Technical Support

Key Expertise

Dr. Ghanshyam Gautam is a Health Economist by profession and has over ten years of experience in health policy and planning, financing reforms and social health protection. His key areas of expertise are strategy development, health systems reforms, health financing, social health protection, policy research and costing. Throughout his career, he has provided technical assistance to ministries, international organizations, private organizations, and international donors in the areas of health strategy and planning, health financing, health insurance, and resource tracking and costing.

His career highlights include leading the Post-Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) for Health Sector from the development partners’ side and his work in Afghanistan as a Health Economist in a USAID-funded Health Sector Resiliency Project.

He is currently employed with HERD International as Health Economist and Planning Advisor and is seconded to the Ministry of Health as part of the National Health Sector Support Programme (NHSSP).

Qualification

2007-PhD, Economics, Osaka Sangyo University, Japan

2001- MA, Economics, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Work undertaken that best illustrates capability to handle the tasks assigned

Health Economist- The Palladium Group, USA: Dr. Gautam provided mentoring and training support Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) in Afghanistan in health financing, policy processes and economic studies. He extended support in high-level advocacies for increased domestic resources for health, facilitated policy processes on health financing reforms, and supported health systems researches.

Costing Expert-Consultant, World Health Organization, Nepal: His responsibilities included analysing budget and expenditure data in the health sector, identifying resource requirements for costing of National Health Sector Strategy; and projecting the overall cost of implementing strategy over five years’ period (2015- 2020) with low, medium and high case scenarios.

Health Financing Expert, German International Cooperation, Nepal: As an independent consultant, Dr. Gautam extended support in the Health Sector Support Programme. His responsibilities included supporting in preparing the regulatory framework, scheme design and implementation procedure for national health insurance; analysing the current pricing and cost of delivering health services in relation to designing provider payment for health insurance; supervising analytical works towards the production of National Health Accounts; among others.

Technical Expert, NHSSP, Options Consultancy, UK: Dr. Gautam supported in formulating the Nepal Health Sector Strategy (2015/16-2019/20) by contributing in defining outcomes, outputs, target indicators and major interventions for the strategy, supporting in producing implementation plan as per the strategy and analysing expenditure pattern and forecasting financing scenario for the implementation period of the strategy.

Senior Programme Officer- German International Cooperation, Nepal: During this tenure, Dr. Gautam provided technical advice to the Ministry of Health and Population on health financing and social health protection; supported in conducting research studies and reviews, and explored reform options to improve health system performance; and engaged in stakeholder dialogue and consultation for the Health Sector Support Program.

Mr. Bishnu Prasad Dulal is a Data Analysis and Research Design expert with fifteen years of experience in various institutions. His proficiency is in areas of public health research design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation including preparation of data collection tools and training facilitation. His proficiency in software such as Ms_office, CSPro, ODK, SPSS, STATA, Atlas/ti, and Optifood linear analysis makes statistical analyses and quantitative research analysis his area of expertise.

Over the years, he has been engaged in several public health issues including adolescent and reproductive health, and gender based violence and a part of over 40 health projects.

He is currently employed with HERD International as Data for Decision Making Coordinator and is seconded to the Ministry of Health as part of the National Health Sector Support Programme (NHSSP).

Qualification

2005- Master’s Degree in Population Studies/ Demography, University Campus, Kirtipur, Nepal.

Work undertaken that best illustrates capability to handle the tasks assigned

Data Analysis and Management Manager at Helen Keller International (HKI): Mr. Dulal was primarily responsible for analysis and presentation of findings for research, monitoring and evaluation data of the national nutrition programme ‘Suaahara’. He was also engaged in several other projects in HKI lending his data analysis expertise where necessary.

Data Analyst at Health Research and Social Development Forum (HERD): At HERD, Mr. Dulal served as the focal person for quantitative research, data management and monitoring and evaluation. His responsibilities included development of research instruments, coordination with national and international stakeholders, facilitation of research trainings, and team coordination.

Data Management Officer at Center for Research on Environment Health and Population Activities (CREHPA): He gained extensive experience in research designing, implementation, data analysis, and report writing during his tenure at CREHPA.

Mr. Lal Mani Adhikari is a development professional experienced in health and development sectors of Nepal, particularly contributing in program management aspects including need assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation at national and regional level health projects.

Mr. Lal Mani has more than fifteen years of experience in the field of Tuberculosis and HIV program. Some successful key project outcomes were: Increased TB case finding using innovative diagnostics like GeneXpert, developing protocol and develop national guidelines for HIV and TB program in strong coordination and partnership with concerned stakeholders. Mr. Adhikari has also had experience in executing HIV/AIDS integrated health service program improving diagnosis, care & support and treatment services for people living with HIV among cross border migrants.

Furthermore, Mr. Adhikari is involved in hosting and facilitating various seminars, trainings and orientations on TB and HIV program at national and regional level. Mr. Adhikari has very good competencies in strategic leadership, designing and implementing operational researches, Guidelines and protocol development, proposal writing, Result based M and E, strategic project implementation and stakeholder management.

Key Expertise

• Programme Management
• Programme Coordination
• Post Disaster Humanitarian approaches
• Health Research and Research Management (certified)
• Monitoring and Evaluation (Certified)
• Logistics Management (Certified)
• Rapid field project implementation
• TB and HIV laboratory management

Academic background

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Medical Sociology, Mewar University, 2019
• Post Graduate Certificate in Public Health. Peoples-Uni, Manchester UK, 2016
• Master Degree in Sociology, Mahendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, 2010

Professional Experience

• Current: Feb 2019 to till date: Health System Strengthening Coordinator, HERD International
• Feb 2017 – Feb 2019: Program Manager-NTP SR program, HERD, Kathmandu, Nepal. Project: To support implementation of National TB Program-Sub Recipient model

• May 2012 – Dec 2016, Field Coordinator, UN-Migration Agency (IOM), Damak, Nepal. Project: TB REACH (Introduction of GeneXpert Technology and implementation to improve Tuberculosis case finding in Nepal)
• Jan 2009 – April 2012: Laboratory Technician/Quality Assurance Focal person, UN-Migration Agency, International Organization for Migration, Damak, Nepal. Project: TB Screening among Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal for third country resettlement)
• Dec 2006 – Dec 2008: Assistant Clinic Manager, Family Health International (FHI), Dhangadhi, Kailali, Project: Reaching Across Border.

Key Expertise

Er. Subash Kumar Bhattarai has over twelve years of experience in various aspects of engineering including project management in organization and district levels, experience as trainer as well lecturer. He has worked closely in both government and private spheres, which adds to his rich professional profile. His responsibilities over the years include design, management, technical evaluation as well as reporting of the various projects he has undertaken. A technocrat with knowledge and experience of administration and management blends his personality as techno-admin expert in managing all aspects of projects from policy formulation to execution in well manner.

His areas of expertise include design, estimation and supervision of civil structures; proposal/ concept writing; report writing; and local governance and community development. He has also worked as part-time lecturer (for B.E and Masters Level) over the course of five years in reputed academic institutions including the Institute of Engineering (IOE) and Nepal Engineering College, Pokhara University.

Er. Bhattarai is currently employed with HERD International as Policy Development Advisor (Health Infrastructure) and is seconded to the Ministry of Health as part of the National Health Sector Support Programme (NHSSP).

Qualification

2015- MSc in Construction Management, Pokhara University, Nepal

2011- Post Graduate Diploma in Environment and Sustainable Development, Indira Gandhi National Open University, India

2011 – Masters in Public Administration, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Work undertaken that best illustrates capability to handle the tasks assigned

As PDA at NHSSP he is responsible for Gap Analysis on existing policy, standards and codes, focusing on areas relevant for health infrastructure development, retrofitting and rehabilitation as well environmental and climate change adaptations and green energy design solutions.  Consult as necessary with Ministry of Health, Department of urban development and building construction, ministry of environment, other relevant departments, NGOS and external development partners. Develop a capital policy for all health sector infrastructure (including procedures, cost effectiveness factors and value for money assessments). Provide support to the senior earthquake resilience engineer and senior architect in developing improved codes and standards for rehabilitation and retrofitting, focusing on processes to ensure effective consultation and adoption. Updating Nepal national building code with appropriate new environmental and natural hazard section within project period (by End of 2020) 

Chief of Technical Section, Office of Municipal Executive, Nagarjun Municipality, Kathmandu: As the Chief of the Technical Section, he was responsible for technical aspects of various public infrastructure including its design, quantity estimation, rate analysis, cost estimation, contract administration and procurement management. Moreover, he is also responsible for urban/ city planning, enforcement of building code and bye-laws, regulation of housing projects and integrated urban development including preparation of short term, medium term and long term municipal plan, capacity development plan, sectoral development plan and procurement plan. He has also served as the focal person of the Disaster Management Committee, planning permit for housing and colony, infrastructure development committee and minimum conditions & performance measures of organization.

Renewable Energy Design Expert / Project Manager at Nepal Power Solution (NPS) (Branch Office, Lalitpur): During his tenure at the NPS, Er. Bhattarai was responsible for the technical design and management of Projects regarding Renewable Energy Technologies and associated programmatic activities (general infrastructures) including proposal development, cost estimates, supervision, procurement management and preparation of detailed project report.

District Development Committee (DDC), Kathmandu under Local Governance and Community Development Programme (LGCDP): In the LGCPD programme, Er. Bhattarai worked in the capacity of a District Facilitator providing Technical Assistance to the DDC Board in prioritization of projects so as to ensure optimum utilization of the limited means and resources. His responsibilities including providing technical support wherever possible for designing and costing of infrastructure projects. He also assisted the DDC in preparing annual district development plan, capacity development plan, annual procurement plan, annual work plan, sectoral plan monthly, trimester and annual progress report.