Welcome to the final episode of Systems Practice in International Development. In this episode, Alexandra Nastase (Programme Director, PMEL Nepal) speaks with Tara Bajracharya (Team Leader, PMEL Nepal) and Ankeeta Shreshta (Deputy Team Leader, PMEL Nepal) about learnings from this 5-year pilot programme which has asked some crucial questions: How can you achieve more with less? How can a portfolio learning function help a bureaucracy think more strategically, act more coherently, and learn for better results?

Together, they reflect on what it took to set up and sustain a one-of-a-kind learning function that was embedded enough to understand the system but independent enough to challenge it.

This episode’s guests

Tara Bajracharya is a seasoned MEL professional with over 12 years of experience across development and humanitarian settings. She has held leadership and advisory positions within NGOs, INGOs, and donor agencies, where she has led MEL system design and management, conducted impact evaluations, and fostered learning and adaptation across diverse programmes. Her in-country experience spans Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Tara currently serves as the Team Leader for the FCDO Nepal PMEL, where she oversees technical teams comprising national and international experts. She provides high-quality advisory support to FCDO Nepal, with a strong focus on strategic learning and evidence-informed decision-making. Her work emphasizes adaptive management and the use of rigorous evidence to drive impact in complex systems.

Ankeeta Shrestha is the Deputy Team Lead for FCDO PMEL Programme. With over a decade of experience in the strategic learning space, she has contributed to several high-impact projects across health, education and inclusion sectors for several international development organizations, including USAID, UNFPA, Department for International Development (DFID), Rural Education and Development (READ) Global, among others. 

A systems thinking enthusiast, Ankeeta is passionate about translating theories and policies into actionable, real-world solutions that drive meaningful change. Outside of her professional work, she is an avid reader with an insatiable curiosity for exploring innovative ideas. 

This podcast is produced and hosted by the Portfolio Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) programme in Nepal, funded by the British Embassy Kathmandu and implemented by Abt Global. Please note, the views expressed through this podcast reflect those
of the hosts and guests only.