Rajan Kotru

Regional Programme Manager/ Senior Policy Advisor , Intergovernmental Organisation

Kathmandu, Nepal

Multilingual with 30+ years experience in conceptualizing and steering policy and practice level research and development cooperation projects in: Watershed Management, Forestry and Livelihoods, Resource Governance, Monitoring and Impact Evaluation and Institutional Building. Currently Regional Programme Manager for Transboundary Landscapes with ICIMOD, Nepal managing ca 20 Mill USD Budget.

Contact Rajan Kotru
Area of Expertise:
  • Agriculture, Livelihoods, Microfinance, Rural
  • Director, CEO, COP, President
  • Environment, Climate, Energy, Water, Sanitation
  • Monitoring, Evaluation, Policy, Research, Analysis
  • Private Sector, Social Enterprise, Corporate Social Responsibility
Professional Experience:

An innovative, strategic and passionate senior international sustainable development expert, with a career spanning over 30 years and experience and expertise gained across South Asia, Europe and the USA. The initiation and development of ground-breaking transboundary relationships is a specialism, founded on integrity, ethics, transparency and diplomacy, resulting in the mobilising of opposing local governments to form partnerships and the meaningful engagement of private sector funding donors. Key advisor to national and international policy development and champion of climate smart, eco-friendly solutions; dedicated to the enablement of poor and disadvantaged rural-urban communities. A charismatic speaker and accessible leader, modelling and sharing best practices and creating empowered and cohesive teams. Winner of the RNRF-USA Outstanding Achievement Award 2018 for the Transboundary Programme.

Education:

B.Sc. Basic Sciences (1978) with Kashmir University, India

B.F. Bachelor of Forestry Sciences 1983 (Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich,
Germany)

M.Sc. Forestry Sciences 1986 (Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich,
Germany) with Thesis
In a Semi-natural Forest Ecosystem of German Alps on ground vegetation dynamics

Ph.D Forest Management and Silviculture 1993 (Ludwig Maximillians
University, Munich, Germany)
On the Indian Mountain Forests of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh States of India:

Standard Professional Trainings undergone: Climate Change Adaptation, Value Chains Approach in Forest Products sector; Gender-Health-Poverty Course (World Bank Institute), Information and Knowledge Management, Facilitation and Moderation Skills, Leadership Building, Change Management, M&E, Quality Management, Project Cycle Management, Inter-Agency Cooperation, Sustainable Development, Organisational Development, Team Management, European Commission- Guidelines on Sustainable Forest Management Training, Intercultural Management, Topical PRA- Training of Trainers (Participatory Rural Appraisal), Community-based Resource Management
Planning and Participatory Watershed Development, Participatory Rural Appraisal Training (PRA)

Affiliations and Achievements:

Advisory Member of Livelihood Forestry Programme Association, Nepal (2011)
• Member of several social-service and civil societies in India
• Represent ICIMOD in several International Forum (in Observer Status, Steering Committees)
• Inner Circle Member of Community Led Total Sanitation
• Chief Advisor: Peace Mission India in Srinagar (J&K), India
Certificate of Merit with GIZ

I had the honour of earning an open-competition based PhD scholarship from Daimler-Benz Motor Company, and a Master's scholarship from Bavarian State of Germany (1988)
Participated/Presented in local, national (India and Nepal) and international symposiums,
seminars, conferences and workshops (Community Forestry, Watershed Management, Hill Farming, Sustainable Development, Climate Change, Mountain Development, Indigenous Knowledge, Gender and Inclusive Development, Corporate Social Responsibility etc.). I have moderated several seminars and workshops and widely travelled in Asia, Europe and USA.

•In addition to major publications 30 (listed below)/numerous articles (in national and international publications), I am author/co-author of numerous Technical/Training/ Appraisal and successful Project Proposals Reports/Manuals.

• Earlier Member GTZ Asia Group of Natural Resource Management and SNV Forest Products
Sector Network Asia and provided contribution to Community Forestry, Value chains, REDD; E-
Member of IIEDs "Forestry Resource Governance Group India".

• REDD Framework, climate change adaptation and Agriculture Development Strategy task
force/group Nepal.

• At GIZ India, I was specifically assigned to GTZ-IS in 2007 to assist in project proposals, and
both the projects (on Forestry and Local governance) I was involved were won (achieved) by GTZ-IS. Moreover, I was instrumental to design and write Nepal's basic REDD R-PIN for the World Bank, and was instrumental in getting REDD going! I hold a certificate of merit with GTZ (A rare honor for non German Team Leader).

I have been involved (on demand and voluntary basis) in building leadership skills in Natural Resource Management amongst NGOs and youth; with ongoing Guest Professorship at TERI University, New Delhi; Mentor to Peace Mission India NGO in Srinagar-Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh Eco- Development Society, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India).

Available for:

  • Job opportunities
  • Being headhunted – make me an offer

Years of Experience:

More than 20 years

Highest Qualification:

Doctorate

Languages:

English, French, German, Hindi, Nepali, Urdu, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Dogri, Pahari

Nationality:

India

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