THEMATIC ARES
Our researches focus on four thematic areas. We have derived these areas based on Nepal’s current policy priorities and the expertise of NIPoRe team members.
ECONOMIC POLICY
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
NATIONAL SECURITY
TECHNOLOGY
The Nepal Competitiveness Index (NCI) is one of the flagship initiatives of NIPoRe. Conceptualized in early 2019, it has been developed in collaboration with the researchers at the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore. It aims to help the key policy stakeholders in Nepal and outside to better understand the competitiveness of Nepal’s sub-national governments and thus formulate more realistic plans and policies for sub-national economic development.
The Nepal Risk Outlook (NRO) is one of the flagship initiatives of NIPoRe. Conceptualized in early 2019, the initiative has been implemented in collaboration with the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). It aims to advise the policy stakeholders across South Asian economics on key policy risks that the regional economies face.
The Diplomats’ Forum is one of the flagship initiatives of NIPoRe. Conceptualized in early 2019, it has been implemented in partnership with the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal. Through events and research publications, the forum aims to create a learning-exchange platform among seasoned diplomats and the next generation of foreign/ current affairs students and researchers.
Nitika Kura aims to record valuable policy insights from Nepal’s senior policy experts, policy makers, diplomats and entrepreneurs across key sectors in the form of short videos. With this, NIPoRe aims to help the general public and researchers based in Nepal and outside to understand some crucial historical events and policies that could be useful in modern Nepal as well.
RESEARCH CLUSTERS
Based on expertise of the current NIPoRe team members, the institution undertakes research in eight distinct research clusters.
AID AND DEVELOPMENT
Since the dawn of democracy in Nepal in the 1950s, the country has been receiving a significant amount of aid for financing annual development works. However, the debates surrounding aid and development have taken different forms with aid experts remaining divided on many issues related to the aid and experts in Nepal are no exception. With this cluster, NIPoRe examines history of aid in Nepal, country’s aid policies and overall impacts of aid in uplifting living standards of the Nepalis and recommend necessary policy reforms to the Nepal Government, development partners and the civil society.
BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Transnational companies and development agencies not only catalyze development but also affect a range of human rights of local communities, employees, and others along their supply chain. The United Nations Human Rights Council endorsed the “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights” in 2011, consisting of the state duty to protect against human rights abuses, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and the right of victims to remedies. There is a growing body of laws around the world, both national and regional, addressing human rights impact of businesses. The private sector engages in this field through human rights due diligence and corporate social responsibility. As an emerging area of law, the business and human rights cluster incorporates issues of corporate responsibility, indigenous rights, women’s rights and environmental sustainability.
GOVERNANCE AND FEDERALISM
With an aspiration to devolve power away from a historically centralized Nepali State, new federal units were created. There is much to learn how this transition will occur. This cluster explores pertinent debates pertaining to governance and federalism in Nepal.
INFRASTRUCTURES
Economic development cannot be envisaged without a reliable infrastructural base. The extent of infrastructure development not only determines a country’s competitiveness in the short run but is also crucial for sustained economic growth in the long term. This cluster looks at various aspects of governance pertaining to infrastructure projects in water supply systems, energy, road & transportation, airports, telecommunication among others.
LABOR AND SOCIAL WELFARE
Eleven out of 18 sustainable development goals relate directly to labor and social welfare. This is a major focus of Nepalese government under the slogan of ‘Samriddha Nepal, Sukhi Nepali’. NIPoRe works with various stakeholders, including the government, laborers, entrepreneurs and development partners to devise appropriate and effective policies backed up by research and analyze the implications of the policies.
NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS
NIPoRe engages in research on sources of national security and foreign policy. This is crucial for Nepal given its geo-strategic location and the need to engage with foreign countries for Nepal’s development. With world’s two major powers at her doorstep and major global powers showing keen interest in Nepal, the country needs nuanced foreign policy to gain from collaborations with foreign powers while maintaining sovereignty and independence. NIPoRe engages in fundamental debates and framing of Nepalese foreign and security policy and analyzes the implications of the said policy.
TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT
As technology plays pivotal roles in driving major development works, NIPoRe studies implications of adopting new technologies as well as generating useful evidence for encouraging and supporting Nepal Government, the private-sector and the techpreneurs for investing more on grooming local technological disruptions. NIPoRe evaluates role of technology in development from four distinct perspectives namely society, economy, politics and knowledge management.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT
Nepal’s economy is witnessing widening trade deficits and relatively low levels of investments. Despite being adjacent to giant economies, Nepal still struggles to have desired levels of foreign investment in the country. Under this cluster, NIPoRe undertakes policy focused studies on Nepal’s business climate, export diversification, political economy of international trade, regional economic integration, services trade, e-trade, Industry 4.0 and promotion of private investment . With rigorous analyses, NIPoRe’s research aims to support private sector development focused evidence-informed policy formulation and reform to fuel economic growth.