Rita Gurung is a development professional with over a decade of experience in food and nutrition security through agriculture and natural resource management. As Strategic Programme Lead, she oversees initiatives to build resilient agri-food systems, promote agroecology, and support locally-led, nature-friendly solutions. She has hands-on experience in agrobiodiversity management, agroecology promotion, and empowering grassroots organizations. She holds master’s degrees in Agricultural Economics (University of Western Australia) and Environmental Science (Tribhuvan University, Nepal), and is passionate about evidence-based policy advocacy to strengthen local food systems.