Policy Research Institute, Narayanhiti

The Policy Research Institute organized a one-day interaction program with the heads of divisions/branches overseeing the policy and planning of the federal bodies, including the federal ministries of the Government of Nepal. The main objective of the program was to explore the possibility of cooperation by informing the federal ministries and bodies about the activities of the Institute, taking feedback for improvement, obtaining necessary information about the efforts being made at the policy level of the Government of Nepal, taking feedback regarding the policy requirements of the Government of Nepal and the contribution of the Institute to the current policy environment, discussing the climate of cooperation in the research projects of the Institute, taking feedback on the future course of action of the Institute, and informing about the Nepal Public Policy Review Journal for possible collaboration.

Prof. Dr. Lekhnath Sharma, Executive Chairman of the Institute, who presided over the program, welcomed the invited participants at the beginning of the program and explained the program’s rationale. He emphasized the participants’ crucial role in the program’s success. Dr. Hari Sharma Neupane, Head of the Research Department, gave a brief presentation on the structure of the Institute, human resources, the main program, the main achievements so far, the upcoming plan, and the topics that have been determined for today’s discussion. Gopal Acharya, an analyst at the Institute, facilitated the program.

Officials participating in the program raised various research topics based on their ministry’s needs. Most emphasized the need to review the implementation status of all sectoral public policies older than five years. In addition, it was also discussed that the Policy Research Institute itself should review the Institute’s recommendations on how much the ministry has accepted. The program also received suggestions that the Institute should review the status of the policy and related Acts as the timing of their formulation, responsible authority, and the content of the documents might not coincide. The participants expressed the view that the role of the Policy Research Institute was important for the ministries because much of the ministry’s focus was on other administrative tasks, including human resource management.

The program also raised the need for more research from the Policy Research Institute on interdisciplinary and currently relevant topics. Also, many believed it would be appropriate to finalize the annual research plan only after a detailed discussion with the concerned ministry. Some officials emphasized that the Institute may help design a policy framework for the Government of Nepal’s decision to celebrate the current decade as the Decade of Information Technology.  It was also stated that the Institute’s endorsement was expected in the ministry’s policy reviews.

Prof Dr Lekhnath Sharma said that the interaction has generated plenty of research topics and expressed his gratitude to all for their active participation in the program. He also urged all ministries to share with the institute the list of the current year’s priority programs. He said the institute’s researchers should increase regular contact with their affiliated ministries and agencies and discuss the next phase of research topics.

Attendance

Invited guests

1. Damodar Wagle (Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation)
2. Pawan Aryal (Ministry of Industries, Commerce and Supplies)
3. Januka Subedi (Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens)
4. Gauri Shankar Pandey (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology)
5. Bhojraj Ghimire (Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration)
6. Laxman Khanal (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
7. Suman Salike (Ministry of Urban Development)
8. Ram Krishna Aryal (Ministry of Communication and Information Technology)
9. Dr Chandra Dhakal (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development)
10. Ramakrishna Pathak (Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs)
11. Sudha Subedi (Ministry of Water Supply)
12. Badriraj Dhungana (Ministry of Forest and Environment)

Policy Research Institute

1. Prof Dr Lekhnath Sharma (Executive Chairperson)
2. Dr Hari Sharma Neupane (Senior Research Fellow)
3. Dr Mukti Ram Rijal (Senior Research Fellow)
4. Dr Khaga Nath Adhikari (Senior Research Fellow)
5. Dr Kalpana Khanal (Senior Research Fellow)
6. Dr Jham Kumar Bishwakarma (Research Fellow)
7. Dr Giri Raj Sharma (Research Fellow)
8. Dr Manita Kusi (Associate Research Fellow)
9. Gopal Acharya (Analyst)
10. Rija Manandhar (Analyst)
11. Sanju Sarbariya (Senior Assistsnt)
12. Bimal Chandra Sharma (Library Management Coordinator)
13. Asmita Rijal (Intern)
14. Demij Maharjan
15. Jyoti Luintel (Intern)
16. Kanchan Gautam (Intern)
17. Soniya Basyal (Intern)
18. Jenish Mararjan (Intern)

Please click here for the photographs of the Programme