PODS by PEI

#Ep.060 Nepal is a multi-linguistic country with over 130 national languages recognized by the State. However, debates on multilingualism keep resurfacing, particularly concerning the State’s preference for khas kura (Nepali), a remnant of the Panchayat regime’s monolingual ‘Ek Desh, Ek Bhasa’ policy. The country has multilingual provisions, but the gaps within such provisions are quite visible; for example, even with a multilingual policy like the first-language-based multilingual education (MLE) program, most schools in the country explicitly focus on using Nepali or English as the sole language as the medium of instruction. In this episode, PEI colleague Sonia Jimee sits in conversation with Prem Phyak to explore multilingualism and multilingual policies in Nepal with a specific focus on Nepal’s education sector. The two analyze the gap between constitutional provisions and their real-world implementation, exploring the potential cultural implications of multilingual policies in governance and education as well as the growing societal perception of the English language being correlated with ‘quality’ education. Prem Phyak is currently an Associate Professor at Columbia University, Faculty of International and Comparative Studies. Previously, he was an assistant professor and associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Tribhuvan University, Nepal, respectively. His research focuses on social justice, critical pedagogy, multilingualism and multilingual education, decolonial turn and language policy. 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.059 Nepal's energy discourse has largely been centered around its immense hydropower potential. However, experts are now talking about Nepal's potential for green hydrogen and its role in the country's commitment to sustainable energy. With International collaborations, such as the partnership between the Green Hydrogen Lab, Kathmandu University, Nepal Team Hydrogen, and NTNU, Norway, a significant interest in advancing green hydrogen research and development in Nepal is growing. In this episode, guest host Saurab Lama sits with Biraj Thapa to uncover the complexities and promises of Nepal's journey towards a sustainable energy future through green hydrogen. They navigate the recent collaborations among key institutions and explore the historical evolution of this green energy. They also discuss the global hydrogen landscape, its applications beyond mobility, challenges, and recent developments in Nepal. Biraj Singh Thapa is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kathmandu University and is also the team leader of the Green Hydrogen Lab there. His area of specialization is hydropower and green hydrogen. At present, he is focusing on the energy ecosystem for the transition towards a low-carbon society in the Himalayan region. He is leading several projects to implement hydropower as the means for introducing green hydrogen as an alternative future fuel in Nepal. He holds a Ph.D. degree from NTNU, Norway. 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.058 The economic performance of emerging markets in the post-COVID-19 world has been a mixed landscape of growth, vulnerability, and resilience. Driven by rebounding commodity prices and supportive fiscal policies, many economies experienced robust recovery, but this revival has been uneven across regions. Factors such as varying global trade impacts, and differences in exposure to external financial conditions have contributed to this disparity. Additionally, challenges such as high debt levels, inflationary pressures, and structural weaknesses persist. While some nations, notably in Asia, have adapted strongly, others, particularly in Latin America and Africa, face external vulnerabilities, leading to a multifaceted and inconsistent picture of economic performance across emerging markets. In this episode, Nirjan Rai and Satyam Panday sit down to unpack S&P Global's Recent Emerging Markets Outlook Report. They begin by discussing the key global takeaways from the report, then focus on the economic performances of China and India, especially in the context of post-pandemic recovery and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Satyam also offers his take on the short- and long-term projections for these two countries. They end the conversation with a discussion on why Nepal has failed to exploit the economic performances of its two neighbors and present some thoughts on what Nepal should do to leverage its future growth. Satyam is the Chief US Economist at S&P Global Ratings. Until just recently, he was the Chief Emerging Markets Economist for S&P. He has also taught at Boston College and Brandeis University and has been a research fellow at the US Congressional Budget Office. Satyam holds a Ph.D. in International Economics and Finance and specializes in macroeconomics, development economics, and applied econometrics. He is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at PEI. 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.057 आप्रवासनका कारकहरु सामाजिक, आर्थिक, राजनीतिक, वातावरणीय, आदि विभिन्न हुन सक्छन् | दशकौंदेखि आप्रवासनलाई केन्द्रमा राखेर नीतिगत तहमा गरिएका अनुसन्धान, बहस र पैरवीहरूले आर्थिक र राजनीतिक आयामलाई बढी ध्यान दिएका थिए भने, चार दशकयता मूल रूपमा समाजविज्ञानका अध्येताहरूले सामाजिक–सांस्कृतिक आयामलाई पनि आप्रवासन विधाको आफ्नो अनुसन्धानको दायरामा गहकिलो रूपमा ल्याएको पाइन्छ | सामाजिक–सांस्कृतिक आयामबाट पनि अघि बढेर आप्रवासनलाई जलवायु परिवर्तनसंग पनि जोडेर हेर्नुपर्छ भनेर सन् १९९० को दशकदेखि हुन थालेको देखिन्छ | जसको पुष्टि राष्ट्रसंघीय आप्रवासी संगठनद्वारा १९९२ मा आयोजित एउटा महत्त्वपूर्ण अध्ययनले गरेको पाइन्छ जसले प्रस्ट रूपमा भनेको छ— “पछिल्ला वर्षहरूमा वातावरणमा आएको ह्रासले गर्दा ठूलो संख्यामा मानिसहरू बसाइँ सरेका छन् र यो क्रम बढ्दो छ” । ३१ बर्ष पछि, सन् २०२३ मा आइपुग्दा जलवायु परिवर्तन सिर्जित आप्रवासनको आवस्था कस्तो रहेको छ त ? यसका मुख्य मुख्य चुनौतीहरु के के हुन्? अनि नेपाल जस्तो भुपरिवेस्थित र भौगोलिक र जैविक विविधता भएको देशमा, जहाँ आज पनि लगभग ६६ % जनसंख्या कृषिमा निर्भर छन् र त्यसको पनि दुई- तिहाई त निर्वाहमुखी कृषि गर्दछन, यहाँ जलवायु परिवर्तनको असर कस्तो रहेको छ र यसलाई आप्रवासनसंग कसरी जोड्न सकिन्छ ? जलवायु परिवर्तन बाट सिर्जित आप्रवासनका सन्दर्भमा, यो बाट उत्पन्न हुने समस्याको समाधानका निम्ति के के पहल हरु भएका छन् ? वातावरणीय आप्रवासनको समस्या र त्यस बाट सिर्जित चुनौती र समस्याहरु संग लड्न वा ति अनुकुल आफुलाई ढाल्न के के अल्पकालीन र दिर्घकालिन उपाय हुन सक्छन्? यिनै बिषयहरुलाई समेट्दै, आजको भागमा पी. ई. आई. का जनक पोख्रेल, आप्रवासनबिद् र समाजशास्त्री मिना पौडेलसँग उहाँको गत असार ३ गते, कान्तिपुर दैनिकमा “आप्रवासन र जलवायु परिवर्तनको सम्बन्ध” नामक शिर्षकमा लेखिएको लेखको अन्तरङ्गमा रहेर संवादमा बस्दैछन् | पौडेलले जलवायु परिवर्तन र आप्रवासनको सम्बन्धलाई उजागर गर्दै, वतावरणीय आप्रवासनको समस्यालाई समाधान गर्न वा त्यस अनुकुल रहेर त्यसको प्रभावलाई न्यूनीकरण गर्न के के अल्पकालीन र दिर्घकालिन कदमहरु चाल्न सकिन्छ भनेर विश्लेषण गर्नुभएको छ | मीना पौडेल एक नेपाली समाजशास्त्री हुनुहुन्छ | उहाँले त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालयबाट स्नातकोत्तर र बेलायतको न्युकासल विश्वविद्यालयबाट बिद्यावारिधि गर्नुभएको छ | उहाँ सँग नेपालसंगै, दक्षिणपूर्व र मध्य एशिया, पश्चिमी यूरोप र उत्तर अफ्रिकाका अन्य देशहरूमा सामाजिक रूपमा बहिष्कृत र राजनीतिक रूपमा सीमान्तकृत समूहहरूको जीवनलाई असर गर्ने मुद्दाहरूमा विकास कार्य, अनुसन्धान र नारीवादी सक्रियताको लामो अनुभव छ। उहाँले Oxfam GB, USAID, UN प्रणाली र एकेडेमिया सहित विभिन्न राष्ट्रिय तथा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय संस्थाहरूमा संलग्न भएर काम गरिसक्नु भएको छ । विगत २० वर्षदेखि उहाँ दक्षिण एसिया (अफगानिस्तान, पाकिस्तान), मध्य एसिया (उज्बेकिस्तान, ताजिकिस्तान, तुर्कमेनिस्तान) र उत्तर अफ्रिका (लिबिया) मा आप्रवासनको जोखिममा परेका महिला, पुरुष र बालबालिकाको जीवनका विभिन्न पक्षहरू - जलवायु परिवर्तन सहितको, अनुसन्धानमा संलग्न हुनुहुन्छ। उहाँले यी विषयहरूमा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय र राष्ट्रिय रूपमा व्यापक रूपमा अनुसन्धान र नीति पत्रहरू समेत लेख्नु भएको छ | Patreon मा हामीलाई समर्थन गर्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस् !!

#Ep.056 World Tiger Day 2022 was a special day for Nepal. The country announced that it had raised its tiger population to a solid 355, making it the frontrunner in tiger conservation in the world. Conservationists and big-cat enthusiasts worldwide were enthralled as the endangered feline population tripled from when it was last rounded up in 2009. In this episode, PEI colleague Dheeraj Gurung sits with Kanchan Thapa to celebrate Nepal's remarkable achievements in tiger conservation. They delve into the past anxiety surrounding the depleting tiger population and explore the conservation efforts that turned the tables, including the Terai Arc Landscape. They also discuss the challenges ahead as the wildcats grow in limited terrains. Kanchan Thapa is an environmentalist turned wildlife biologist. He is the Head of Wildlife Programs at WWF Nepal. His contributions to Nepal’s tiger conservation efforts have been crucial and include designing Nepal’s first tiger monitoring protocol in 2008 and undertaking the country’s first non-invasive genetic survey of tiger populations. 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.055 Foreign employment from Nepal to South Korea has emerged as a prominent and distinct migration corridor in recent years. It gained popularity as an attractive destination for Nepali migrant workers due to the government’s formal agreement under the Korea Employment Permit System (EPS), which allows for legal work opportunities in various sectors, primarily in manufacturing, agriculture, and construction. EPS has facilitated a structured and regulated process for recruitment, ensuring a level of protection for Nepali workers. However, challenges such as pre-departure costs, language barriers, cultural adjustments, and occasional controversies related to re-entry have also been part of this migration experience, making it demand attention and policy considerations. In this episode, PEI colleague Anuj Tiwari sits with Jeevan Baniya to discuss the Nepal-Korea Migration corridor. The two draw from Baniya’s recent paper titled "Only a few can afford to go to Korea: The Costs of Nepali Migration to South Korea." to explore the pre-migration phase of the Nepal-Korea Migration. They explore the unique characteristics of migration to Korea from the perspective of aspirations and capabilities to understand the emigrants, their motivation to move, and avenues to facilitate the movement, along with problems and vulnerabilities that arise. Jeevan Baniya is the Assistant Director of the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility at Social Science Baha. He has provided advisory and technical support to multiple national and international organizations, including the Ministry for Labour, Employment and Social Security, the National Human Rights Commission Nepal; the ILO; trade unions, and CSOs. 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!!

The podcast explores the interconnectedness of energy, climate change, and regional integration in South Asia. It discusses the transition to clean and renewable energy sources, the role of China and India in the region, and the importance of policy facilitation and infrastructure. Additionally, it highlights the vulnerability of infrastructure to climate change, the challenges of accessing climate finance, and the significance of collaboration and technology transfer.

#Ep.053 With the promulgation of the new constitution in 2015 and the transition into the Federal system in 2017 elections for 3-tiers of the government, there were high hopes from the citizens with regard to service delivery. However, the road to prosperity, as promised by the constitution, has been anything but smooth. The main actors responsible for effective service delivery have faced many challenges which has led many to question the federal system. One main area where the challenges and criticisms have been significant is Public Finance Management. In this episode, Aslesh and Sarita discuss Nepal’s public finance management in the Federal system and its shortcomings. They further delve into the major challenges faced by the various tiers of government and conclude by discussing possible reforms to make the PFM effective and transparent for the general public. Sarita works with different local and international organizations in Nepal on local governance, public finance management, and citizen engagement. She was a Public Finance Management Adviser for The British Embassy, Kathmandu, from 2020-2023. She has worked with several local and international organizations on similar themes. In the latest episode of PODS with former PEI colleague Aslesh Shrestha in conversation with Sarita Sapkota, find out about the how Public Finance Management works in the Federal system of Nepal, the progress that has been made, the challenges face, and necessary reforms.

#Ep.052 Last week, the Supreme Court issued an order enabling the temporary registration of marriages for same-sex couples, citing its ignorance so far as unconstitutional. While the order is definitely one in the direction of progress for the LGBTQ community, the gesture pales when one realizes that the struggle for marriage equality has a stagnant history of over 15 years in Nepal. The Supreme Court issued a similar order for equal rights back in 2008. Instead of implementation, the community is handed another court order and is now, again, in wait. In this episode, former PEI colleague Tsedon Kansakar is in conversation with Sunil Babu Pant to discuss the history and status of marriage equality in Nepal. The two draw upon Pant’s first-hand experience to recall the landmark 2007 case Sunil Babu Pant and Others V. GoN, which pleaded for, among other things, equal rights to marriage. They then explore the significance of marriage equality not only in terms of human rights but also society and the economy. Sunil Babu Pant is the founder of the Blue Diamon Society, an LGBTQ rights organization in Nepal. Pant is also the first openly gay national-level legislator in Asia. As a member of parliament, hIs legislative goals included equal justice, civil, and economic rights for the Qeer community. He led the landmark supreme court case that decriminalized homosexuality and added a different category of third gender in Nepali citizenship. He now continues to push forward those agendas as an activist.

नेपालमा बिगत दुई-तिन दशकमा ठुला राजनीतिक र सामाजिक परिवर्तनहरु भएI यस्तो आमुल परिवर्तन बाट गुज्रेको हाम्रो समाजको आज मूल चरित्र कस्तो छ? बर्तमान राजनीति कुन अवस्थामा छ? हाम्रो बदलिदो समाज र राजनीतिको अन्तर-सम्बन्ध के हो? यसका ओरिपरिका पात्रको भूमिका र ध्येय के रहेको छ?     आजको भागमा पी. ई. आई.का अनुराग आचार्यले, विश्लेषक हरि शर्मा संग नेपाली समाज र राजनीति का यिनै पक्ष बारे संवाद गरेका छन् | आफ्नो प्रस्तुतिमा शर्माले बर्तमान समाज र राजनीतिको दशा र दिशा दुवै बारे तिखो टिप्पणी र गहन बिस्लेशण गर्नुभएको छ |     युवावस्था देखि नै राजनीतिक चेत र चाख राख्ने विश्लेषक हरि शर्माले नेपालको अफ्ट्यारो राजनीतिक संक्रमणकालको बखत पुर्व प्रधानमन्त्री गिरिजाप्रसाद कोइरालाका सल्लाहकार रहेर अनि नेपालको संघिय गणतान्त्रिक संबिधान निर्माणको बखतमा पहिलो राष्ट्रपति रामबरण यादबको सल्लाहकारको रुपमा बिगत दुई दशक यताको राजनीतिक र सामाजिक परिवर्तन लाई नजिकैबाट नियाल्नु भएको छ | शर्माले त्रिभुवन बिश्वबिद्यालय र भारतको पन्जाब बिश्वबिद्यालय, अनि फुलब्राइट स्कलरको रुपमा अमेरिकाको प्रख्यात कोर्नेल बिश्वबिद्यालय बाट उच्च शिक्षा हासिल गर्नुभएको छ|