Chitwan - Dr. Narayan Gyawali has been awarded a PhD from the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) in Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Dr. Gyawali's research focused on "Measuring the Flood Resilience in Development Practices: Analysis of Community Actions in Narayani River Basin, Nepal." The primary aim of his study was to assess the flood resilience capacities of flood-prone communities in rural Nepal.

In his comprehensive research, Dr. Gyawali explored community actions related to preparedness, response, and adaptation to flooding, emphasizing how these measures contribute to enhancing community resilience. His work provided a detailed analysis of these actions from societal and community perspectives, offering critical insights into the strengths and gaps in flood resilience within these vulnerable areas.

Throughout his PhD journey, Dr. Gyawali has published five peer-reviewed scientific papers and contributed a chapter to a book, establishing himself as a significant contributor to the field of flood resilience and community-based disaster risk management.

Dr. Gyawali holds two master’s degrees: one in Development Evaluation and Management from Antwerp University in Belgium and another in Sociology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He also holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University. His extensive academic background and his focus on practical solutions have equipped him with a deep understanding of the complexities of flood risk management.

Currently, Dr. Gyawali serves as the Nepal Program Director at Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a member of the Corus family of organizations. In this role, he oversees the quality and timely implementation of all projects and programs in Nepal. Before joining LWR, he served as the Regional M&E Advisor for Asia and the Middle East, providing strategic oversight for flood resilience and disaster risk management across eight countries.

With over 20 years of experience in project and program management, Dr. Gyawali has specialized in flood risk management for more than seven years, focusing on recovery and adaptation strategies. His expertise encompasses flood resilience measurement, community-based disaster risk reduction, climate change, and livelihoods improvement.

Dr. Gyawali's recent research on measuring flood resilience in development practices and his work on the India-Nepal transboundary early warning system have further solidified his position as a leading expert in the field. He is actively involved in various international initiatives, including the Working Group on Flood Recovery, Adaptation, and Resilience at the University of Arizona, and has collaborated with Yale University’s Himalaya Initiatives on developing flood resilience measurement tools.

Dr. Gyawali’s work not only contributes to the academic field but also provides practical frameworks for enhancing community resilience to flooding in Nepal and beyond.