Neelu Thapa is currently serving as a board member and Senior Fellow with the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), Nepal. She is a seasoned policy researcher with over two decades of experience in areas such as international trade, food security and livelihoods, and gender and trade.

Affiliated with SAWTEE since 2002, she has led several research initiatives on diverse issues, including women’s participation in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), food security and livelihoods during natural disasters, and public accountability in sectors such as health. Her work has been presented at both national and international forums. She has authored numerous publications on topics including gender, trade, and post-disaster reconstruction.

Ms Thapa holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, and an Executive MBA from Kathmandu University.