Login

Signup

The Foundation

Karnali Basin Conservation Foundation

About

The Foundation (KBCF) aims to create an economically thriving Karnali River Basin that balances conservation and development, supporting Nepal on its journey towards self-reliance through the development of the private sector. To achieve this objective, the Foundation has developed a five-year strategy with four supporting pillars.

The Mighty Karnali

As Nepal’s longest and largest river, Karnali and its tributaries weave through the Provinces of Karnali and Sudurpashchim. For a large part of its 507 kilometres course, it forms a natural border for the two provinces. The Karnali River Basin and its watersheds are not only home to a diverse eco-system but also most vulnerable to climate change.

Phoksundo townhall

Photo credit: USAID Paani Program

Our Values

Conservation

Save the resources for the future generation

Inclusiveness Icon

Inclusiveness

Covering and dealing with a range of subjects

Possibility Icon

Possibility

A promising future can be achieved with a little effort in present

Solution Icon

Locally Rooted Solutions

Solve problem in the community with community-centric approach

Transparency Icon

Transparency and Integrity

Staying open and honest with strong moral principles.

Sustainable Icon

Sustainable Development

Promoting holistic growth for the intimately interconnected nature

Photo credit: USAID Paani Program

Supporting Pillars

Pillar 1

Pillar 1

Well Developed Conservation

 

Pillar 2

Pillar 2

Demarcated Conservation Areas

 

Pillar 3

Pillar 3

E-Governance Platform

 

Pillar 4

Pillar 4

Build Capacities of Government

 

Board Members

KBCF is established with a long-term vision to foster an environment for sustainable economic growth in the KBA. KBCF’s Board includes pioneers in the field of private sector development and conservation to further the organizational vision.

Radhesh Pant

Radhesh Pant is the Chairperson at VRock & Company. He has over 30 years of experience in banking, commercial negotiations, and strengthening government systems. He was also the founding CEO of Investment Board Nepal.

Arup Rajouria

Arup Rajouria has over 25 years of experience in natural resource management, environmental conservation, climate change adaptation and environmental security. He was also the head of King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation.

Ashutosh Tiwari

Ashutosh Tiwari ran Himalmedia, WaterAid-Nepal and Sherpa Adventure Gear as the organizational head. In 2017, he founded SAFAL Partners, where he started Nepal’s first angel investment platform for SMEs. He has more than 20 years of private, social and development sector leadership experiences.

Barsha Shrestha

Barsha Shrestha has over 30 years of experience in the banking and corporate sector. She is the first woman General Manager in the private banking sector in Nepal. She is currently the Business Head of ICRA-Nepal.

Bidhya Sigdel

Bidhya Baridhi Sigdel is the Managing Director of Dolma Impact Fund, Nepal’s first international institutional private equity fund. He has more than 15 years of experience in auditing, banking, and investment sectors.

Bindu

Dr. Bindu Lohani has an experience of over 30 years at ADB, including as a Ranking Vice-President. His areas of expertise include sustainable development and climate change, environmental pollution and technology, and infrastructure development and financing.

Financial Structure

The Foundation will have a sustainable financial structure to conduct its overarching activities. KBCF will be a blended vehicle crowding in Private, Public, and Social Capital. A dedicated team will continuously

  • 1. Explore design and financial innovation
  • 2. Monitor the impact in real-time to ensure that the fund is optimally utilized

Programme Advisor

Joseph Silvanus is the Managing Partner at Dolma Consulting. He has more than 27 years of experience in the banking sector leading Standard Chartered as a CEO for the past eight years. A senior financial consultant and development finance expert, he has a deep working knowledge of financial markets in emerging markets, driving sovereign engagement around rating advisory, public policy guidance and development of capital markets.

Partners and Supporters

The private sector partners, including domestic banks and financial institutions for the Foundation, will go beyond Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investments. KBCF will enable them to view the KBA with growth opportunities through its various activities conducted under the Four Pillars. The social capital from the local and international foundations and philanthropic organizations will be leveraged to improve and enhance the human development indicators. Similarly, the public sector capital will be used as an anchor for crowding in other investors. The roles of the Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and development agencies will be important to support financial structuring and reduce risk attached to the development themes.

WorldLink Logo
USAID Logo
NMB Logo