Kul Gautam


Kul Chandra Gautam is a distinguished diplomat, development professional, and a former senior official of the United Nations. Currently, he serves on the boards of several international and national organizations, charitable foundations and public-private partnerships. Previously, he served in senior managerial and leadership positions with the United Nations in several countries, in a career spanning over three decades. As a former deputy executive director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, he holds extensive experience in international diplomacy, development cooperation, and humanitarian assistance.
He served as special adviser to the prime minister of Nepal on international affairs and the peace process from 2010 to 2011.
A citizen of Nepal, Gautam is active in Nepal's civil society in promoting human rights, socioeconomic development, democracy, and good governance. He writes on, speaks about, and informally advises Nepal's political and civil society leadership as well as the international community on Nepal's peace process, consolidation of democracy, human rights, and socioeconomic development.
Internationally, he continues to be active in advocacy of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of child rights, global health, basic education, and human development.

Publications

Gautam writes and speaks extensively on international development, human rights, and human development; global health, education, child protection; the role of the United Nations; and on issues related to the peace process, democracy, and good governance in Nepal as well as globally.
Gautam's memoir, Global Citizen from Gulmi: My Journey from the Hills of Nepal to the Halls of the United Nations, was published by Nepalaya Publications in 2018. Another book, Lost in Transition: Rebuilding Nepal from the Maoist Mayhem and Mega Earthquake, was published in 2015.

Awards