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SNV Nepal Management Team

Hans Heijdra, Country Director, SNV Nepal
Hans Heijdra has about 18 years of experience in development cooperation, of which 9 years in management positions. Since January 2008 he became Country Director of SNV Nepal, a position he also fulfilled in Bolivia (2003-2007) and as interim in Peru (2004-2005). From 2001-2003 he was member of the SNV Core Team supporting the world wide transition process of SNV towards an independent capacity development organisation. In 1996-2001 he was the first coordinator of the SNV Amazon Program in Peru. Before that, he worked for SNV-Bolivia in the Santa Cruz region as senior advisor in Indigenous People’s affairs (1993-1996) and as advisor of Indigenous People’s organizations on land tenure, economic and organisational issues (1989-1993).

Hans holds a Master degree (with honours) in Sociology of Rural Development at the Wageningen University, The Netherlands, with specialisation in Rural Sociology of the tropics and subtropics, Irrigation and non-western agricultural co-operatives and finance.
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Araceli Lloret, Portfolio Coordinator, Kathmandu 1
Araceli started working with SNV Nepal in July 2006 and is currently responsible for the Kathmandu 1 Portfolio activities. Araceli has gained over 10 years experience in the private sector in Spain. During that period she held different positions from sales manager to marketing director in three different companies that operated business in sectors ranging from animal foodstuff production to wine and jam retail market. In 2001 she made a significant career shift when she moved to Honduras to work as economic growth advisor with the Spanish Red Cross. Afterwards, Araceli was engaged in humanitarian work in Sudan and Colombia, working for three years with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Araceli obtained her veterinary surgeon degree in Universidad Autonoma (Barcelona, Spain) in 1991 and the following year a postgraduate in fish pathology in Universite de Breatgne Occidentale, (Brest, France). Araceli also holds an MBA from EAE Business Administration School from Barcelona Spain.
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Subarna Rai, Portfolio Coordinator, Kathmandu 2
Subarna joined SNV Nepal in 2000 initially to manage external funded programmes and to mainstream projects supported by European based NGOs. Currently Subarna is responsible for overseeing the Kathmandu 2 portfolio activities which mostly revolves around SNV’s work in the renewable energy sector.

Subarna has gained extensive programme management experience in the renewable energy and education sector whilst working in Nepal. She has gained her Masters in Sustainable Development in environment and ecology. Subarna believes that team work is essential to achieve results and that management should ensure a motivated and happy team is provided constructive attention to this end.
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Keshab Joshi, West Portfolio Coordinator
Keshab Joined SNV in November 2004 and has the responsibility of over-seeing the West Portfolio’s operations. Keshab has 20 years experience in international development, project management, participatory planning and monitoring and decentralisation and governance. More specifically, Keshab worked for the Government of Nepal in farming systems research and development, generating income and employment opportunities for the poor through Save the Children, USA, and project/programme management and technical/advisory services at GTZ.

Keshab obtained his Masters degree in Science with a specialisation in Agricultural Systems from AIT Bangkok. Keshab believes that advisory services can bring tangible changes in the living conditions of the poor people through improving service delivery mechanisms of clients only if advisors have deep contextual knowledge of local situation, strategic visioning, analytical competency and high level commitment/dedication towards fulfilling the responsibilities.
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Ujjwal Raj Pokhrel, East & Central Terai Portfolio Coordinator
Ujjwal brings to SNV Nepal a unique blend of private and public sector experience. Prior to joining SNV, Ujjwal worked as an Advisor in sub-sector promotion at GTZ/Private Sector Promotion – Rural Finance Nepal unit. He was in charge of the sub-sector promotion of the bamboo sector (and supporting advisor to the carpet sub sector), as well as the Local and Economic Development projects. Ujjwal has extensive experience with implementing Value Chain procedures in sector analyses, and as a GTZ regional Value Link trainer is comfortable in conducting Value Chain Development trainings.

Having obtained a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Cordilleras in the Philippines, Ujjwal has also worked in the private sector in Nepal as an Assistant Manager in Key Research Nepal and as an Assistant Marketing Manager for Chaudhary Group of Industries.
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Suresh Koirala, Finance Officer

Suresh has been working for SNV since December 1994. As Finance Officer, Suresh has the overall reposibility of analysing and ensuring all established financial and administrative procedures are in place and properly adhered to.

Suresh began his career in the banking sector in addition to gaining experience as account officer at the Agriculture Development Bank for three years. His areas of expertise include handling large and complex projects in the areas of finance, HR, logistics and procurement. Suresh obtained his MBA in Industrial Management and Finance from the Tribhuvan University in Nepal.
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Shalav Risal, Country Human Resource Officer
Shalav joined SNV Nepal in June 2008. As Human Resource Officer for SNV, Shalav supports over 70 staff members in all human resource related functions including Organisational Development, Human Resource Development, Health and Safety, Compensation and Benefits, and Recruitment and Selection.

Prior to joining SNV Nepal, Shalav was the Coordinator for Human Resource Management Consulting team at Bikalp, where primary assignments typically involved strategic HR interventions including HR strategy and policy development, restructuring, salary revision, performance management system development, HR audits, climate surveys and customised HR interventions. His recruitment/headhunting assignments over the years include over 500 placements in leading FMCGs, Banks as well as development sector organisations. Shalav holds an MBA in Human Resource Management from the Kathmandu Vishwavidalaya University in Nepal and a B.Comm (Honours) from the Delhi University, India.
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Binu Mathema Shrestha, Management Assistant
Binu joined SNV Nepal as the Management Assistant in August 2001. She is responsible for providing overall support to the Country Director and partial administrative support to Human Resources and other Management Team members.

Previously, Binu spent 10 years as a teacher at the Rhodendron International Boarding High School focusing on Science and Environment studies at the secondary level.
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