Tek Jung Mahat

Personal background:

I was born and schooled in Jumla district, north western remote hill of Nepal and my ethnic root belongs to the indigenous mountain community 'Khasa'. Later I moved to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, where I have spent over seventeen years and still struggling for my existence and recognition.

 

Academic background:

I have a postgraduate degree in 'mountain environment and global change' from the University of Torino, Italy, under the International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO) initiative jointly managed by Faculty of Agriculture, University of Torino, FAO and UNESCO together with over a dozen partners;  and a masters degree in 'environmental science' from the Tribhuvan University, Nepal with specializations in 'mountain environment management' and 'environmental economics'.

 

Besides I have received some relevant trainings on various issues pertinent to environment, including 'Youth Encounter on Sustainability - YES Japan 2009', managed by the Hosei University of Tokyo and 'ICT for Education Leaders: From Vision to Reality, 2007', managed by the World Bank Institute, Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS) and Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MoE & HRD), South Korea, Seoul.

 

Work experience:

I have about ten years of working experience in the environment field including over five years with the Asia regional organization Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN), global organization Mountain Forum (MF) and intergovernmental organization International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Prior to my international assignments, I have worked for over six years with competent Nepalese NGOs, The Explore Nepal and Nepal River Conservation Trust (NRCT) in various capacities and been associated with over a dozen others.

 

Besides my regular job, I am also working as a part-time Lecturer at couple of colleges affiliated to the Tribhuvan University (TU) and the Purbanchal University (PU). In addition to this, I am owner and global moderator of the Environment Professionals’ Group: Water, Climate Change and Biodiversity Information Network, and serving Environmentalists' Association of Nepal (EAN) as 2nd Vice-president since December 2006. I am responsible to develop water and climate change related programs for EAN. Currently I am also serving ClimateHimalaya initiative as an executive director and coordinating an informal network of climate change professionals across the region.

 

Networking and recognition:

Directly or indirectly I work with over fifteen international initiatives and for some national and regional environmental processes in Nepal and the Himalayas. These organisations and initiatives have special interests on mountain/rural development; environment and conservation; global environmental change and human dimensions; social mobilization, advocacy and campaigning; communication, networking and info sharing & knowledge management; and sustainability leadership and stewardship. Depending on nature of projects, my role ranges from 'central' to 'supporting'.

 

I have co/authored over two dozen publications, representing some fine pieces of my work, which can be googled.

 

Career milestones

- Expansion and improvement of Asia Pacific Mountain Network (APMN) – Asia-Pacific node of Mountain Forum. Conceptualized and implementing projects on engaging YOUTHS, MEDIA & NGOs/Community Organisations in sustainable development & environmental management process, through environmental campaigning, networking & knowledge exchange support at different levels, viz. grassroots to policy support. Developing sustainable mountain development country profiles of AsPac countries, a sourcebook on the same and online courses for the youths. http://www.mtnforum.org/rn/apmn.cfm

- Led or helped to develop AsPac regional Gender Network (ongoing), organise e-conference on Culture and Risk: Understanding Socio-Cultural Settings that Influence Risk from Natural Hazards (2008), Mountain GIS (2008), HimalAndes e-conference (2006), e-discussions on The young can do! Let's protect forests with our hands (2009), How disasters help to improve country's economy (2008), Building resilience of mountain communities to climate change (2008), Wetlands Conservation in Nepal (2008), Conservation in Garhwal Himalayas (2007), Education for Sustainable Development (ESD, 2007), Glacier Grafting (2007), development of ICIMOD Books On-line (2007), e-survey of Mountain Research and Development (MRD) Journal (2006), revamping of Mountain Forum On-line Library (MFOL, 2005-06), online research and content development for MF web (2005-6) etc.

- Conceptualization of the ClimateHimalaya Initiative through successful organisation, coordination and moderation of the e-conference on 'Climate Change and the Himalayan Glaciers' in May-June 2007. http://www.freewebs.com/climatehimalaya/index.htm

- Development and management of the first and most active e-network of environment professionals working in Nepal named 'Environment Professionals' Group: Water, Climate Change and Biodiversity Information Network'. http://groups.google.com/group/Environment-Professionals?lnk=iggc

- Substantial contribution to establish Annual Bagmati River Festival (BRF) as Nepal's largest community led conservation campaign with over eighty organizational partners and 3500 participants every year (2004-2005). http://www.nepalrivers.org.np/

 

Professional Affiliation