PODS by PEI

Last month, in our efforts to revitalize deep discussions in Nepal, PEI and other like-minded organizations in Kathmandu began a new venture we call Project Sambaad.   Project Sambaad is a collaborative platform that promotes in-depth conversations that critically examine Nepali society and its policy-making space. Through Project Sambaad, we seek to explore broad, impactful questions that will contribute to a wider dialogue on the politics and development of Nepal and the South Asia region. In just two days, we had six immersive and interactive panel discussions on relevant contemporary topics from development migration to business in Nepal.   Sambaad comes to life when it reaches a wider audience, and that's why we're excited to share live recordings of the conversations. In today’s release, we have guest speakers Dil Bhushan Pathak and Ameet Dhakal with host Durga Karki in a Sambaad on The Present and Future of Journalism in Nepal: Adapting to a Changing Media Ecosystem.   If you found the conversation insightful and crave more lively interaction from the audience, hop over to Policy Entrepreneurs on ⁠YouTube⁠ for the complete live broadcast. To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad. ⁠https://projectsambaad.info/⁠

Namaste and Happy Earth Day.  Over the year, we have collaborated with visionary individuals who have enhanced our discussions and expanded our perspectives on environmental sustainability and stewardship. At PEI, Earth Day 2024 is about expanding the conversation surrounding the environment to include and highlight the narrative of climate change, energy, and sustainable development.   For today’s episode, we are rebroadcasting a conversation between PEI colleagues Saumitra Neupane and Ajaya Dixit on Risk and Resilience: Climate Change, Loss and Damage, and the Future of Nepal’s Development Pathway. The second of a two-part series, this discussion explores Nepal’s ambitious net zero emission goals and the impact of climate change on Nepal’s water, energy, and infrastructural development. They also discuss the transboundary nature of the water relationship in the region and how climate change can perturb the existing interdependencies.  Ajaya is the co-founder and advisor at the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET) – Nepal. He is an Ashoka Fellow and a leading voice in Nepal, and internationally, on issues of climate change adaptation, resilience building, and disaster risk management. We hope you enjoy the conversation! 

Last month, in our efforts to revitalize deep discussions in Nepal, PEI and other like-minded organizations in Kathmandu began a new venture we call Project Sambaad.   Project Sambaad is a collaborative platform promoting in-depth conversations that critically examine Nepali society and its policy-making space. Through Project Sambaad, we seek to explore broad, impactful questions that contribute to a wider dialogue on the politics and development of Nepal and the South Asia region. In the two days, we had six immersive and interactive panel discussions on relevant contemporary topics from development migration to business in Nepal.   We think that Sambaad comes to life when it reaches a wider audience, and that's why we're excited to share live recordings of the conversations. If you found the conversation insightful and crave more lively interaction from the audience, hop over to Policy Entrepreneurs on YouTube for the complete live broadcast. To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad. https://projectsambaad.info/

Ep#090 Dilrukshi is an international award-winning investigative journalist and a lawyer from Sri Lanka. She has worked extensively across South Asia as an on-ground reporter and trainer. As an investigative journalist, she has broken stories on grand corruption and crime, conflict and communities, and dedicated significant time to reporting on women, children, health, and the environment. A recipient of many prestigious journalism fellowships, she won the coveted Wash Media Award in 2014. She was also the Sri Lankan Journalist of the Year in 2012. Sushav and Dilrukshi discuss Sri Lanka's complex socio-political history, including its violent ethnic conflict and colonial legacy, exploring the role of various events in shaping its identity. Drawing simultaneously from her work and her lived experience of the war, Dilrukshi illustrates the political roots of the conflict, reflecting on the civil war's impact and the quest for ethnic minority rights, including the rise of groups like the LTTE. They also examine international influences, notably from India, China, and the West, on Sri Lanka's political landscape and review its governance challenges, human rights issues, and economic reforms. The dialogue concludes with reflections on Sri Lanka's civic space, civil society, press freedom, and the broader South Asian context of handling dissent and nurturing democratic spaces. If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!       

Ep#089 Kshitiz Dahal is an economist at South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment with key interests in international trade, development economics, and econometrics. He has worked extensively in Nepal’s international trade, trade in digital services, migration and remittances, Nepal’s industrial policy, and public debt. He has contributed to the research initiatives of international organizations, including the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Aslesh and Kshitiz discuss Nepal’s public debt, exploring its origins, implications, and current scenario. Beginning with an examination of the concept of public debt and historical examples worldwide, they unravel the rising concerns surrounding Nepal's per capita debt. Through an analysis of various indicators and drivers behind the recent surge in public debt, they navigate the intricate landscape of debt financing and its repercussions on the Nepali economy and society. From understanding key lenders to dissecting the explicit and implicit costs associated with debt servicing, we shed light on the multifaceted nature of this economic phenomenon. If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!   

#Ep.088 यस एपिसोडमा पि. ई. आईका सुशभ, पुर्व मुख्यसचिव लिलामणि पौडेलसँग नेपालको कर्मचारीतन्त्रको बारेमा संबादमा बस्नुभएको छ। पौडेलले आफ्नो लामो अनुभवका आधारमा, नेपालमा निजामती सेवाको विकास, यसका मूल्य-मान्यता, वर्तमान अवस्था र चुनौतीहरुको विमर्श गर्नुभएको छ भने उहाँहरुले यस विषयलाई नेपालको सङ्घीयता र निजामती सेवा ऐन लगायत सम्बन्धित विषयको सन्दर्भमा समेत केलाएर चर्चा गर्नुभएको छ। लिलामणि पौडेलले विभिन्न सरकारी कार्यालयमा ३२ वर्ष सेवा प्रदान गर्नुभएको छ। यसअघि उहाँले नेपाल सरकारको मुख्य सचिव, चीनका लागि नेपाली राजदूत, प्रधानमन्त्री तथा मन्त्रिपरिषद्को कार्यालयमा सचिव, गृह मन्त्रालय, सूचना तथा सञ्चार मन्त्रालय र संस्कृति पर्यटन तथा नागरिक उड्डयन मन्त्रालयमा काम गरिसक्नु भएको छ। पौडेल हाल काठमाडौं विश्वविद्यालयमा अध्यापन गर्दै  आउनुभएको छ र गृह प्रशासन अन्तर्गतको पूर्वसचिव, प्रहरी प्रमुख र प्राज्ञिक बिज्ञ सम्मेलित सुधार समितिको अध्यक्षता समेत गरिरहनु भएको छ। If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!   

#Ep.087 Alex Shrestha represents a generation of architects and urban planners creating a positive impact across the Nepali landscape. As managing director at Wonaw & Associates, he focuses on beautiful, functional and sustainable architecture. Alex’s creations have earned national and international distinctions in being among the top 4 resorts in Asia and is recognized by the Society of Nepalese Architects with the Architectural Excellence Award 2021. His most critically acclaimed creation is the environment friendly resorts Pavilions Himalayas Resort, Pokhara where he incorporated sustainability and energy saving features in hospitality.    Sudipa and Alex discuss the niche and nascent idea of sustainable architecture. They navigate the role of architecture in promoting sustainability and the factors influencing its adoption in Nepal, including societal values and economic considerations. They explore the evolution of architectural preferences in Kathmandu, focusing on how major events like the 2015 earthquake have influenced social aspirations in architecture. They end with a dialogue on innovative building technologies and policy strategies in shaping sustainable architectural practices. If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!

#Ep.087 Pankaj Saran is a former diplomat. He has served as India’s Ambassador to Russia and India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh and as Head of the Northern Division in the Ministry of External Affairs dealing with Nepal and Bhutan. He has worked in different capacities with successive Indian Prime Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Office, contributing to decision-making at the highest levels in a diverse range of sectors, including foreign affairs and national security, Pankaj is presently Convenor of NatStrat, a Delhi-based independent Centre for Research on Strategic and Security Issues. He is a Member of the National Security Advisory Board and a Distinguished Fellow of the National Maritime Foundation.  Anurag and Pankaj explore the evolution of India’s foreign policy from the perspective of the former diplomat himself. They cover recent historical landmarks from the tectonic shifts in global geopolitics during the Cold War's end to India's strategic maneuvering amidst the complexities of the Indo-US nuclear deal to explore how each shaped India’s foreign policy. With a keen focus on India's contemporary aspirations on the global stage, they explore the significance of forums like BRICS and India's hosting of the G20 summit in shaping its foreign policy priorities. As Pankaj candidly shares his experiences, the conversation also uncovers unique insights into the high-stakes, high-octane lives of diplomats.  If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!

#Ep.086 Mandakini is an international development consultant with more than 18 years of expertise in program design, development, and aid management in South Asia. She has managed complex regional programs in South Asia focused on sustainable development, with a strong understanding of governance systems, institutions, and political economy dynamics. In March of last year, she worked with The Asia Foundation to publish a report on how South Asian Civic Spaces are evolving.   Shuvangi and Mandakini begin with an overview of civic spaces in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, highlighting the challenges amidst evolving political landscapes and exploring how South Asian civic spaces adapt with innovation and resilience. They emphasize collaboration to address common challenges and strengthen civic spaces. They also delve into the role of donors in safeguarding civic spaces, offering recommendations for effective contributions and promoting sustainability. If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!   

#Ep.085 Despite once being gripped by patriarchy, Nepali society has come a long way in terms of gender equality and equity, and gender policy efforts have played an undeniable role in reshaping the reality of women in Nepal. Today, women’s representation and participation is incentivized in different development sectors, including education, health, workforce, and politics.  However, the strides of progress are still enervated by inefficient implementation, which poses questions about the vitality of gender policies.   In this episode, guest host Yuki Poudyal sits with Sucheta Pyakurel to explore Nepal’s policy landscape with Gendered Lenses. They begin by elucidating the case for gender equality and its vital connection to responsive policies and budgeting in patriarchal societies like Nepal. Tracing Nepal's history of gender policies, Sucheta shares pivotal reforms that have significantly narrowed the gender gap while also critically examining the formal and informal hindrances. The two discuss crucial gender policy events and debates to extract observations on the efficiency of such policies and recommend changes. Originally aired on 12 December 2023, we have guest host Yuki Poudel’s conversation with Sucheta Pyakurel on Power and Parity: Charting Nepal’s Gender Policy Journey. Sucheta Pyakuryal is the Director of the Center for Governance at the Institute of Integrated Development Studies (IIDS). She teaches Gender in Politics/Policymaking for the Masters and PhD programs at Tribhuvan University and is a visiting faculty of Kathmandu University’s Masters in Public Policy and Management program. An alumna of the Regional Center for Strategic Studies of South Asia, her work focuses on the study of democratic development and good governance in the region.    Yuki is currently the co-founder of the Nepal Institute of Study Abroad and has experience working across a myriad of sectors, from non-profits to innovative start-ups as a consultant, strategist, and leader. She completed her Masters in Development Practices and International Business from Tufts University. If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, ⁠⁠PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics⁠⁠, and/or ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠ to support us on Patreon!!