PRI hold interaction with policy experts

On 4 August 2021, PRI held an interaction amongst policy researchers and experts registered in the roster which PRI has been preparing as per Clause 17 of its Formation Order. In the roster are over 570 experts from different fields of public policy making, including research, knowledge management, public advocacy and communication. The meeting was held virtually as per PRI’s plan to organize a series of meetings to explore how the expertise in the roster can best be mobilized in policy making and other related tasks. Over 110 experts (out of 130 invited) participated in the meeting and shared their ideas and perspectives for PRI’s consideration. The key points that have emerged from the interaction include the following.

1. PRI should conduct research on how to realise a socialism-oriented economy, as envisioned by the Constitution, as a matter of priority. Other research areas PRI should prioritise are the advancement of production-oriented economy, promotion of mental health
2. Since policy making is an interdisciplinary enterprise, all researches PRI conducts should be interdisciplinary, with experts and scientists from different fields collectively engaged in the process
3. There are many think tanks in the private sector. PRI should devise a policy to connect to them and benefit from their work and outcomes. Doing so is necessary to avoid duplication and build synergy
4. In addition to research, PRI should also engage in the process of drafting bills. To this end, it should work closely with lawmakers
5. Genetic resources in Nepal are on the verge of extinction. Many of them have already vanished. There is no proper control and regulation on the seeds imported from abroad. Nor have we been effective in preserving and improving our indigenous seeds. PRI should work on this, together with the private sector that are engaged in this undertaking
6. The scholars and scientists returned from abroad have not had an environment to utilize their knowledge and skills and contribute to policy innovation. PRI should work to create space for such scholars as well as to stop the brain drain
7. The people in judicial committees in municipalities do not have sufficient knowledge about the law and procedures to be followed. This knowledge gap has implications. PRI should work to find policy solutions to such issues at the local level. It should not just focus on national issues and problems
8. Nepal lacks policy sustainability. With the change of governments, policies are also changed. This is a serious problem of Nepal’s policy domain. Unstable policies do not deliver. PRI’s research focus should also address this problem.
9. In Nepal, digital transformation is going randomly. Its outputs are not even and effective. Similarly, there is no clarity about data ownership. PRI should focus on this aspect as well, as digital equality and security have policy implications.
10. Exclusion and discrimination continue to remain as a challenge despite various efforts made over the years and decades to address them. They continue to thrive because we do not have the policy to address their underlying causes from a multidimensional approach. PRI should undertake research in these areas and come up with appropriate policy response.
11. Following the recent ruling by the Supreme Court on reservation, the merit of the existing reservation policy has been contested. How it affects marginalized communities should be studied and appropriate policy alternatives should be developed.