Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC) is an NGO registered at the District Administration Office, Jumla under the Society Registration Act, 1978, and is affiliated to the Social Welfare Council in Kathmandu. It has been in operation in Karnali Zone since 1999 with its central office located in Jumla district with offices in four other districts viz. Kalikot, Humla, Mugu and Dolpa, a Program Support Office at Nepalgunj and a Coordination Office in Kathmandu. Currently, it has well established district office in Kapilbastu district and has project based presence in Bajura district too. 

Karnali Zone is endowed with abundant natural resources like flora, fauna, water, agriculture, horticulture, tourism, mines, minerals, lakes etc. But, unfortunately, these have not been tapped to the least for the benefits of the people for their livelihood improvement due to continued state neglect such as lack of appropriate development policies and commitment for Karnali Zone. As a result, the people of Karnali Zone continued to remain very poor deprived of adequate basic facilities like health, education, food, employment, markets, communication etc. since time immemorial and falls at the bottom of Human Development Index. More so, the caste and gender discrimination in Karnali Zone is comparatively high resulting in lack of access of women, Dalits and marginalized people to resources, opportunities and decision making processes from social, economical and political perspectives. To add more to the woes, the situation in Karnali Zone was further aggravated due to the Maoist movement which culminated into a fierce armed clash with the State resulting in serious human rights violation with a death toll of nearly 700 people, abduction and disappearance of more than 300, torture and detention of more than 800 and displacement of more than 7000 people.