Jailab Rai, Ph.D, is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the Central Department of Anthropology of Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Dr. Rai has been teaching various anthropological courses at this department from 2007. His Ph.D dissertation entitled "Community Forestry Practices and the Production of Social Space", explored cultural politics of the community forestry practices among the Rai people in the eastern hills of Nepal. Dr. Rai is a commission member of the IUCN's "Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy" (CEESP), honorary member of the "ICCA Consortium", and founding member of the "ICCA Network Nepal". He is also affiliated as a Research Fellow of the ForestAction Nepal. His research works focus on inclusive community forestry practices, democratization of protected areas, political ecology of bio-culture conservation, social inclusion, minority rights, and developmental interventions. Dr. Rai has undertaken various applied and policy research and consultancy works for government, multilateral and bilateral organizations, and international organizations (personal email: jailabrai@gmail.com).

• Ph.D in Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (Dissertation Title: Community Forestry Practices and the Production of Social Space: The Case of the Rai People in the Eastern Hills of Nepal);
• Masters Degree in Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (Specialized in: Anthropology of Natural Resources Management and Anthropology of Development Studies);
• Bachelors Degree, Tribhuvan University, Nepal (Major subject: Political Science and Literature);

• 2016 to now: Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Central Department of Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal;
• 2007 to 2015: Faculty (Part-time) of Anthropology, Central Department of Anthropology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal;
• 2010 to now: Commission Member of IUCN's "Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy" (CEESP);
• 2010 to now: Honorary member of the "ICCA Consortium";
• 2005 to 2012: Worked as a teaching faculty of Anthropology for various private colleges in Kathmandu; 
• 2008 to 2015: Project Coordinator, ForestAction Nepal (worked for various projects);

1. Books:

• Rai, J. K. (2016). Promoting forest based enterprises in Nepal: Lessons from piloting activities in Kohi Hill districts. ForestAction Nepal.
• Rai, J. K. (2016). Forest resources, forest enterprises and local livelihoods in Koshi Hill districts: An analysis based on the experiences of Tinjure handmade paper enterprise. ForestAction Nepal.
• Rai, J. K., Gurung, G., & Pathak, A. (2015). Climate change adaptation in MSFP working district: Lessons from LAPA and CAPA preparation and implementation in Koshi hill region. ForestAction Nepal and Rural Reconstruction Nepal.
• Rai, J. K.; & Chapagain, S. P. (2014). Value chain analysis of forest products in Koshi hill districts of Nepal: Challenges and opportunities for economic growth. ForestAction Nepal and Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN).
• Rai, J. K. (2012). Role of Indigenous peoples and community conserved areas (ICCA) for biodiversity conservation in Nepal. ForestAction Nepal.
• Rai, J. K. (2011). Democratizing conservation areas in Nepal: Identification and empowering Indigenous community conserved area. ForestAction Nepal. 
• Rai, J. K. (2010). State restructuring and natural resources management: An analysis of civic discourses. ForestAction Nepal.
• Rai, J. K. (2009). Geographical distribution of natural resources in Nepal: The dimensions of Nepali state restructuring. ForestAction Nepal.

1. Book Chapter:

• Rai, J. K.; and Saif, O. (2022). Challenges for bio-cultural diversity in the high Himalayas. Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation, pp. 1-2.
• Rai., J. K., Jana, S. (2016). A bio-cultural perspectives on the recognition and support for sacred natural sites in Nepal. In, Bas, V. and Naomi (eds.) Asian sacred natural sites, Rutledge, pp. 93-104.
• Rai, J. K., Lama, N., and Bas. V. (2016). Sacred Tsum valley: improving biodiversity conservation with lessons for effective management of protected areas in Nepal. In, Bas, V. and Naomi (eds.) Asian sacred natural sites, Rutledge, pp. 93-104.
• Rai, J. K., Karki, R., and Worthington, R. (2015). Biodiversity and sustainability in Nepal: A role for deliberation?, in Mikko, R and Worthington, R. (Eds.) Governing Biodiversity through Democratic Deliberation, Routledge, pp. 88-108.
• Rai, J. K. (2012). Shifting biodiversity conservation paradigms and a promising alternative in Nepal. Dahal, D; Upreti, L, Acharya, B (Eds), Readings in Anthropology and Sociology of Nepal. Sociological/Anthropological Society of Nepal (ASON), pp. 330-370. 

1.  Journal Articles:

• Rai, J. K. (2024). Cultural dimension of community based forest enterprise in Nepal: A case of handmade paper enterprise in eastern Hill of Nepal. Journal of Forest and Livelihood, 24, 110-132.
• Rai, J. K., (2020). Indigenous Peoples in Nepal's Forestry Sector Public Discourses. Tribhuvan University Journal, VOL. 35, NO. 1: 121-138.
• Rai, J. K.; Khadka, S., and Acharya, S., (2015). Multi Stakeholder Forestry Program's Support in Promoting Forest Based Enterprises: Lessons and Experiences from Koshi Hill Region (in Nepali language). Hamro Ban Sampada (a Nepali journal), pp 31-41.
• Rai, J. K.; Dhungana, K., Rai, U., Rai, I (2015). Nepali Handmade Paper Prodcution in Koshi Hill Region (in Nepali language). Hamro Ban Sampada, pp 53-71.
• Paudel, N. S.; Jana, Sudeep, and Rai, J. K. (2012). Contested law: Slow response to demands for reformulating protected area legal framework in Nepal. Journal of Forest and Livelihood, Vol. 10(1), pp. 88-101.
• Rai, J. K. (2011). Poverty alleviation policy and reality in Nepal: A synopsis of cultural lenses. SASON Jornal of Sociology and Anthropology, Volume II, pp 230-264.
• Rai, J. K. (2010). Global and local discourses on climate change: A perspective from the concept of embeddedness. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, Volume IV, PP. 143-180.
• Rai, J. K. (2009). Socio-cultural subjectivities of landlessness in Nepal: A case study of Sarki people from Naubise VDC of Dhading district. Occasional Papers of Sociology and Anthropology, Volume 11, pp. 16-37.

1. Discussion Papers:

1. Rai, J. K.; and Paudel, N. S. (2011). Discourses of local governance in Nepal: An analysis of legislation, constitutional processes and civil society demands. ForestAction Nepal.
2. Paudel, N. S.; Jana, S. & Rai, J. K. (2010). Protected areas and rights movements: The inadequacies of Nepal’s participatory conservation. ForestAction Nepal.

1. Policy Briefs:

• Rai, J. K.; Limbu, R.; Gurung, R.; & Deshar, M. (2022). Roles of youths in biodiversity conservation: Efforts and lessons learned from the capacity enhancements (in Nepali). REF, Kathmandu.
• Rai, J. K.; & Paudel. K. P. (2010): Community rights on natural resources in new constitution (in Nepali). ForestAction  Nepal. 
• Ojha, H. R.; & Rai, J. K. (2010).  Federalism or local democracy? (in Nepali). ForestAction Nepal.