PAAN Talk on “Fixing the Foundation: The Strategy for Better Policy in Nepal”
20th May 2026,
The Public Administration Association of Nepal (PAAN) successfully organized a PAAN Talk session on the theme “Fixing the Foundation: The Strategy for Better Policy in Nepal”, featuring Dr. Dipak Kumar Khadka as the keynote presenter. The session served as an important platform for meaningful dialogue among academicians, policy practitioners, researchers, civil servants, and governance professionals on strengthening evidence-based policymaking and institutional reform in Nepal.
The presentation highlighted the urgent need to strengthen the foundation of public policymaking through systematic research, institutional coordination, quality assurance mechanisms, and evidence-informed decision-making processes. Dr. Khadka emphasized that effective public policy should be guided by reliable evidence, structured policy analysis, and strong institutional support rather than solely by political or administrative considerations.
The discussion extensively covered the policy research cycle, including problem identification, policy analysis, policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and policy refinement. Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of background papers, evidence mapping, knowledge synthesis, and documentation systems in improving the quality and effectiveness of public policies.
The session also explored various policy research methodologies, including cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), highlighting the importance of maintaining research credibility through peer review, data validation, and quality assurance processes.
Participants engaged in insightful discussions on the broader policy research ecosystem and the roles of universities, think tanks, government agencies, bureaucracy, and research communities in shaping effective public policies. The importance of stronger collaboration between policymakers and researchers to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical policy implementation was widely acknowledged.
The discussion further addressed emerging challenges such as misinformation, post-truth politics, weak institutional coordination, and limitations in knowledge management systems. Participants stressed the need for stronger documentation practices, evidence-based governance culture, digital knowledge platforms, and institutional mechanisms to support high-quality policy research and informed decision-making.
The session also reflected on the long-term importance of developing institutional platforms such as Schools of Government or Public Policy to strengthen Nepal’s policy capacity, governance innovation, and professional public administration education.
The programme concluded with a shared understanding that sustainable governance reform and effective public policy require continuous investment in research, institutional strengthening, collaboration, and evidence-based administrative culture.
PAAN expresses its sincere appreciation to Dr. Dipak Kumar Khadka for his insightful presentation and to all participants for their active engagement and valuable contributions to the discussion.
🎥 Session Recording: https://youtu.be/aa_gMBBf4DQ