By Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Dr. Nisha Onta has spent her career at the intersection of gender equality, climate change, and sustainable development, transforming ideas into measurable impact. Dr. Onta is the Regional Coordinator for Asia of WOCAN (Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management) and the Founder of Governance Lab in Nepal. WOCAN has pioneered an innovative method, the W+ Standard, to measure women’s empowerment, this groundbreaking tool quantifies the social value of women’s contributions to sustainable development.
A proud alumna of AIT, where she earned both her Master’s (2007) and PhD (2012) in Gender and Development Studies (GDS), Dr. Onta’s work bridges research, policy, and action, proving that gender-responsive approaches are not only equitable but essential for building climate resilience and global sustainability. In this interview, she reflects on her journey, her work with WOCAN and Governance Lab, and her aspirations for advancing gender-responsive climate action.
1. You are currently leading two powerful initiatives, WOCAN and the Governance Lab, both shaping how gender and climate intersect globally. Could you share how these two organizations complement each other and what key priorities you’re focusing on right now, especially in advancing the W+ Standard?
WOCAN is an international NGO which is also a network of members, and we currently have more than 1500 members globally. Governance Lab, on the other hand, is a think tank I started in 2019 to work on national-level policy research and interventions.
With WOCAN, as the Regional Coordinator for Asia, I support our W+ Standard team to connect with potential partners and support business development. I enjoy connecting with unconventional partners such as philanthropic networks, private sectors who may not have previously considered implementing gender-responsive activities in their initiative, but after engaging with them, they realize the value, not just for their stakeholders, but for their business as well.
With Governance Lab in Nepal, as the Founder and Executive Director, I work on various policy issues such as youth employment and women’s economic empowerment. We are trying to build an ecosystem for evidence based policymaking, so we work with bureaucrats, researchers, and practitioners. I enjoy connecting these groups, who need to collaborate for effective policymaking but often have no platforms for engagement.
2. The W+ Standard is often described as a groundbreaking initiative for measuring women’s empowerment. Could you explain how it works in practice and share a concrete example of its measurable impact on women or communities?
The W+ Standard is the first international standard that makes women’s contributions visible, measurable, and financially valuable. By embedding gender-responsive metrics into climate and development projects, W+ ensures women are not left behind in the global shift to sustainability.
The W+ Standard certifies women’s empowerment outcomes in projects across energy, forestry, agriculture, water, health, and more. By measuring change in six vital domains — Time, Income & Assets, Knowledge & Education, Health, Food Security, and Leadership — we create a framework that delivers transparency and credibility.
When results are independently verified, they generate W+ Credits: tradable units that corporates, governments, and institutions can purchase to meet sustainability goals. At least 20% of the revenue from every credit flows directly back to women’s groups, ensuring immediate and lasting benefits for communities.
More info: https://www.wocan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/W-White-Paper-2015_1.pdf
3. You’ve dedicated much of your career to gender and climate change. What first drew you to this intersection, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
When I was doing my PhD in AIT, I knew I wanted to focus on climate change issues and at that time there was only a few research done on gender and climate change. But it was clear that the gender issues are huge in climate change impacts. It was such a new and evolving topic that I had to work on it. I was also guided by my advisor, Dr. Bernadette Resurrecion to focus on this topic.
In 2009, my dissertation, “Gendered Pathways to Climate Change Adaptation: The Case of Jumla, the Mid-Western Hills of Nepal,” received the UNDP Human Development Academic Fellowship for Asia Pacific, which supports young PhD researchers in the region to look at critical development issues through a human development lens. UNDP even shared that my application and interview were among the strongest that year, which was very encouraging and reaffirmed that this was meaningful work to pursue.
I am a feminist, and there is still so much to be achieved in the space of gender and climate change, which keeps me more motivated to continue working in this area.
4. You’ve worked across both South and Southeast Asia. How do you see cultural and regional contexts influencing the way gender and climate resilience are approached in different countries?
There are different challenges in different countries, even different challenges in different parts of the same country. When we work on gender issues, we always need to look at the context and nuanced issues.
A similarity I have witnessed in both regions is that gender equality issues exist everywhere. There are also very strong advocates, but they are all struggling with lack of resources to implement their work.
The differences are also apparent between various countries. In some countries, the issue of gender equality is understood, and there are policies that support gender equality. In others, even discussing gender equality is still seen as working against harmony in the country.
5. Looking back over your journey, is there a particular project or moment that really stands out as meaningful or transformative for you personally?
As a PhD student at AIT, I had the chance to be part of the write-shop managed by SEI Asia. It really opened up my perspective and showed me how I could strengthen my arguments in ways that could influence regional and national-level policies. That experience was transformative in helping me see how research can shape policy.
6. You earned both your Master’s and PhD in Gender and Development Studies here at AIT. What motivated you to pursue both degrees in the same field and institution?
I really enjoyed the connections I made at AIT. Bangkok, being a regional hub, helped me network and interact with various organizations and experts. AIT also provided me with scholarships, which made it possible for me to pursue my education.
During my Master’s in Gender and Development Studies, I completed my thesis entitled “Reproduction of Newar Identity in the Lives of Young Newar Women, Kathmandu, Nepal,” and was honored to receive Batch 107’s Alastair M. North Prize in recognition of my academic performance. The prize, established from funds contributed by Professor Alastair M. North, a former President of AIT, was a very meaningful recognition for me.
That combination of academic recognition, financial support, and strong mentorship convinced me that AIT was the right place to continue my journey, and it motivated me to stay on and pursue my PhD in the same field and institution.
7. How did your time at AIT shape your thinking or prepare you for the kind of work you’re leading today? Could you share some of your fond memories from that time?
The international nature of AIT gave me the confidence to work with people from diverse backgrounds across Asia and beyond. Our group work sessions were not always “fond” memories, but they were memorable. especially when we had to navigate language barriers and cultural differences and still find ways to succeed together.
I also had the opportunity to serve as AIT Student Union President in 2006, acting as a bridge between the administration and the student body. That role expanded my network and helped me further develop my leadership skills. Organizing events and working with committee members from different departments and countries was both exciting and rewarding, and that diversity of perspectives still shapes how I approach collaboration and leadership today.
In May 2007, I also gave a speech during our graduation on behalf of the graduating class, sharing our journeys of growth and transformation. That moment really captured what AIT meant to us, a place where we grew not only academically, but personally and collectively.
8. In your view, how can academic institutions like AIT play a stronger role in integrating gender perspectives into climate action and in nurturing future leaders who can bridge research, policy, and practice?
There is so much opportunity for AIT in this space. I joined AIT because it was one of the few institutions in Asia offering a Gender and Development Studies program. If AIT can offer a Gender and Climate change program, it can once again be a pioneer. If we can further link our research with policy, that will make the program even more unique.
9. What’s next for you and your team? Are there any upcoming goals or plans to expand the W+ Standard or strengthen women’s roles in climate-related initiatives?
I am planning to organize various training courses in Nepal, some of them focused specifically on gender and climate change. Through these trainings, we hope to build more capacity at the national level and strengthen women’s roles in climate-related initiatives.
10. Finally, what message or advice would you share with AIT students and young professionals who hope to build careers that make a real social and environmental impact?
I would advise them to be curious and to take every opportunity to learn, engage and network. It is important to explore beyond the ‘khlong’ of AIT. Use your time in Thailand to build your network, and always stay connected with the work and needs of your own country.
From her time as a student at AIT to her work with WOCAN and Governance Lab, Dr. Nisha Onta has kept gender and climate at the center of her journey. Her story shows how AIT alumni can turn what they learn here into real change on the ground.
