Gadal Nirmal
I graduated Cum Laude from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands with a specialization in agroecology and natural resources management. I attended Tribhuvan University, Nepal where I earned a master’s degree in Sociology. I completed a bachelor’s degree in agriculture sciences securing upper first division. In the Government of Nepal (GoN) service, I worked in several leadership positions including the officiating secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Bagmati Province. Now, I am working as a senior agronomist and head in the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Lalitpur. In my 17-years’ of tenure in GoN, my works focused on the food and nutrition security of smallholder farmers through up-scaling technologies and entrepreneurial solutions. I have completed 5 years of research in the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Kathmandu, where I led the implementation of the Hill Maize Research Project (HMRP-IV/SDC.USAID). In this project, in addition to science-based roles, I was responsible for the monitoring of project resources, activities, and results, and analysis of the information to guide project implementation. In all the workplaces, I have demonstrated strong leadership and team-building skills and maximizing the impacts and visibility of organizations that I worked for. Examples include- On 04 April 2012 HMRP received an “Award of Honor” from the Society of Agricultural Scientist of Nepal (SAS-N) for HMRP’s contribution to food security in Nepal. When I was working in DADO, Makawanpur I received the “Best Performing Staff Award-2018” from the Ministry of Agriculture Development. Similarly, on 3rd April 2019, I received an “Award of Honor” from the National Cooperatives Federation, for contributing to the promotion of cooperatives in Nepal. I have high-communication and facilitation skills. While working in MoLMAC, I successfully handled communications with diplomats, political leaders, and the public exploring ideas, and explaining decisions. In CIMMYT, I attended several national and international workshops and led missions where I facilitated interactions and developed a plan of actions agreeable to all stakeholders. I have extensive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research design and methods. I have completed nearly 20 research projects independently and produced high-quality reports. I have gained substantial knowledge in the preparation of high-class project documents, writing research and policy briefs, preparing presentations, and give lectures with high clarity in international forums.