About the Symposium`

Socio-economic vulnerability in Nepal is a critical issue that affects various aspects of life, including health, education, and economic stability. As Nepal has been scheduled to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) in 2026, understanding socio-economic vulnerabilities within their context is essential for formulating effective policies and interventions. With the motive of sharing a common platform for discussion on socio-economic vulnerabilities, Pokhara University Research Centre (PURC), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), is organizing a “Symposium on Contextualizing the Understanding of Socio-Economic Vulnerability in Nepal” (CUSEVN2024) on September 13, 2024, at Pokhara, Nepal. Government officials, representatives from national and international organizations, policymakers, researchers and academicians, civil society and community leaders, representatives from the industry and private sectors, and media personnel will attend the symposium. 

The CUSEVN2024 will provide an opportunity to capture scientific expertise, knowledge, and perspectives and promote open dialogue while bringing together existing experiences on socioeconomic vulnerability and its impact in Nepal. 

The symposium will conduct a rigorous discussion of four thematic concept papers in four consecutive sessions. There will be one thematic presentation followed by a panel discussion on each theme that will be streamlined to uncover practical strategies to address the underlying issues triggering socio-economic vulnerabilities. The outcome of the symposium; report, manuscripts, and policy briefs will be a guiding tool for developing policies, interventions, and strategies to address socioeconomic vulnerability for a better and prosperous Nepal. 

We are thrilled to welcome the distinguished experts as keynote speakers, panelists, moderator, and guest on four proposed thematic areas: economic inequalities, social stratifications, climate change and natural disasters, food, nutrition, and health. We are excited about the panel discussion and the networking sessions during the event.

We look forward to your participation in making this conference memorable and impactful.

Thematic Areas

1. Economic inequalities and socioeconomic vulnerabilities

Keywords: Income, Employment, Migration, economic opportunities, migration, conflict, governance, education (years of schooling and school attendance), asset ownership, housing quality, access to clean cooking fuel, electricity

2. Social stratification and socioeconomic vulnerabilities

Keywords: Caste/Ethnicity and its dynamics, Gender disparity, Disability, social inequalities, structural discrimination, institutional discrimination, Marginalized Communities and Magnitude of marginalization

3. Climate change, disasters and socioeconomic vulnerabilities

Keywords: climate change, disasters, geographic challenges leading to socio-economic vulnerabilities (impact, challenges, and way forward)

4. Food, nutrition, health and socioeconomic vulnerabilities

Keywords: Food security (food insecurity experience scale), Nutrition (child malnutrition indicators), Drinking water, Sanitation facilities, Child mortality.

 

Speakers

 

Theme I: Economic inequalities and socio-economic vulnerabilities
Speaker: Mr. Naveen Adhikari

Naveen Adhikari is an Assistant Professor at the Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University. He has over a decade of experience in teaching and research. He has worked with prestigious institutions like the Government of Nepal, World Bank, ADB, ICIMOD, and IFPRI. His expertise lies in development economics and micro econometrics, focusing on poverty and vulnerability. Adhikari has received multiple grants and scholarships, including a PhD fellowship from CEPE-ETH. He has published extensively, participated in international conferences, and was a graduate researcher at Osaka Sangyo University. He is also an executive member of the Nepal Economic Association and SAESM country coordinator.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=w245ph MAAAAJ

Theme II: Social stratification and socio-economic vulnerabilities
Speaker: Dr. Rishikesh Pandey

 Dr. Rishikesh Pandey is an Associate Professor at the School of Development and Social Engineering, Pokhara University. He is Environment and Development Geographer. With over 25 years of experience, he focuses on bridging natural and social sciences through interdisciplinary research to address contemporary geo-environmental, techno economic, and socio-cultural challenges. He holds a PhD from the University of Adelaide, Australia, an M.Phil. from the University of Oslo, Norway, and an MA from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Dr. Pandey has published over 35 research papers, co-authored two books, contributed to policy documents, and completed nearly two dozen research projects.

https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=FRlPyDgA AAAJ
Theme III: Climate change, disasters and socio-economic vulnerabilities
Speaker: Dr. Uttam Babu Shrestha

Dr. Uttam Babu Shrestha is the director of the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (GIIS), Nepal. He completed a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston, USA and has more than 20 years’ experience in teaching, research, supervision and project management. Dr. Shrestha has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers, two books, several book chapters, and hundreds of popular articles including a column in Kantipur daily. He was a lead author for the ‘global assessments of Biodiversity’ and the ‘assessments of sustainable use of wild species’ at the Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

 https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=L2avF9w AAAAJ

Theme IV: Food, nutrition, health and socio-economic vulnerabilities
Speaker: Dr. Aruna Upreti

Dr. Aruna Uprety is a public health specialist and women’s rights activist, known for her work in legalizing abortion rights and opposing ‘Chhaupadi’ in Nepal. She founded the Rural Health and Education Services Trust (R.H.E.S.T), aiding marginalized girls. With an M.D. from Kharkiv State Medical Institute, Ukraine and a master’s from the Women and Development Institute, The Hague, Netherlands. She has worked in various countries as a public health specialist. Her experience in maternity hospitals fueled her advocacy for women’s health. Dr. Uprety has also authored books and articles on women’s health and malnutrition.

https://publicationnepalaya.com/author/dr-aruna-uprety

Registration

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Program Schedule

SCHEDULE

Time Activities Notes
07:30 Arrival to Venue Sabha Hall
07:30 – 08:30 Registration and Breakfast Reporting at the Registration Desk
Breakfast at Satkar Restaurant, Atithi Resort
8:30 – 9:00 Opening Ceremony Inaugural Session
Sittings, Welcome and Objective Sharing and (10 Minutes) – PU
Opening Remarks (5 Minutes)- Ms. Kalpana Sarkar, Portfolio Manager, Inclusive Economic Growth, UNDP Nepal
Opening Remarks (5 Minutes)– Hon’ble Member Ms. Maya Timsina, Gandaki Policy and Planning Commission
Closing remarks of inaugural session: (10 Minutes)
Prof Dr. Prem Narayan Aryal, Vice Chancellor, Pokhara University
9:00 – 9:45 Theme 1:
Economic inequalities		 Speaker: Mr. Naveen Adhikari, Asst Prof, Central Department of Economics
9:45 – 10:30 Panel Discussion Open discussion on Economic Inequalities

Panelists:
Dr. Deepak Bahadur Bhandari, Professor and Registrar of Pokhara University

Dr. Neelam Dhungana Timsina, Senior Deputy Governor, Nepal Rastra Bank

Ms. Maya Timsina, Hon’ble Member, Gandaki Province Policy and Planning Commission
Moderator: 

Sharad Ojha, Society of Economic Journalists, Nepal (SEJON)
10:30 – 10:45 BREAK
10:45 – 11:30 Theme 2:
Social stratification		 Speaker: Dr. Rishikesh Pandey, Associate Professor, School of Development and Social Engineering, Pokhara University
11:30 – 12:15 Panel Discussion Open discussion on Social Stratification

Panelist:
Dr. Meena Poudel, Independent Researcher, Kathmandu
Dr. Bishwa Kalyan Parajuli, Professor, Tribhuvan University

Dr. Pranab Dahal, Freelancer, GEDSI and GBV specialist, Kathmandu
Moderator: 

Smita Adhikari, Journalist, Annapurna Express
12:15 – 13:15 LUNCH
13:15 – 14:00 Theme 3:
Climate change and natural disasters		 Speaker: Dr. Uttam Babu Shrestha

Director, Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (GIIS), Kathmandu
14:00 – 14:45 Panel Discussion Open discussion on Climate Change and Natural Disasters

Panelist:
Dr. Binaya Kumar Mishra, Professor, School of Engineering, Pokhara University
Dr. Ramesh Raj Pant, Assistant Professor, Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University
Ms. Finu Shrestha, Remote Sensing and Geo – information Analyst, ICIMOD
Moderator: 

Dr. Bishnu Prasad Devkota, Associate professor, Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University
14:45 – 15:00 BREAK
15:00 – 15:45 Theme 4:
Food, Nutrition and Health		 Speaker: Dr. Aruna Upreti, Public Health Expert and Activist
15:45 – 16:30 Panel Discussion Open discussion on Food, Nutrition and Health

Panelist:
Dr. Sharad Raj Onta, Professor, Public Health, Kathmandu
Dr. Hari Bahadur KC, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Nepal

Dr. Naba Raj Devkota, Vice Chancellor, Gandaki University
Moderator: 

Dr. Damaru Prasad Paneru, Associate professor, School of Health and Allied Science, Pokhara University
16:30 – 17:00 Closing of Symposium Closing remarks
Participant, Panelist, Speaker, UNDP, Pokhara University
17:00 – 18:00 BREAK Refreshment and Networking
18:00 – 19:00 DINNER
19:00 DEPARTURE

Organizing Committee

Advisor Advisor
 

Prof. Prem Narayan Aryal. PhD
Vice Chancellor, Pokhara University

 Prof. Dipak Bahadur Bhandari, PhD
Registrar, Pokhara University

 


Namraj Dhami, PhD
Team Lead

 Rishikesh Pandey, PhD
Member

Madhu Sudan Kayastha, PhD
Member

Deepanjal Shrestha, PhD
Member

Chiranjivi Adhikari
Member

Parbati Thapa, PhD
Member

Tej Naryan Parajuli
Member
Chanamati Tamang
Member
Sunil Devkota
Member

Sarala Bhatta
Member		 Sandip Adhikari
Member
Shilpa Shrestha
Member

 

 

 

 

Venue

The symposium is going to be organized for a day on the 13th of September 2024 in Pokhara. The venue of the conference is Atithi Resort & SPA Pvt. Ltd., Shanti Patan, Lakeside, Pokhara-6, Nepal.

Downloads

Flyer


Symposium-Agenda

Contact Us

Pokhara University Research Center
Pokhara University, Pokhara-30, Dhungepatan
PO Box 427, Kaski, Gandaki, 33700, Nepal
[email protected]
+977 61 504095 (Office)
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