Public Policy Making

Public Policy MakingReflections from Nepal

Constitutional FrameworkPart 4 article 33, 34 and 35 of the interim Constitution mentions Directive Policies of the stateFocus of Interim Plan (2007/8-2010/11)Market EconomySocial Inclusive DevelopmentGender MainstreamingRehabilitation and ReintegrationAgriculture DevelopmentLand ReformsFood Security

Institutional StructureMinistries Govt of Nepal Business Allocation rules, 2000Council of MinistersNational Planning CommissionCourtsPolitical partiesParliamentary Committees in CA- Conduct of Business of Legislature-Parliament Rules, 2008

4The Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 identifies 22 obligations as the Policies of the State. These are:Raise living standardAttract foreign capitalDevelop economyAccelerate rural developmentMaintain cultural diversityMake positive discriminationPrioritize local communitySettle bonded laboursKeep environment cleanDevelop education infrastructureDevelop agriculture sectorAllowance for senior citizensEnsure labour rightsPromote technical knowledgeEnsure womens participationRegulate public orgs/NGOsEnsure social securityMobilize youthsUplift backward groupsForeign policy on UN charterDevelop science & technologyInstitutionalize peace

Scope of Public Policy: Nepal Context

5Scope of Public Policy: Nepal Context (Contd.)Nepal has public policy documents for a number of areas. These documents chart a generalized outline of the governments intentions. Public policies are available, among others, in the following areas: Agriculture PolicyNepal Foreign PolicyTourism PolicyTelecommunication PolicyNational Youth PolicyLand management PolicyForeign Employment PolicyInvestment PolicyTax PolicyForeign Direct Investment PolicyPublic Debt Management PolicyNational Health Policy

Issues in policy makingDevelopment Agencies are Powerful Interest Groups in NepalThere is no fixed mechanism for institutionalizing the Public Discussions for Policy Making Process in Nepal.Rhetorics involved in Policy makingSolution precede problemsCapacity to implementLack of realistic statistical data

Issues in policy makingcontdLocal body have no policy making authority. Even the Annual Periodic Plans are made within broad guidelines of the Central govt.Non functional Research organizations in UniversitiesResearch driven by Funds availability. No serious effort to develop Policy theories of Nepal.

Dominant Models of Policy making

Policy Making Trends

Some example of Changes in Policy Making ApproachLocal Self Government Act (LSGA) 1999, Long Term Health Plan (1997-2017)Programs for decentralization of primary education and primary health centersPoverty Reduction Strategic Paper (PRSP) 2003ICT Policy 2002National Youth Policy 2007Interim Plan 2007/08-2010/11

Five consultations were held including two exclusively with women's groups.Three public consultations held in the months of August and September 2000 in eastern, central and western Nepal.Stakeholders includes from representatives from all 75 District Development Committees (DDCs), mainly their Chairpersons or Deputy chairpersons, representatives from socially backward classes, mayors from municipalities, academia from campuses and schools, representatives from NGOs and CBOs, representatives from major political parties and the private sector, women, and ethnic minorities, and participants from remote areas.The other two consultations exclusively with women's groups one in east Nepal and the other in west Nepal. Participants were drawn from members of DDCs/VDCs and municipalities and representatives from NGOs, There were also significant representations from backward communities, ethnic minorities including dalits, and remote areas.Poverty Reduction Strategy paper (PRSP)

National Youth Policy 2010Agenda Setting Youth as Change agents

NGOs Advocacy

Political youth organization

World Programme of Action for Youth

International Youth Day

April Uprising 2005/06

Representation in CA

Policy Formulation Separate Ministry established Partnership with Youth Organizations A 23 member Policy drafting bodyLinked with the Interim Plan-Consultation workshops JointlyFrom national to Local level Feedback for Interim PlanAdvocacy, CampaignsFeedback forms-Representation in the Drafting committee

Policy ImplementationEarly Phase of Implementation National Youth Council

Youth career Counseling Center

Skill Training centers

Budget for Youth at the local level

Youth Resource centers at each districts.

Policy EvaluationToo early to evaluateAge bracket created debateInstitutionalized structures not created

Budget allocation at the local level Not achievedNo database regarding numbers and works of Youth Organizations in Nepal

National Youth CouncilYouth Career and Counseling Center

Efforts in theorizingNo effort to develop Indigenous Theories or models or even concepts

Very less research works done

Public policy as an academic field does not exist in Nepal

MPA ,1979- Tribhuwan University, Purvanchal University-2006

A paper on policy analysis

CNAS, CEDA- TU

CPAD- PU

Gaps in Policy makingsupply-driven policy agenda

Inadequate consultation processes for securing commitment and consensus from stakeholders

Failure to specify appropriate implementation arrangements

Ineffective monitoring capacity and feedback system (ADB, 2003)

Instability in government mainly due to high political instability.

Lack of realistic data (Ligal, 2007)

Allocation for research and development budget very small (Subedi, 2002)

ConclusionPublic Policy as an Academic Field is Yet to emergeCapacity to implement policyLess preference for researchMuch thoughts about public policy is derived from media and Donor reports for AcademiaLack of effective demandNatural evolution of the discipline

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