Bimbika coordinates CIFOR's gender research and is the CIFOR gender focal point for the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry. She also contributes to CIFOR's research programs on migration and multi-local livelihoods and oil palm expansion in forested landscapes. She holds a PhD in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. Her thesis examined the gender dimensions of decentralization of forest governance with case studies from community forestry in Nepal. Prior to joining CIFOR, Bimbika worked as a gender researcher and consultant in UN bodies, NGOs, government agencies, and policy-research think tanks in Nepal and the South Pacific.