Nawal Yadav is a Nepalese former United Nations professional, chartered accountant, and social impact leader recognized for his contribution to education and community development. Born and raised in Timakiya village in Mahottari District, Nepal, Yadav built a distinguished career across public service, international oversight, audit, and development-focused work.
Before joining the United Nations, Yadav served for 25 years in the Government of Nepal and also worked for three years with a PricewaterhouseCoopers-associated firm in Nepal. In April 2003, he joined the United Nations as an internal auditor and went on to serve for 14 years across several major UN offices and missions, including the United Nations Office at Nairobi, peacekeeping missions in East Timor and Sudan, and United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Beyond his professional service, Yadav is widely recognized for his commitment to improving access to quality education in Nepal. Inspired by the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education and later the Sustainable Development Goals, he supported the community school where he received his early education. Through personal contributions, he helped renovate school infrastructure, improve sanitation facilities, and support student scholarships. He also founded the Nawal-Dukhani Yadav Foundation to advance education-focused development.
In 2017, Yadav received the United Nations Secretary-General Award in the “Champion of the SDGs” category. The recognition highlighted his personal commitment to reducing educational inequality, strengthening community schools, and promoting the belief that quality education is a foundation for human development, social mobility, gender equality, and long-term national progress.
Nawal Yadav’s journey reflects a rare blend of professional integrity, global public service, and grassroots commitment. His work demonstrates how leadership is not limited to institutional roles, but can also be expressed through sustained personal investment in the communities that shaped one’s life.