Dr. Divas B Basnyat is an Independent Researcher and Consultant, and leads the Water and Climate Program at Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI). He did his Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil Engineering (1986) from the University of Roorkee (now IIT, Roorkee), and Master of Engineering (1990) and Doctor of Engineering (1998) in Water Resources Development from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. He was a Fullbright Post-doctoral Scholar at Columbia University, New York in 2003 – 2004.  He has more than 35 years of experience, working on hydropower project design and systems studies at Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), academic teaching and research at the Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Bangkok, and international consulting work in 13 countries in Asia and Africa. He has worked in projects funded by national and international development partners in Nepal, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam (Greater Mekong Subregion), Afghanistan, Papa New Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka and USA. Email: divas.basnyat@gmail.com, divas@ndri.org.np (January 2023)

His specific areas of expertise and interest are hydropower and water resources systems analysis, river basin planning and management, hydrological studies and modelling, climate change risk assessment, and water-induced disaster risk management. He has a good publication record in his field of expertise. He received the several awards, including the Distinguished AIT Alumni Award in 2019 from the AIT Alumni Association, the best paper award (2015) by the International Center for Climate Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), Japan,

He is currently leading two consulting assignments, the ADB TRTA “Flood Risk Management and Asset Management Support” for the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, and the “Preparation of River Basin Plans, Hydropower Development Master Plans and Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment” for the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), Nepal. He is also currently a Research Consultant to ICIMOD preparing a “Guideline for Climate Resilient Hydropower” and a research project on “Hydro-economic modelling of Kamala River Basin”. Some of the key projects he was involved in the past include:

• ADB funded “GMS Flood and Drought Risk Management and Mitigation Project, Cambodia” (May 2015 – June 2021),
• CDKN funded “Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hydroelectricity Sector in Nepal” (2015 – 2016),
• Feasibility studies of seven multi-purpose dam studies in Afghanistan, FAO/World Bank (2014-2015)
• Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations– World Bank funded “Irrigation Restoration and Development Project (IRDP), Afghanistan” (2013 – 2014),
• ADB TA 8050 NEP: Preparing the Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project, Nepal (2011-2012),
• Melamchi Water Supply Project, Nepal – benefit sharing with local communities (2011)
• ADB TA 6456- REG: Preparing the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Flood and Drought Risk Management and Mitigation Project, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam (Greater Mekong Subregion-GMS), (2009 – 2011),
• “Sustainable Management of the Shabelle and Juba Rivers in Southern Somalia” for Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM), FAO (2009),
• ADB TA – 7007 (NEP) : Supporting Capacity Development for Water Services Operations and Public-Private Partnership in the Kathmandu, ADB(2008-2009),
• Preparation of a report on “Water Resources of Somalia” for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations (Aug – Oct, 2007),
• ADB TA – 4776 (NEP): Enabling the Private Sector to Undertake Poverty-Focused Water Distribution and Strengthening of Institutional Reforms in Kathmandu Valley, (2006 – 2007),
• “National Water Plan of Nepal” – World Bank, CIDA and Government of Nepal (GON) (2003)
• World Bank funded Institutional Development of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), Nepal Irrigation Sector Project (NISP) (2000-2002)
• “National Water Resources Strategy Formulation Study (Nepal)”- A World Bank, CIDA and GON (2000-2001)
• Planning and design of various hydropower projects including: Arun 2 (402 MW), Naumure (100 MW). Khimti Khola (60 MW), Jhumruk (12 MW); Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Modeling (1986 – 1992).