Partners
Nepal Policy Institute Partnerships
Nepal Policy Institute (NPI), a diaspora-powered global think tank, collaborates with visionary public, private, and civil society organizations in Nepal and abroad to advance leadership development, policy research, public engagement, and democratic governance in support of the sustainable development of Nepal and Nepalis everywhere. Over the years, NPI has partnered with several federal and local government agencies, including the National Planning Commission (NPC), the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), and the Policy Research Institute (PRI). It also actively engages with civil society organizations and SDG-focused networks such as the National Campaign for Sustainable Development (NACASUD-Nepal), as well as knowledge-driven diaspora organizations including the Canada–Nepal Forum for Research (CANEFOR) and the Association of Nepalese in America (ANA).
Building on these collaborations, NPI has also established formal partnerships with the following institutions:
Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) Policy Lab
Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) Policy Lab
In December 2021, NPI formalized a five-year knowledge partnership with the Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) Policy Lab. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by Prof. Dr. Devi Prasad Sharma Bedari (Dean, KUSOM) and Mr. Khagendra Raj Dhakal (Chair, NPI Board of Directors), aims to advance public policy analysis in Nepal through:
Knowledge exchange of research findings, practicum outputs, and evaluation results.
Policy dialogue on national, sub-national, regional, and international issues.
Collaborative resource mobilization for policy-analytic initiatives at national and sub-national levels.
An action plan for 2022 was jointly developed to operationalize these commitments.
Election Commission of Nepal (ECN)
Election Commission of Nepal (ECN)
In 2022, NPI entered into a formal partnership with the Election Commission of Nepal (ECN), the constitutional body responsible for overseeing elections. This MoU, signed by NPI’s Chair and ECN representatives, focuses on:
Joint research and knowledge sharing in electoral systems, governance, and democratic policy issues.
Capacity development, including training programs, technical assistance, and workshops for institutional strengthening.
Policy dialogue and collaboration aimed at informing electoral reform, enhancing governance transparency, and promoting inclusive participation.
Together, NPI and ECN contribute to reinforcing Nepal’s democratic institutions by combining analytical expertise with constitutional mandate.
Kathmandu University (KU)
Kathmandu University (KU)
In April 2025, NPI signed a five-year MoU with Kathmandu University (KU), formalized by Mr. Brijesh Adhikary (Acting Director, Directorate of Research, Development and Innovation, KU) and Dr. Khagendra Raj Dhakal (Chair, NPI Board), with KU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Achyut Wagle serving as witness. The partnership includes:
Academic exchange of faculty, researchers, staff, and students, with credit transfer agreements.
Joint research initiatives, academic meetings, and research program development.
Collaborative academic development, including designing new courses and programs.
Resource mobilization, including grants, scholarships, and other funding streams.
Further agreements will guide the implementation of activities to ensure sustained collaboration and impact.
On Think Tanks (OTT)
On Think Tanks (OTT)
In March 2025, NPI formalized a collaboration with On Think Tanks (OTT), a global platform dedicated to strengthening policy research organizations. Signed by Enrique Mendizabal (Director, OTT Consulting Ltd) and Dr. Khagendra Raj Dhakal (Chair, NPI Board), the MoU centers on the Think Tank State of the Sector (SOS) Report. The partnership entails:
Research contribution, including a country report, blog, or case study on Nepal’s think tank ecosystem.
Outreach, mobilizing participation in the global survey and promoting findings among Nepali policy actors.
Knowledge-sharing through a national launch event and peer review of global partners’ outputs.
Global visibility, with NPI’s contributions featured across OTT platforms.
This positions NPI as a regional voice in shaping global understanding of think tank landscapes.