Nepali youths living abroad say the wish to work for Nepal govt inspired them to return

Published On: August 30, 2019 05:30 AM NPT By: Aditi Baral

KATHMANDU, Aug 30: Ten Nepalis working and studying in seven different countries returned to Nepal and worked at the federal, provincial and local governments for three months. Daayitwa, a local NGO, successfully completed its ninth batch of fellowship program on Thursday. With support from Daayitwa, the 10 fellows worked for nine different ministries and government agencies at the federal, provincial and local levels.

The fellows conducted policy researches on diverse themes — governance reform, women's economic empowerment and youth employment, access to investment and value chain.

With the idea of “my government, my responsibility,” Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF) has been promoting an inclusive and enterprise-driven economic growth movement and prompt flexibility in local communities. Since its initiation in 2013, it has trained nine batches of 99 young Nepali students and professionals from 26 different countries. The young people came in together with a single mission –to better understand and serve the country. A total of 21 lawmakers and 29 ministries as well as public agencies have trained the fellows.

“I was away from Nepal for more than 15 years, but coming back and working at the policy level for the government has made me confident. This has motivated me to stay back and work for the betterment of Nepal at the scale and speed it deserves,” said Binod Thapa Chhettry, one of the fellows who worked under Bishnu Rimal, chief advisor to the prime minister. He worked to design Nepal public service fellowship program within the office of the prime minister.

Another young fellow Juliana Shrestha said, “Working for this project changed my perspective towards the government and how our system works.” Shrestha worked to find ways to boost youth employment through enterprise development in Tansen Municipality, Palpa.

The fellowship program also conducted panel discussions. The first discussion was on the use of evidence in policy making and the role of youth. The second and third panels discussed innovative interventions by the government of Nepal in boosting youth employment and entrepreneurship. The fellows also shared their research on youth entrepreneurship at the federal, provincial and local government levels.