The conversation focused on strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing the capabilities of public service officers, and leveraging the global expertise of the Nepali diaspora across key sectors. Areas of discussion included work-integrated education, public policy, public health, and agriculture. The dialogue also emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership and the role of evidence-informed policymaking in addressing Nepal’s evolving governance challenges.

1. Capacity Building for Policy Leadership

Participants stressed the importance of enhancing the skills and capacity of public officials, elected representatives, and young political leaders across the entire policy cycle, from design to implementation and evaluation. Hon. Thapa expressed strong interest in the Nepal Policy Leadership Program (NPLP), NPI’s flagship initiative, and encouraged its expansion to include emerging leaders from across political parties.

2. Entrepreneurship-Focused Education and Recognition of Entrepreneurs

The dialogue highlighted the need for Nepal’s education system to embrace entrepreneurship-focused learning to empower youth to create opportunities for themselves. Hon. Thapa emphasized the importance of appreciating and supporting entrepreneurial efforts, particularly those led by Nepali youth and returnee diaspora. A stronger support ecosystem and social recognition for entrepreneurs were identified as critical enablers for national progress.

3. Public Health Insurance Reform

Reflecting on his tenure as Nepal’s Health Minister, Hon. Thapa shared insights on the national health insurance program and explored how international models, particularly Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme, could provide valuable lessons for enhancing Nepal’s public healthcare system.

4. Advancing Agricultural R&D

The dialogue underscored the need for increased investment in agricultural research and development in Nepal. Participants emphasized the importance of protecting Nepal’s indigenous biodiversity and establishing appropriate intellectual property rights frameworks to safeguard local knowledge and promote equitable benefit-sharing. The conversation also highlighted the potential of high-value crops, non-timber forest products, and the promotion of economically important native plants as key strategies for rural development and sustainability. The Chiuri plant was cited as a notable example, with discussions focusing on its organized cultivation and commercialization, reinforcing the broader need for structured support and innovation in this sector. Diaspora professionals and institutional partnerships were recognized as critical drivers in advancing these efforts.

Participants

This knowledge exchange featured contributions from the folowing Nepali scholars and practitioners based in Bangkok and Nepal:

• Mr. Sharad Neupane – NPI Founding Member; UNDP
• Dr. Asha Pun – UNICEF
• Mr. Ravi Maharjan – Chief of Operations, Wells International School
• Dr. Umed Pun – King Mongkut’s University of Technology Ladkrabang (KMUTL)
• Mr. Assajita Awale – Executive Member, Thai-Nepal Chamber of Commerce
• Mr. Deependra Chamlagain – Director, Samriddhi Foundation
• Mr. Nishant Khanal – Economist; Graduate, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
• Mr. Niranjan Shrestha – Executive Director, Laxmi Group
• Dr. Khagendra Raj Dhakal – Chair, NPI; Faculty Member, KMUTNB

Way Forward

The Bangkok dialogue reaffirmed the importance of connecting Nepal’s policy leadership with its global knowledge diaspora. These exchanges offer valuable platforms for shared reflection, innovation, and collaborative problem-solving. As a token of appreciation, Dr. Dhakal presented a memento to Hon. Thapa on behalf of NPI, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening Nepal’s future through informed engagement and inclusive leadership.

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The meeting focused on Nepal’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals, with particular attention to the expansion of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). Minister Paudel shared his government’s efforts to increase health insurance coverage and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing the program’s reach to underserved populations.

Dr. Dhakal appreciated the Minister’s forward-looking leadership and presented key learnings from Thailand’s public health system, especially the well-known “30 Baht Scheme” which has delivered affordable, equitable, and efficient care across Thailand through tax-based funding.

Dr. Dhakal provided background on Thailand’s highly regarded “30 Baht Scheme” to illustrate its potential relevance for Nepal. Officially introduced in 2001 as part of Thailand’s Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), the program initially allowed citizens to access nearly all essential health services at government facilities for just 30 Baht per visit (approximately 1 USD).

The scheme offers comprehensive coverage—including outpatient, inpatient, maternal and child health, chronic disease management, and essential medicines—at public hospitals and health centers across Thailand. Managed by the National Health Security Office (NHSO), it uses a capitation-based funding model and a primary care gatekeeping system to ensure efficiency and cost control. As a result, Thailand achieved near-universal health coverage and drastically reduced out-of-pocket spending, while maintaining relatively low health expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

When the Minister inquired about the population coverage under the 30 Baht Scheme, Dr. Dhakal explained that it covers approximately 74% of Thailand’s population through the UCS. He elaborated that Thailand’s based on the publicly available sources, Thailand has achieved more than 99% coverage through three complementary public insurance schemes as below:

• Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) – ~74–75%
• Social Security Scheme (SSS) – ~15–16%
• Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS) – ~8–9%

This coordinated system ensures no citizen is left without health protection. Nepal could take inspiration from this multi-scheme model to create a more inclusive and equitable health insurance system.

Eligibility and Services Covered

The UCS (30 Baht Scheme) primarily covers Thai citizens not enrolled in the CSMBS or SSS—mainly informal sector workers, the unemployed, low-income groups, the elderly, and children.

Services covered include:

• Outpatient and inpatient care
• Essential medicines and diagnostics
• Chronic disease management
• Maternal and child health services
• Family planning, immunizations, health promotion
• Basic dental services
• Mental health and rehabilitation care

These are delivered mainly through public hospitals and health centers, though accredited private facilities are also included in specific areas. A gatekeeping system ensures cost-effective referrals.

How the 30 Baht Scheme Is Funded

Dr. Dhakal noted that the scheme is financed through general taxation, with per capita budgeting proposed annually by the Ministry of Public Health and approved by the Ministry of Finance. Funds are managed by the NHSO, and healthcare providers receive payments via a capitation model. There are no premiums or payroll deductions, making it especially effective for informal sector populations.

Comparative Insights for Nepal

Additionally, Thailand is transitioning from a “treat all diseases” model to a “treatment anywhere” model with multi-sectoral reforms, showing Nepal how flexibility and integration can be embedded in future NHIP development.

Recommendations

• Unify fragmented health schemes under one UHC framework
• Link sin taxes to an autonomous Nepal Health Promotion Foundation
• Digitize NHIP enrollment and tracking
• Pilot UHC reform in digitally advanced provinces
• Introduce minimum mandatory insurance for informal workers

Concluding the discussion, Minister Paudel responded positively and expressed interest in continuing dialogue with NPI to explore best practices from Thailand and beyond. Both parties agreed to deepen collaboration on key areas such as health financing, equity, and public health innovation.

The meeting was also attended by Joint Secretary Mr. Dhundiraj Niraula from the Ministry of Health and Population, Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Moti Bahadur Shrees from the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok, and the Minister’s Personal Secretary, Mr. Pawan Poudel.

On this occasion, Dr. Dhakal presented a copy of NPI Newsletter, Knowledge Bridge, to Minister Paudel. NPI extends its sincere appreciation to the Minister for his openness to regional learning and his commitment to evidence-based policy reform in Nepal’s health sector.

(Note: This report is based on the discussion points prepared by the NPI Chair for briefing Minister Paudel.)

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This intensive program brought together emerging think tank leaders from around the world, featuring high-impact sessions led by senior think tank experts on organizational management, strategic operations, and policy influence. The training aimed to equip, inspire, and strengthen the next generation of think tank leaders while fostering global collaboration and knowledge exchange.

As part of the program, Dinesh also introduced the Nepal Policy Institute and its key projects to fellow participants, showcasing our work on the people-centered policy-making process in Nepal. Beyond the sessions, this platform provided an invaluable opportunity for NPI to build strategic partnerships, exchange insights, and expand our global network within the think tank ecosystem.

We are proud to be part of this dynamic community, express our thanks to OTT, and highly recommend this program to aspiring think tank professionals.

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Thank you to everyone who joined us in this enriching discussion! Stay tuned for more updates from NPI as we continue to foster impactful leadership in policy development.

#NPLP #ImpactEvaluation #NPI #NepalPolicyInstitute #PolicyLeadership #SustainableDevelopment

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NPI has been working closely with ANA, the oldest Nepali diaspora community organization in the US, for the past few years. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to fostering unity and harmony within the Nepalese diaspora in the Americas. While ANA focuses on community activities, NPI collaborates with ANA to to challenge the their knowledge resources useful for public policies in Nepal. Mr. Neupane during the convention addressed the ANA community, providing a comprehensive update on NPI’s recent activities and future initiatives.

The convention’s goals were multifaceted, emphasizing the promotion of unity and harmony among the Nepalese diaspora. Additionally, the event highlighted the commitment of both organizations to preserve and promote Nepali identity, culture, heritage, literature, and knowledge. These efforts are geared towards ensuring the prosperity and well-being of the Nepali community in the Americas. Over the course of three days, the convention offered a series of enlightening sessions, engaging forums, and dynamic networking opportunities. These activities were designed to explore new frontiers and foster meaningful connections among attendees. The event provided a platform for participants to engage in insightful discussions, share knowledge, and build lasting relationships.

The ANA annual conference in San Francisco was a resounding success, underscoring the importance of collaboration and community building within the Nepali diaspora. The participation of NPI and its board member was a testament to the strong bond between the two organizations and their shared vision for a united and prosperous Nepali community in the United States. We would like to express our gratitude towards the ANA family for the invitation and look forward to collaborate more in the days to come.

#NPI #nepal #policy #NepaliDiaspora #ANA

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Dr. Dhakal shared that NPI is actively working on harnessing diaspora knowledge and highlighted the purpose of his visit, which included delivering guest lectures on implementing critical thinking approaches in policymaking and integrating these approaches into higher education at various universities and think-tank centers in China.

The ambassador appreciated NPI’s efforts and encouraged leveraging the knowledge resources of the Nepali diaspora for Nepal’s sustainable development, incorporating best practices of policy intervention from around the world. He specifically appreciated the Nepal Policy Leadership Program (NPLP) offered for Nepal Government Officers, which is currently ongoing. He acknowledged this as an important method of brain gain for Nepal and suggested collaborating with relevant centers of excellence in China. The ambassador also offered his full support from the embassy for such initiatives.

NPI expresses our sincere gratitude for the ambassador’s encouragement and support during our Chairperson’s visit to China.

#NPI #nepal #policy #china #ambassador

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During his visit, Dr. Dhakal delivered a lecture on ‘Critical Thinking Approaches in Policymaking: Enhancing the Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Process,’ drawing from his experience in implementing the NPI-initiated Nepal Policy Leadership Program, offered in collaboration with Kathmandu University School of Management. The lecture was attended by CTTREC professors, researchers, and PhD scholars, who engaged in discussions on integrating core critical thinking skills into various phases of the policy cycle.

Prof. Gang Li and his team at CTTREC shared their ongoing efforts in developing a comprehensive think-tank index and insights into the growth trajectory of Chinese think tanks.

This exchange deepened mutual understanding and paved the way for future joint initiatives aimed at addressing regional and global challenges through informed policy interventions. NPI and CTTREC’s shared commitment to advancing critical thinking approach in policymaking that integrates not only evidence-based practices but also core critical thinking skills such as ‘critical numeracy’, ‘argument evaluation’, and ‘perspective taking’. This collaboration exemplifies the transformative power of combining research and critical thinking to create impactful policies. We express our gratitude to Prof. Gang Li and the CTTREC team for their invitation and hospitality.

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In a significant stride towards enhancing democratic processes in Nepal, a delegation from NPI, comprising esteemed members including Ms. Sharu Joshi and Dr. Nalini Subba, along with Engagement Manager Mr. Abhinav Joshi, convened with Nepal’s Chief Election Commissioner Hon. Mr. Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya and Election Commissioner Hon. Dr. Janaki Kumari Tuladhar on June 14, 2024. This crucial meeting served as a follow-up to address various pivotal agendas previously agreed upon between NPI and the Nepal Election Commission.

Central to the discussions were pressing issues such as expanding internet / i-voting rights for Nepali citizens residing abroad, reforming election funding mechanisms including state funding to political parties & campaign financing, promoting female candidacy, and refining the electoral quota system. The deliberations were aimed at devising actionable plans to advance these critical reforms in the near future.

Mr. Thapaliya underscored the necessity for evidence-based research to inform and enhance the nation’s electoral policies. This call for rigorous research is seen as pivotal in shaping a more inclusive and efficient electoral framework for Nepal. The engagement between NPI and the Election Commissioners reflects a shared commitment to fostering transparent and fair electoral practices, crucial for upholding the principles of democracy in the country.

The outcomes of this meeting are poised to pave the way for substantial advancements in Nepal’s electoral landscape, setting a precedent for effective public-private partnerships in governance and democratic stewardship. As Nepal prepares for future electoral cycles, the partnership between NPI and the Election Commission promises to play a pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive and representative democracy.

The discussions concluded with a commitment from both sides to continue their collaborative efforts towards achieving these shared goals, fostering an environment conducive to democratic growth and civic engagement in Nepal.

This meeting marks a significant milestone in the journey towards strengthening democratic institutions in Nepal, underscoring the importance of proactive dialogue and partnership in achieving lasting electoral reforms.

We hope that our contribution can lead to a better and more positive growth in the days to come.

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#NPI #nepal #policy #environmentday

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Events such as these if properly managed can be beneficial in the policy making process by incorporating the diverse perspectives of the related groups. We would like to express our gratitude towards Lalitpur Metropolitan City for inviting us to such an amazing event.

#NPI #policy #nepal #labor #lalitpur

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