Dr. Nirmal Rijal is a professional in the international development sector with interest, expertise and experience in communities, cultures and communication patterns. He has served as Regional Director for Asia, Country Director in Myanmar, Nepal and Nigeria, and as Global Director for the Governance and Civic Engagement practice area.
Currently, as a free-lance consultant, Dr. Rijal is deeply engaged in studying digital ecosystems in South Asia and supporting the design of programs that address digital exclusion, enhance the uptake of digital services by small and medium enterprises, and promote informational integrity. He has been a part of a number of national and international panels on misinformation and disinformation, and has led projects in Nepal and abroad, that aimed to advance democracy and democratic practices.
When time allows, Dr. Rijal teaches at the Tribhuvan and Kathmandu Universities. He currently teaches a cohort of M. Phil. and Ph.D. students at the Tribhuvan University on how to translate research to academic writing. Last semester, he taught ‘Media law and human rights’ to final year Bachelor level students at Kathmandu University.
Dr. Rijal holds a Doctoral degree from the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia; a Masters degree in Public Administration from Tribhuvan University in Nepal; and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the Chittagong University of Engineering Technology in Bangladesh.
He is the current President of the Rotary Club of Kathmandu Midtown – a club that boasts eminent membership. He enjoys examining and exploring concepts from theoretical and historical perspectives, and loves to engage with young people in both formal and informal settings.
