential People by Business 360 magazine and served on the board of RESULTS UK. Known for combining a global perspective with strong local roots, Narayan consistently champions bold, practical, and community-centered solutions. Recently, Naryan served as a member of the Good Governance Blueprint Preparation Committee, formed by then Prime Minister Mrs. Sushila Karki. The committee prepared a roadmap for good governance, including recommendations to control corruption, promote good governance, and improve public service delivery in Nepal. Narayan along with Blair co-founded Accountability Lab to support young people and bring in innovative ideas in promoting good governance and accountability. Beyond governance and social accountability work, he is deeply passionate about environmental protection, climate action and green sustainability. He also strongly values personal well-being and enjoys participating in activities and sessions focused on both physical fitness and mental wellness.
Hometown: Chitwan, Nepal
When I am not at work I’m: I am usually getting my hands dirty in the soil, or spending quality time socializing with family and friends.
Ask me about: Building connections across the region
SUNIL POUDYAL
Associate Director-Finance and Administration
Sunil received a Master’s degree in Business Studies from Tribhuvan University in Nepal, and then worked as a Finance and Administrative Officer at a private insurance company for six years–conducting analysis on risk and return for non-life insurance. He then went on to pursue his dream of setting up a community-based agro enterprise, and worked as Chief Administrator of the Asian College of Advance Studies. He served on Accountability Lab Nepal’s Board of Directors, helping lay the foundation for the Lab’s work in Nepal. When the devastating earthquakes hit Nepal in 2015, he immediately knew he wanted to get more involved in philanthropic endeavors. He joined the Lab full-time at that point to contribute his time and skills by managing the Lab’s finance and compliance systems in Nepal.
Hometown: Siphal, Kathmandu
When I’m not at work I’m: playing with my little daughter or hiking with friends
Ask me about: organic vegetable farming
SUMAN TAMANG
Senior Admin Associate
Suman completed high school in India and then returned to his hometown in Nepal. However, financial challenges compelled Suman to travel to the United Arab Emirates as a migrant labor at a tender age. Unfortunately, the company that he worked for in the UAE did not provide the level of salary and benefits stated in his job contract. Frustrated, Suman soon returned to Nepal and joined a marketing company in Kathmandu. Suman is now an important member of Accountability Lab Nepal team, assisting with banking, driving, and more. Modest and hardworking, he does an excellent managing logistics and providing a supporting hand to the rest of the team.
Hometown: Nuwakot, Nepal
When I am not at work I’m: Spending time with friends and watching movies
Ask me about: Driving safely in Kathmandu traffic
PREKKSHYA BIMALI
Manager – Program and Learning
Prekkshya is a public health graduate with a Master’s in Conflict, Peace, and Development Studies. Her work is rooted in strengthening health awareness, civic understanding, and access to rights, shaped by her experience collaborating with district health systems in Nepal. With a background in research and community engagement, she has been actively involved in development work since her early association with Accountability Lab in 2018. At ALN, Prekkshya leads the design and implementation of youth-centric initiatives, including fellowships and programs that foster civic participation and leadership. She is a feminist and brings a critical and inclusive lens to her work prioritizing marginalized voices and pushing for more equitable and accountable systems.
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
When I am not at work, I’m: I am at home watching talk shows, cafe hopping or reading books
Ask me about: What’s trending and creating reflective spaces for conversation
SABI PANDIT
Office Support Assistant
Sabi is a humble and strong-hearted person brought up in hilly regions of Nepal. Born to a poor family, she was denied education and had to struggle to live a normal life. Luckily, she realized the significance of education and has been working hard day and night in order to provide a proper education for her daughter. She now has a secretarial role at Accountability Lab Nepal. She supports the office by maintaining the office cleanliness, looking after office equipment, and even preparing healthy lunches for the whole team each day.
Hometown: Dolakha, Nepal
What I am not at work I’m: spending as much time as I can with my daughter
Ask me about: cooking a variety of dishes and caring for others
Suvechchha Chapagain
Manager – Program
Suvechchha began her journey with Accountability Lab through the Integrity Fellowship in 2017, where she cultivated a strong commitment to advancing good governance, transparency, and integrity. Inspired by this work, she continued her engagement and is now an active member of the Accountability Lab Nepal (ALN) network.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Tribhuvan University and brings experience in research, communications, and governance programming. Her work focuses on democratic processes, governance and political systems, including evolving democratic landscapes—such as digital democracy and technology-enabled governance—both in Nepal and across the region.
Passionate about public dialogue, Suvechchha creates and facilitates platforms for discussion and exchange. She frequently moderates panels, hosts the AccountabiliTea Podcast, and writes op-eds and policy commentaries exploring governance, civic engagement, and the future of democratic accountability.
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
When I am not at work: I’m reading global affairs, poetries or listening to music
Ask me about: World history and literature
Ashok Pariyar
Officer-Design and Communication
Ashok has been interested in storytelling since his childhood. He explored storytelling through writing and photography, gradually cultivating a passion for design and multimedia. With his educational background in humanities, he had spent more than five years working with digital marketing agencies in Nepal, developing marketing products. However, he firmly believed that youth play a crucial role in shaping the future of the country and wanted to contribute to positive societal change through his skills and passion. He joined Accountability Lab Nepal to promote government institution accountability, which he sees as a crucial step toward a just society
Hometown: Mathagadi 04, Rural Municipality, Palpa
When I’m not at work, I’m: I’m enjoying and among the nature
Ask me about: Designs, yoga and meditation
Oshin Maharjan
Officer – Program and Outreach
Oshin started her journey to create positive social change through youth engagement and good governance. She enjoys stepping out of her comfort zone, embracing challenges, and continuously pushing herself to grow. With a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and currently pursuing a Master’s in Conflict, Peace and Development Studies, she brings both academic insight and practical experience from working with diverse organizations. She has been actively involved in youth engagement programs that encourage participation, leadership, and awareness, particularly regarding civic responsibility and accountability. Through her journey, she has developed a keen interest in working with active and creative youth who can contribute fresh ideas to development and governance. She strongly believes in promoting integrity, transparency, and ethical practices within public systems, recognizing that accountable institutions are key to sustainable progress. Guided by these values, she continues to connect with networks and initiatives that foster civic engagement and collective action for good governance.
Hometown: Mathagadi 04, Rural Municipality, Palpa
When I’m not at work, I’m: I am either socializing or exploring; hopping between cafés, discovering new hikes, and connecting with people along the way
Ask me about: Freestyle Dance Moves
Thukten Lama
Manager – Business Development
Thukten Lama is a governance professional dedicated to strengthening accountability and youth engagement across Nepal. At the Lab, he has spearheaded diverse initiatives spanning youth empowerment, foreign labor migration, education, and electoral integrity. He currently leads business development efforts, focusing on bridging the gap between grassroots realities and high-level policy.
Thukten is a firm believer in moving beyond traditional development frameworks and actively pursuing creative approaches that are driven by technology and design to address governance challenges.
Hometown: Manang, Nepal
When I’m not at work, I’m: either drinking Nepali tea or using AI
Ask me about: Football
Swastika Basnet
Associate – Program
Swastika is an Environmental Science student who harbors a strong passion for environmental and gender inclusion matters. She has an interest in collaborating with young individuals and meeting new people while forming new and fresh connections that help her in enhancing her understanding of diverse perspectives. At ALN, she works with the Integrity Icon team, where she is committed to fostering integrity and transparency. She enjoys trying new things in both her professional and personal life.
Swastika has been an advocate for environment conservation and gender equality from a very young age. With her deep interest in the subject, she pursued her education in Environmental Science. She also volunteered for Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) during her studies. She realized that one of the pressing issues in climate action is the lack of accountability. She joined Accountability Lab to promote accountable climate governance and also support youth engagement in Accountability Lab’s campaigns contributing to a larger accountability discourse.
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
When I’m not at work, I’m: either running or planning quick getaways
Ask me about: Pop Culture and hot takes
Aashma Bhandari
Officer-Program
Aashma is a Human Rights student driven by a strong interest in social justice, equity, and democratic values. She connects with people through empathy and collaborative learning, while remaining committed to gender equality and rights based advocacy. As a lawyer, she thrives at the intersection of legal, administrative, economic, and socio cultural systems and is keen on bridging the gap between legal frameworks and lived realities. She uses her exposure of formal laws to critically assess institutional practices around governance, politics and economics through research and translates it into her work as a program officer.
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
When I’m not at work: I could be cooking, singing or strolling around the city
Ask me about: Feminism, Law, Food and Culture.
Prakash Dhital
Officer-Finance and Admin
Prakash is a finance and operations professional with over a decade of experience in finance, administration, operations, compliance, HR and institutional management within Nepal’s humanitarian and healthcare sectors. He holds dual Master’s degrees in management – a Master’s in Business Studies (Finance) and a Master’s in Public Administration (HR). He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Legislative Law (LLB) with a focus on Corporate Law, reflecting his growing interest in governance, compliance, and legal frameworks. Prior to joining Accountability Lab Nepal, he worked with organizations including Médecins du Monde (MdM) – France, Green Path Nepal, Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, and Mahila Atma Nirbharta Kendra (MANK). Over the course of his career, he has been engaged in financial management, budgeting, donor compliance, procurement, logistics, general administration, and overall organizational coordination across diverse programs and institutional settings. As an Admin and Finance Officer, Prakash supports the strengthening of financial systems, ensures transparency and compliance, and contributes to improving operational efficiency. He is known for his integrity, adaptability, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple responsibilities effectively in dynamic environments. He strongly believes that accountability, ethics, and integrity are essential for building trustworthy institutions and achieving sustainable social impact, and is passionate about contributing to organizations that promote good governance, community empowerment, and responsible leadership.
Hometown: Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok
When I’m not at work: I’m spending time with family or hiking or sketching
Ask me about: Ethics and integrity in humanitarian work in Nepal.