From Forestry Scholar to Climate Leader: SAF Alumnus Sunil Sapkota Selected for MBA in Future-Oriented Project in Finland

The South Asia Foundation (SAF) is proud to share the inspiring journey of its alumnus Mr. Sunil Sapkota from Nepal, who completed both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Forestry at the UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Centre for South Asian Forestry Studies (UMCSAFS). His academic journey, supported by the SAF scholarship programme, has continued to shape a remarkable path of service, innovation, and leadership in environmental conservation and community development.

Mr. Sapkota is currently serving as a Capacity Building Officer at the National Trust for Nature Conservation in Nepal, where he works under a climate resilience initiative supported by the Green Climate Fund. In this role, he has travelled across 19 districts and 151 municipalities in the Gandaki River Basin, training nearly 530 trainers on integrating traditional local knowledge with science-based climate action to strengthen community resilience against challenges such as forest fires and climate change.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Mr. Sapkota has been actively involved in several community and entrepreneurial initiatives. In Chitwan, he helped establish an Active Listening Space – KUNO Empathy Café, promoting dialogue and emotional wellbeing. Together with his wife, he also manages Tratak Multipurpose Pvt. Ltd., an enterprise supplying equipment related to forest harvesting and wildlife rescue. Additionally, he founded Academic Pal, an urban homestay designed to support members of the academic community in Nepal. He has also contributed to public awareness on environmental issues through the **Biodiversity Nepal initiative under Raise Hands Nepal, helping sensitise youth and communities about biodiversity and nature conservation.

Through his extensive fieldwork and community engagement, Mr. Sapkota realized that sustainable environmental solutions must also address economic realities and livelihood opportunities. Motivated by this understanding, he has now been selected to pursue an MBA in Future Oriented Project Management at a University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. His goal is to strengthen his expertise in green enterprise development, innovation, and management, enabling him to contribute more effectively to sustainable development and job creation in Nepal.

Mr. Sapkota recently shared this milestone with Ms. France Marquet, expressing his deep gratitude for the opportunities and guidance he received through the SAF network. He noted that the foundation laid during his studies at UMCSAFS continues to guide his journey and inspire his commitment to community resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

The **South Asia Foundation community warmly congratulates Mr. Sapkota on this significant achievement and wishes him great success in his future academic and professional endeavours. His journey stands as a powerful example of how SAF scholars continue to contribute meaningfully to society while advancing knowledge, sustainability, and regional cooperation.

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