Dr. Kalpana Khanal
Senior Research Fellow, Policy Research Institute (PRI), Government of Nepal
Dr. Khanal is an economist specializing in public policy, currently serving as a Senior Research Fellow and leading the Center for Economic and Infrastructure Development Policy at the Policy Research Institute (PRI), a prominent government think tank in Nepal. In her role, she guides policy research initiatives, fosters high-level dialogues, and collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners, to shape and refine policies. She plays a pivotal role in reviewing existing policies and providing critical feedback to ministries involved in formulating new ones.
At PRI, Dr. Khanal is actively engaged in multiple research projects, including studies on infrastructure's role in economic development, enhancing the efficiency of public expenditure management, and reviewing Nepal’s Hydroelectricity Policy 2058, among other important topics.
Dr. Khanal earned her Ph.D. and MA in Economics from the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), USA. With over a decade of teaching and research experience at universities in the U.S., she continues to contribute to the academic and policy-making community. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Economic Issues and is a member of a high-level expert committee at the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).