Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS)

19/08/2026

𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐨𝐅 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒-𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐆𝐏𝐈) 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥

Aligning with the theme of the panel ‘𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭’, 𝐃𝐫 Dil Bahadur Khatri, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒, presented on ‘𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦? 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬.’ Building on Dr Sushant Acharya’s reflection on how operational plans of Nepal’s community forests became inoperable, and Dr Govinda Paudel’s account of growing regret of past forest management, Dr Khatri provided a broader reflection on why contemporary restoration and forest management interventions across Southasia mountains fractured historical forest-people relations.

Using the cases of Nepal, Bhutan and Nilgiris hills, he argued that the domination of technical knowledge and bureaucratic authority in shaping forest governance and management disempowered the local communities affecting their ability to define local forest management priorities. Such reflection suggests rethinking planning and management approach recognising local forest-people relations and local experiential knowledge. He argued that local communities should be able to define what is the good forest for them and be able to shape decisions to achieve such forests. For this, there is a need for more responsive rather than deterministic planning i.e. more useful and implementable forest management planning. Dr Dilli Poudel’s presentation builds this conversation by exploring local aspiration about future of forests management and community forestry in Nepal.

19/08/2026

𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐨𝐅 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒-𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐆𝐏𝐈) 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 |𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭

On 16 August, Dilli Dinesh Poudel – Thematic Lead: Urban and Disaster at SIAS, delivered a talk on '𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐔𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐈𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐘: 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠'

The presentation examined the widening gap between the assumptions on which Community Forestry (CF) was founded and the realities of rural Nepal today. CF was founded on the belief that communities depend directly on local forests, migrate less, and voluntarily organize. The discussion focused on how CF institutions have not adjusted to this shift: households rely heavily on remittances, hold diversified incomes, and operate as multi-locational communities. To reinvigorate CF, we must envision commercially minded approaches that reflect our human-geographical diversity, while continuing to protect households that rely on subsistence forest use. It concluded that modernizing forest governance will require a range of CF models matched to changing socio-spatial realities, rather than a single template.

18/08/2026

𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐨𝐅 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 | 𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐒-𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐆𝐏𝐈) 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 |𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭

On 16 August, Dr Govinda Paudel - Thematic Lead: Forest and Environment at SIAS, delivered a talk on '𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐓: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 ‘𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝’ 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬'. The presentation is about why and how CF policies in Nepal fall short of delivering the promised outcomes and end up with unintended outcomes that communities profoundly regret. The discussions focused on the different narratives of success, from state and communities, and nature of the unresponsive government to the regrets that communities experience and that impacting their way of life and livelihoods and the discussion concluded with way forward to address (and overcome) those regrets. This is a chapter of the book entitled 'Living with uncertainty in South Asian mountains: rethinking climate change and policy in high places. Anthem Press headquartered in London, UK is publishing the book in October 2026.

18/08/2026

On Day 3 of the IoF International Conference, SIAS hosted a featured panel themed "𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭" chaired by Sudha Khadka, RECOFTC.

The session featured a preview of the book "Four Decades of Community Forestry in Nepal", with context-setting by Dr. Naya Sharma Paudel. SIAS researchers Dil Bahadur Khatri, Sushant Acharya, Govinda Paudel and Dilli Dinesh Poudel took the discussion further with insightful presentations.

Stay tuned for the presentation highlights.

17/08/2026

On Day 2 of the IOF International Conference, our PhD scholar Binod Adhikari presented "𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬: 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐝𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧–𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐚." He spoke about new ecologies emerging across the diverse and integrated set of landscape patches in the mid-hills, where human-wildlife relations are changing at the very moment state forests are expanding, and outmigration and rural depopulation are withdrawing farming activities and eroding traditional land management practices.

13/08/2026

We are delighted to collaborate with the Institute of Forestry (IoF) for the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 on 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, & 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 (August 14–16, 2026).

SIAS is hosting a featured panel session on Day 3:

📌 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: Reimagining Community Forest in the Changing Context
📅 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 16, 2026
⏰𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 10:00 to 11:30 A.M.
🎙️ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬: Sushant Acharya, Govinda Paudel, Dil Bahadur Khatri and Dilli Dinesh Poudel

We look forward to your active participation.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬: https://iof.edu.np/conference/

12/08/2026

📢 𝐕𝐀𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 | 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞

Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) is seeking a motivated professional for the role of Admin and IT Associate.

🔍𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬:
- Design basic communication and publication materials: flyers, brochures, posters, banners, reports, policy briefs and social media graphics.
- Provide basic IT and hardware support: troubleshoot common software, email and internet issues; set up and maintain computers, printers and projectors; coordinate repairs with vendors.
- Undertake the management and update of websites of SIAS and New Angle Journal.
- Coordinate with the internet service provider (ISP) to ensure reliable connectivity.
- Provide general administrative support: front desk and phone handling, filing and record-keeping, and Nepali/English typing and documentation, support in procurement of goods and services, recruitment of staff and others.
-Support meetings, trainings, seminars and workshops, including logistics.
-Maintain an inventory of stationery, office materials and IT assets.

📍 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Kathmandu.

⏳ 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Initially for 1 year with a probation period of 3 months.

🎓 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲:
-Bachelor of Computer Systems and Information Technology (BCSIT), closely related field or a CTEVT Diploma in IT.
-Working knowledge of graphic design tools (Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign or Canva) and basic computer hardware, networking and office software is must.
-Proficiency in Nepali and English language.
-Dedication and motivation to work.

💼 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲: In line with Organisation’s rule.

📅 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: 25 August 2026

👤𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲:
- Only Nepali Nationality are eligible to apply.
- Overqualified candidates will be directly disqualified.

📩 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲:
Please send your updated CV and a cover letter outlining your:(a) capacity, (b) reasons for applying, and (c) expected salary to [email protected] with the subject line “𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞”

🌐 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞: www.sias-southasia.org

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

11/08/2026

We are pleased to share a new article by Govinda Paudel, Thematic Lead- Forest at Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS).

‘प्राइभेट’ दुनियाँमा सामुदायिक वन शीर्षकको यस लेखमा नेपालको सामुदायिक वनको ऐतिहासिक अभ्यास, यसका दूरगामी उपलब्धिहरू र वर्तमान अवस्थामा देखिएका नीतिगत तथा प्रशासनिक उल्झनलगायतका विषयमा चर्चा गरिएको छ।

Read the full article: https://sias-southasia.org/%e0%a4%aa%e0%a5%8d%e0%a4%b0%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%87%e0%a4%ad%e0%a5%87%e0%a4%9f-%e0%a4%a6%e0%a5%81%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%af%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%81%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%ae/

#सामुदायिक_वन ्यवस्थापन #नेपालको_वन #दिगो_विकास

डा. गोविन्द पौडेल सामुदायिक वन: अवधारणा र प्रारम्भिक अभ्यास ग्रिसको पौराणिक कथामा फिनिक्स (Phoenix) नाम गरेको चराको प्.....

11/08/2026

𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐜𝐨-𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.

This is reflected in one of SIAS’s action research sites in 𝐃𝐡𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐞𝐥, 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐥.

The recharge ponds and contour trenches shown in the photos were piloted in Dhulikhel in 2017 as part of the project supported by International Development Research Centre (IDRC). These strategies were identified as contextual and climate-adaptive water management strategies for Nepal’s mid-hills, collaborately with the stakeholders through discussion in the or .

Years later, what is particularly encouraging is that communities have taken ownership of maintaining these interventions- regularly removing debris, ensuring that the ponds continue to retain rainwater, and caring for them with the hope of sustaining the local springs that remain an important source of water for their everyday needs.

Our 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 with municipal and community actors in Dhulikhel demonstrates how sustained collaboration can gradually build local ownership and strengthen the continuity of locally grounded solutions.

This is where the value of research lies: not simply in producing knowledge, but in 𝐜𝐨-𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲.

If you are interested to learn more about the project and publications, visit:
https://sias-southasia.org/projects/climate-adaptive-water-management-plans-for-cities-in-south-asia-camps/

05/08/2026

We are pleased to share that the blog, "𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐲: 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐝-𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐥," by SIAS researchers Gyanu Maskey, Sanjaya Khatri, Dil Bahadur Khatri with Andrea Nightingale previously published on September 2025, has been featured in the Researching Internal Displacement (RID) Summer Spotlight Series! 🌟

This spotlight series highlights 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. The blog presents a case study of the rural village Khasur showing how voluntary 'migration as adaptation' to the socio-environmental changes enables rural Nepalese villages to stay resilient in the face of slow-onset climatic hazards, preventing the full-scale displacement of entire communities.

Congratulations to the team for this well-deserved recognition, and sincere thanks to Researching Internal Displacement for featuring it among outstanding articles.

School of Global Studies University of Gothenburg

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://researchinginternaldisplacement.org/short_pieces/sparks-of-hope-amid-climate-uncertainty-migration-and-changing-rural-landscapes-in-the-mid-hills-of-nepal/

This insightful short article from Nepal highlights a promising case study of voluntary 'migration as adaptation' to socio-environmental changes that has allowed rural villages to maintain their vitality in the face of slow-onset climatic hazards, staving off the displacement of entire village popul...