Dr. Pokharel has over 25 years of professional experience in public policy, planning, budgeting, international development and academia, most recently as CEO of Reconstruction Authority (Ranked at Par with Cabinet Minister) and as Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Professor of Energy, Economics, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, and executive director of a large public institution for the promotion of renewable energy – Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC).

Experience and credentials

• PhD in Economics (Energy) from Germany; MSc in Appropriate Rural Energy Technology, Policy and Extension Skills from Germany; and BE in Mechanical Engineering from Rajasthan, India.
• As Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, led the Government of Nepal’s apex policy advisory body to guide annual and periodic development plans and programs, budgets, and sectoral policy reforms.
• In the aftermath of the Great Nepal Earthquake of 2015, led a post-earthquake recovery package and a rigorous Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and helped generate over US$4 billion in pledges from international development partners.
• Served as Executive Directorfor two terms of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), a national nodal agency for renewable energy and energy efficiency for about 5 years.
• Coordinating Lead Author for Special Report on Renewable Energy Policy of the IPCC(Chapter 11)  and Authored or co-authored numerous research papers on sustainable energy, climate change, disaster and financing, among others.
• Advised international development agencies on political economyof Nepal.
• Rank high-profile, technically oriented international energy development programs in Nepal (supported by EU, DFID, KfW, ADB, WB, UNDP, Danida, Norad, GIZ and others).
• Knowledge of national level policy, planning, budgetingas well as development activities and movements.