Nepal Institute for Policy Research (NIPoRe)
Terms of Reference
NIPoRe Early Career Policy Research Fellowship (EC-NPRF) | 2025 Cohort
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INTRODUCTION
The NIPoRe Early Career Policy Research Fellowship (EC-NPRF) is an annual, rigorous fellowship program that provides opportunities to the next generation of young Nepali students and researchers interested in building careers in high-priority public policy issues in Nepal and Asia. Given Nepal’s ongoing polycrisis, generating valuable insights and policy documents through rigorous research has become more critical than ever.
To minimise this gap and encourage the next generation of Nepalis to undertake challenging policy analysis, the Nepal Institute for Policy Research (NIPoRe) trains promising young researchers. It offers them ample opportunities for policy research through an annual policy research fellowship.
NIPoRe is a Kathmandu-based policy think tank. It generates evidence-based debates on contemporary policy issues in Nepal and Asia for both the public and private sectors. The institution currently works on high-priority policy areas through four research centers – the Center for New Economy and Inequality (CNEI), the Center for Strategic Affairs (CSA), the Center for Governance Studies (CGS), and the Center for Human Development (CHD).
ROLES/PURPOSE
The NIPoRe Early Career Policy Research Fellows (EC-NPRFs) will work with the NIPoRe’s in-house and non-residential researchers on mutual interest issues to help the institution develop strategic direction and leadership, as well as proactively implement research activities towards such end to establish NIPoRe as a key policy research institution in Nepal and South Asia that works on national, regional, and global public policy issues. In addition to NIPoRe’s regular research, the EC-NPRFs are given the opportunity to focus on one core policy area.
DURATION
The fellowship period is six months, and the incoming EC-NPRFs will commence their fellowship on 18 November 2025 (2 Mangsir 2082 BS). Based on the fellows’ performance during this period, they will be given new and more research responsibilities.
KEY DELIVERABLES
- EC-NPRFs are responsible for contributing monthly blog posts (500-700 words) on their research focus area(s) at NIPoRe.
- EC-NPRFs are responsible for contributing a publishable policy paper towards the end of their fellowship.
- EC-NPRFs will be encouraged and provided with the necessary guidance and support to contribute research commentaries on their research focus area(s).
- EC-NPRFs will also be encouraged to contribute opinion pieces to relevant newspaper outlets in Nepal and abroad with the necessary guidance and support.
- EC-NPRFs will engage in NIPoRe’s ongoing research, including fieldwork.
BENEFITS
The EC-NPRFs are paid positions, and NIPoRe provides competitive remuneration and benefits per the prevailing local market standards.
QUALIFICATION
The EC-NPRF is for recent graduates who have completed at least an undergraduate course in NIPoRe’s research focus areas, preferably in public policy, public administration, economics, development economics, international relations, development studies, and data science.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES AND DEADLINE
Please complete the application form online and submit all the details by 5 PM on 10 November 2025. Please note that incomplete applications and those submitted after the deadline will not be considered for EC-NPRF 2025. Submit your application at https://bit.ly/niporefellowship2025
If shortlisted, the applicants must attend in-person interviews at the NIPoRe Office in Kathmandu for final assessment. The interview-related details will be shared with all the shortlisted applicants after the deadline.
CONTACT DETAILS
If you encounter any trouble while accessing the application online or want to learn more about NIPoRe’s fellowship, please send all your questions and inquiries to info[at]nipore[dot]org