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Experts on countries of origin by country

Daryn, Dr Gil

The Expert (Ph.D. Cambridge 2002, British Academy postdoctoral fellow 2003-6 at the School of Oriental and African Studies, The University of London) is a social anthropologist specializing in Nepal in particular and South Asia more generally. His acquaintance with South Asia spans over 31 years, including over ten years of researching and working in Nepal and over five years of living in India. While at SOAS, he taught an MA course on “The Anthropology of South Asia”. The Expert specializes in various aspects of Nepalese and other South Asian cultures and societies, including politics, kinship, gender, and religion. 

In recent years he has been asked to comment and advise to ACCORD (Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation), providing expert knowledge and answering specific questions on various aspects relating to Nepalese society. The Expert worked with many refugees and asylum seekers from various Asian countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar while he served as Associate Durable Solutions Office in UNHCR’s Kathmandu office, Nepal (2008-9). There, he became familiar with the RSD process and UNHCR country files, and held many focus group discussions and individual interviews with… Read more

Occupation: Social Anthropologist, Independent consultant (formerly of SOAS, University of London).
Countries of expertise: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Gurung, Sanju

The Expert/Consultant is a specialist for Nepal and Bhutan – the countries in the Himalayan belt and has provided expert reports to the UK and U.S. courts, including NGOs and businesses around the world. The Expert has appeared in court to provide testimony. The expert was born and raised in Nepal - and provides linguistic expertise in the Nepali language too. He was recently involved in a charity project in Nepal in 2021 and 2022, during this period, he spent a substantial amount of time in Nepal. He regularly travels to Nepal for study and social enterprise projects – and closely collaborates with various agencies in Nepal and Bhutan.

The Expert is currently continuing his doctoral research in politics at Birkbeck College, the University of London. He was previously enrolled on a PhD programme at the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) where he began his research on the dynamics of the relationship of Nepal’s internal political actors with India and China. The Expert is a Member of the Britain Nepal Academic Council (BNAC), Political Studies Association (PSA) and Chatham House. 

Occupation: Doctoral Researcher, Independent Expert/Consultant, Nepali Linguist Expert
Countries of expertise: Bhutan, Nepal

Kurlantzick, Joshua

Experienced country of origin expert for all nationals from Southeast Asia and China; specialist from one of the leading think-tanks in the world. Have provided expert witness reports for fifteen years for asylum cases in the UK, Europe, and US for nationals from across South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia – related to political issues, trafficking, slavery, gangs, religion, and many other issues. Also have provided expert witness reports for non-asylum immigration cases for nationals from South, Southeast, and Northeast Asia.

Occupation: Senior Fellow, Southeast Asia, Council on Foreign Relations
Countries of expertise: Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam