KATHMANDU, Dec 12: Nepali think-tanks, academics, and development practitioners, including those from the diaspora, have rallied for a more participatory, accountable, and people-centered public policy-making process in Nepal. This call to action came to the forefront at the launch event of the Policy Leadership Program (PLP) on Monday, conducted through a hybrid program.
The PLP, a pioneering initiative in Nepal, is a collaborative effort between the Nepal Policy Institute (NPI) and Kathmandu University School of Management Policy Lab (KUSOM Policy Lab). Tailored for mid to senior-level policy professionals from the government, NGOs, and the private sector, the program aims to equip leaders with the necessary tools and skills for effective policy analysis and development.
Former secretary of the Nepal government, Dr Gopi Krishna Khanal, stressed the urgency of making the policy-making process more participatory, citing examples of potential life-saving measures during disasters. Dr Khanal emphasized the need for programs that empower policymakers and generate resources for policy actors.
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Dr Gambhir Bhatta, Adjunct Faculty at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, presented key highlights of the PLP program, underscoring the necessity for federal statutes to properly implement federalism in Nepal. He emphasized the importance of understanding the political underpinnings and drivers behind institutional and policy reform.
Ramesh Singh, former global chief of Action Aid International, highlighted the evolving nature of leadership, emphasizing the importance of addressing not only national but also global challenges like climate change. Singh called for transformational leaders with integrity who consider the demand side in policy implementation.
Khagendra Dhakal, chairman of NPI and Adjunct Professor at King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, emphasized the role of critical thinking in policy-making. Drawing parallels with historical policies, Dhakal underscored the delicate balance that policy decisions must strike and announced the need for a new generation of policy leaders in Nepal.
Dhakal, recently awarded the prestigious Asia-Pacific Leadership Fellowship by the East-West Center, expressed the need for a comprehensive policy leadership program. The soft launch of the PLP event sought feedback from various policy stakeholders to design a program critical for Nepal's sustainable development.
