Biography / Professional Profile
Rashesh Shrestha is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Developing Economies - Japan External Trade Organization, based in Japan. He is a labor economist who conducts research on human capital development in developing countries, particularly Indonesia and Nepal. Besides IDE, his professional experience include policy-oriented research at ERIA (an international research institute based in Jakarta, Indonesia) and teaching at the Australian National University. He obtained his PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Their Work with IFA
His research proposes establishing government-to-government "skills partnerships" with key destination countries to strengthen Nepal's domestic workforce ecosystem and lower costs for migrant workers. The study highlights Japan—and its upcoming 2027 Employment for Skill Development scheme—as an ideal first partner to co-finance local vocational training, language programs, and labor market systems that benefit both nations.