Umesh Pokharel is a project and programme evaluation expert, researcher, and banking and development professional with extensive experience in evaluation, market research, financial modelling, portfolio analysis and risk assessment. As Managing Partner at Udyamsheel, he brings strong analytical and strategic capabilities to complex assignments across finance, enterprise development and the development sector. He has led assignments for DW Akademie, IREX, ActionAid International and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), applying OECD/DAC evaluation principles, including a multi-country evaluation of DW Akademie’s Journalism of the Future project across Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Umesh also served as Lead Author of the State of the Banking Industry in Nepal, commissioned by the National Banking Institute (NBI), and has led research on digital banking, AI and cybersecurity, green finance, financial inclusion, consumer protection and banking-sector consolidation. His expertise is further strengthened by specialized training in sustainable, climate and green finance, results-based climate finance, enterprise green financing and carbon markets through leading international institutions.