Padam Lal Bhandari is a Nepali development professional with more than 30 years of progressive experience in agribusiness promotion, agricultural policy reform, market systems development, and institutional capacity building. He currently serves as Senior Advisor at Swisscontact Nepal, providing strategic guidance in
agricultural transformation, rural employment, and inclusive market systems.

Throughout his career, Mr. Bhandari has worked with different national and international organizations, including SNV Netherlands Development Organization, CEAPRED, UNICEF, CECI, and the United Mission to Nepal, contributing to community development, infrastructure, agriculture, and governance reforms. He has also supported multilateral donor-funded initiatives by the World Bank, ADB, USAID, IFAD, and SDC, focusing on creating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening local institutions.

As an Expert Member of the National Farmers’ Commission, Government of Nepal, he plays an advisory role in agricultural policy design and implementation. Mr. Bhandari also served as Adjunct Faculty at the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, mentoring students and guiding graduate research on development and market systems.

Mr. Bhandari dedicated 13 years to strengthening the institutional capacity of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and its affiliated district chambers across Nepal. During his tenure, he worked closely with local business organizations to enhance their organizational effectiveness, improve governance practices, build leadership capabilities, and expand services for members. His sustained efforts contributed to creating a stronger and more coordinated chamber network, enabling district chambers to better represent the interests of the private sector and support economic development at the local and national levels.

He has presently served as a member of the advisory committee of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce (FNIC) since 09 April 2023 (2079/12/26 BS).

At present, he is pursuing his PhD at Lincoln University College, Malaysia, with research focused on Agricultural Subsidies, Crop Production, Governance, Democracy, and Policy Effectiveness. His academic background includes an MBA and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

Mr. Bhandari is also an accomplished writer and public intellectual, having authored two books — Desh Bahirako Desh and Karnali Bhitra — and published numerous articles in leading national and international journals. His writings frequently address issues of rural development, agribusiness, and market policy, reflecting his deep engagement in Nepal’s socio-economic transformation.