Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel
Chairman, Nepal Institute for Urban and Regional Studies (NIURS) and Former Vice-Chairman, National Planning Commission of Nepal
Dr. Jagadish C. Pokharel is a distinguished urban and regional planning expert, currently serving as the Nepal Institute for Urban and Regional Studies (NIURS) Chairman. He is also the former Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission of Nepal.
He holds a Ph.D. in Regional Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaii, and a Bachelor's in Architecture from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Dr. Pokharel has had a profound impact on Nepal's development. Particularly during his tenure as Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC), he led post-conflict reconstruction efforts and played a crucial role in formulating national development plans. His extensive experience includes advisory roles with various international organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank.
Dr. Pokharel's research interests lie in decentralized governance, regional development planning, and environmental management. He has been an integral part of high-level task forces in Nepal, contributing to policies related to decentralization, regional development, and social inclusion. Through NIURS, he continues to provide leadership and expert support in regional planning and policy development.