Dr. Devendra Gauchan
Job Title:
Name of Organization:
Email:
Agroecology Specialist
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal
dgauchan11@gmail.com
Summary:
Devendra Gauchan, PhD is a leading agricultural and food system expert in Nepal with experience and expertise in agroecology, agrobiodiversity, agriculture R&D, climate resilient agriculture, agricultural markets & value chains and agricultural policy. He has worked as a researcher, co-investigator, project manager, visiting research fellow and policy expert both in Nepal and overseas CGIAR research centers in agriculture & food security, agrobiodiversity and natural resource management for the last 30 years. He has technically contributed to the drafting of some important national policies in agriculture, agrobiodiversity, agroecology, food systems and natural resource management in in Nepal. Since July 2024, he has been involved as a policy expert and leading in drafting of “Agroecology Roadmap of Nepal” under Regional Himalayan Agroecology of the World Food Councial and IFOAM Organic International. He is currently serving as Agroecology Specialist at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal to scale Agroecology for Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in Hindu Kush Himalayan Region.
He has served previously as Food System Technical Expert in National Planning Commission (NPC) of the Government of Nepal and the UN World Food Program (WFP), Nepal in the design of multistakeholder dialogue and contributed to drafting background report of “Nepal’s Food Systems Transformation: Pathways and Actions” submitted to United Nation in September 2021 and contributed to preparation of the “Strategic Plan for Food System Transformation of Nepal (20224/2025-2029/30)”. He was one of the lead members to draft “National Seed Vision of Nepal (2013-2025)” and “Strategic Framework for Nature Conservation for Sustainable Development (2015-2035)” of Nepal including Agrobiodiversity Policy (2007 revised in 2014) and engaged in several national policy discussions and providing inputs to formulation of policies and strategies in agriculture, food systems and natural resource management in Nepal. Dr. Gauchan is actively involved in policy research, analysis and advocacy for the resilient and sustainable transformation of agrifood systems with specific focus on mountain region of Nepal and South Asia/HKH region.
Fields of Expertise:
Agroecology, Agrobiodiversity, Agriculture R&D, Climate resilient agriculture, Agricultural markets & Value chains, and Agricultural policy.
Academic Qualifications :
He holds a PhD Degree in Agriculture and Resource Economics from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom in 2004 under EU fellowship and post-doctoral study in Agricultural Economics under Bill & Melinda Gate Foundation Fellowship from the International Rice Research Institute, Philippines in 2008-2011. He completed his MS in Agricultural Systems (majoring Agricultural Economics) from the University of Chiangmai, Thailand in 1994 under Winrock and Ford Foundation fellowship, USA and BSc Agriculture under Colombo Plan from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India, in 1985. He has also completed post-graduate Diploma in Development Oriented Research in Agriculture from the International Centre for Development Research in Agriculture (ICRA), the Netherlands in 1997-1998.