Panauti, July 17, 2026 — Madhesh University, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, has launched a major policy research initiative aimed at strengthening Nepal’s federal governance system by bringing academic evidence closer to government decision-making.

The Evidence-Based Policy Research Project formally began with a kick-off meeting held in Panauti, Kavrepalanchok, on July 17. The project will be implemented through the Madhesh University Policy Lab with financial and technical support from the Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme under UNDP.

Representatives from UNDP, Madhesh University, Pokhara University, Mid-West University and Purbanchal University attended the meeting. Officials and stakeholders representing different government and non-governmental organisations also participated in the programme.

The project will connect university-led research with policymaking in areas including fiscal federalism, digital governance, gender equality, inclusion and accountability.

The initiative has been designed to strengthen the role of universities in addressing practical governance challenges faced by Nepal since the country adopted a federal system. It seeks to improve institutional research capacity, expand policy dialogue and establish stronger cooperation among universities, government institutions, researchers and communities.

Under the Letter of Agreement signed between UNDP and Madhesh University, the project will run from July 8, 2026, to June 30, 2028. UNDP will provide financial support for the implementation of the initiative.

Rather than allowing academic research to remain limited to university libraries and scholarly publications, the project will encourage researchers to produce evidence that can be directly used by federal, provincial and local governments.

The Madhesh University Policy Lab will serve as the principal institutional platform for the project. It will be strengthened to conduct research, manage knowledge, facilitate policy discussions and communicate findings to government agencies and other relevant stakeholders.

Activities planned under the project include research on federal governance, collection and analysis of data, preparation of policy briefs, and organisation of policy dialogues at provincial and national levels.

The project will also develop the capacity of Youth Data Ambassadors, enabling young researchers and students to participate in data collection, analysis and evidence-based policy discussions.

A major objective of the initiative is to reduce the long-standing gap between research and policymaking. Research findings will therefore be translated into accessible policy recommendations and communicated directly to decision-makers.

Participants at the meeting held extensive discussions on the thematic priorities to be addressed during the project period.

These include intergovernmental relations, fiscal federalism and domestic resource mobilisation, digital governance, gender equality, social inclusion and public accountability.

Each participating university is expected to take leadership in one thematic area. Through this arrangement, the universities will contribute specialised knowledge while jointly working to ensure that research findings support institutional and policy reforms.

The participants agreed that Nepal’s federal governance system requires stronger evidence to improve coordination among the three levels of government, manage public finances effectively and ensure that public institutions remain transparent and accountable.

They also noted that universities possess substantial intellectual and research resources but have not always been sufficiently connected with the government’s policymaking process.

Addressing the meeting, Madhesh University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Deepak Bahadur Shakya said the successful implementation of the project would depend on meaningful participation and cooperation among all concerned institutions.

“Research can be transformed into practical policy reform only through effective collaboration among universities, government agencies, researchers, students and communities,” Prof. Dr. Shakya said. “Evidence-based research is the foundation of good governance and effective public policymaking.”

He stressed that academic research should move beyond theoretical discussion and respond directly to the real challenges experienced by governments and communities.

According to him, research should provide practical solutions, support informed public decisions and contribute to measurable improvements in governance and service delivery.

Prof. Dr. Shakya also expressed the university’s commitment to developing the Madhesh University Policy Lab as a centre of excellence for long-term research, policy dialogue and knowledge management.

He said the Policy Lab would create opportunities for professors, researchers, students and young scholars to participate actively in evidence generation and policy engagement.

“The Policy Lab is committed to connecting evidence-based research with policymaking and good governance through the active participation of professors, researchers, students and young scholars,” he said.

The vice-chancellor expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to positive social change by ensuring that research is relevant to public needs and responsive to contemporary governance challenges.

Participants emphasised that evidence-based decision-making should be institutionalised within public bodies rather than being used only for selected programmes or projects.

They called for regular communication among universities, government agencies and policymakers so that research priorities can be identified jointly and findings can be incorporated into policies, plans and programmes.

The initiative is also expected to encourage universities to become more active in national and provincial policy debates. Through data analysis, policy briefs, consultations and stakeholder dialogues, academic institutions will be able to present credible evidence on major governance issues.

Madhesh University plans to develop its Policy Lab into a centre of excellence for long-term research, policy dialogue and knowledge management.

The project will provide a structured platform where universities, policymakers, researchers, students and communities can jointly identify problems, examine available evidence and propose workable policy responses.

It will also seek to improve the way research findings are communicated. Technical studies will be converted into concise policy briefs and practical recommendations that government officials and elected representatives can use in decision-making.

The engagement of young researchers through the Youth Data Ambassador programme is expected to promote data literacy and build a new generation of scholars capable of contributing to public policy.

Participants said the collaboration among four universities could establish a model for inter-university research cooperation in Nepal. Instead of conducting isolated studies, the institutions will share expertise and connect research outcomes with broader governance reforms.

The project is expected to enhance the institutional capacity of Madhesh University and the other participating universities while promoting a stronger culture of research, public engagement and academic collaboration.

By directly connecting university knowledge with government policy processes, the initiative aims to make Nepal’s federal system more effective, inclusive, transparent and accountable.