National Symposium 2025 - Governance Lab

Who We Are
- About Us
- Policy Focus
  
  Policy Focus
  
  Design and Conduct Policy Research for the Sustainable Development of Nepal
  
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- Our Team
  
  Our Team
  
  Design and Conduct Policy Research for the Sustainable Development of Nepal
  
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- Career
  
  Career
  
  Design and Conduct Policy Research for the Sustainable Development of Nepal
  
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  Contact Us
  
  Design and Conduct Policy Research for the Sustainable Development of Nepal
  
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About Us

Design and Conduct Policy Research for the Sustainable Development of Nepal

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Projects
Events
Inclusion Economics Nepal
Outreach Initiatives

How We Do it

We take a structured and collaborative approach to ensure clarity, impact, and meaningful outcomes. By clearly defining the themes, designing a focused event agenda, working closely with experienced organizers, and aligning everything through a comprehensive NGS brief, we ensure every stage is thoughtfully planned and effectively executed. This process allows us to deliver well-organized, purpose-driven engagements that meet objectives and exceed expectations.

Themes

We identify clear and relevant themes that align with the event’s objectives, ensuring focused discussions and meaningful engagement.

Event Agenda

A well-structured agenda is designed to guide the event flow, optimize time, and deliver impactful sessions.

Organizers

Experienced organizers coordinate planning and execution, ensuring seamless operations and effective collaboration.

NGS Brief

A comprehensive brief outlines goals, expectations, and key guidelines to maintain alignment and consistency throughout the process.

Chief Guest

Hon. Rameshore Prasad Khanal

Hon. Rameshore Prasad Khanal

Finance Minister, Ministry Of Finance

Special Remarks

Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel

Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel

Governor, Nepal Rastra Bank

Welcome Remarks

Nisha Onta, Ph.D.

Nisha Onta, Ph.D.

Founder and Executive Director, Governance Lab

Ms. Laxmi Devi Pandey

Ms. Laxmi Devi Pandey

Chairperson of Hupsekot Rural Municipality and Chairperson, NARMIN

Mr. Ram Sharan Pudasaini

Mr. Ram Sharan Pudasaini

Executive Director, Nepal Administrative Staff College

Closing Remarks

Mr. Krishna Gyawali

Mr. Krishna Gyawali

Former Secretary, Government of Nepal & Senior Governance Advisor, Daayitwa

Chairs

Ms. Chandra Kala Poudel

Ms. Chandra Kala Poudel

Secretary, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration

Dr. Ghanashyam Upadhyaya

Dr. Ghanashyam Upadhyaya

Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Mr. Rabilal Pantha

Mr. Rabilal Pantha

Secretary, National Planning Commission

Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar

Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar

Secretary, Ministry of Labor, Employment & Social Security

Mr. Suman Raj Aryal, Chief Secretary,

Mr. Suman Raj Aryal, Chief Secretary,

Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal

Presenters

Ms. Sabrina Singh

Ms. Sabrina Singh

Daayitwa Fellow 2014 and Organizer, Mission Aasha

Ms. Jenna Allard

Ms. Jenna Allard

Associate Director of Research and Policy at Inclusion Economics, Yale University

Apurva Subedi

Senior Research Associate

Mr. Bibhusan Bista

Mr. Bibhusan Bista

Executive President, Young Innovations

Prof. Michael Callen

Prof. Michael Callen

Associate Professor of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science

Moderators

Dr. Pukar Malla

Dr. Pukar Malla

Founder and Chairperson, Daayitwa Abhiyaan

Mr. Anil Kumar Gupta

Mr. Anil Kumar Gupta

Deputy Director of Studies, NASC

Mr. Sushant Vaidik

Mr. Sushant Vaidik

Daayitwa Fellowship Alumni/Former Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province

Ms. Supun Dahal

Ms. Supun Dahal

Daayitwa Fellow 2025 (OPMCM)

Ms. Anoushka Pant

Ms. Anoushka Pant

Daayitwa Fellow 2025 (MoICS)

Speakers

Mr. Sanjay Pokharel

Mr. Sanjay Pokharel

Senior Program Manager, Growth Entrepreneurship and Employment Program Manager, Daayitwa

Dr. Sucheta Pyakuryal,

Dr. Sucheta Pyakuryal,

Adjunct Professor, Department of Gender Studies, Tribhuvan University

Mr. Tulasi Sharan Sigdel

Mr. Tulasi Sharan Sigdel

Senior Director of Studies, NASC

Mr. Kewal Bhandari

Mr. Kewal Bhandari

Former Secretary, Government of Nepal

Mr. Dila Ram Panthi

Mr. Dila Ram Panthi

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration

Mr. Baikuntha Aryal

Mr. Baikuntha Aryal

Former Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal

Mr. Mahesh Bhattarai

Mr. Mahesh Bhattarai

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Mr. Hari Bhakta Sharma

Mr. Hari Bhakta Sharma

Executive Director, Deurali-Janta Pharmaceuticals

Dr. Bhishma Kumar Bhusal

Dr. Bhishma Kumar Bhusal

Joint Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Mr. Khomraj Koirala

Mr. Khomraj Koirala

Joint Secretary, National Planning Commission

Mr. Dhundi Raj Lamichhane

Mr. Dhundi Raj Lamichhane

Deputy Chief Statistician, National Statistics Office

Ms. Arpita Nepal

Ms. Arpita Nepal

Co-founder and Advisor of Research & Development, Samriddhi Foundation

Dr. Santosh Adhikari

Dr. Santosh Adhikari

Head of Economics Department, Kathmandu University School of Arts

Mr. Aadesh Khadka,

Mr. Aadesh Khadka,

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Communication & Information Technology

Mr. Prince Shah Chaudhary

Mr. Prince Shah Chaudhary

CEO, SpeakUp Nepal

Mr. Gaurav Raj Pandey

Mr. Gaurav Raj Pandey

President, Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies

Mr Dipesh Tripathi

Mr Dipesh Tripathi

Founder , The Nepali Comment

Mr. Gobinda Bahadur Karkee

Mr. Gobinda Bahadur Karkee

Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers

Dr. Ajay Bhadra Khanal

Dr. Ajay Bhadra Khanal

Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister

Mr. Hem Raj Dhakal

Mr. Hem Raj Dhakal

Co-Founder and Managing Director, IME Group

Ms. Monisha Chaudhary

Ms. Monisha Chaudhary

Member, Gen-Z Movement Alliance

Mr. Dhundi Raj Lamichhane

Mr. Dhundi Raj Lamichhane

Deputy Chief Statistician, National Statistics Office

Ms. Preeti Adhikary

Ms. Preeti Adhikary

Founder, The Great Nepali Diaspora & General Partner, Momo Venture Capital

PROGRAM AGENDA

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration/ Tea Coffee

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Prithvi Hall

OPENING KEYNOTE PLENARY

Welcome Remarks

Dr. Nisha Onta, Founder and Executive Director, Governance Lab

Opening Remarks

Ms. Laxmi Devi Pandey, Chairperson of Hupsekot Rural Municipality and Chairperson, NARMIN

Special Remarks

Prof. Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, Governor, Nepal Rastra Bank

Keynote Remarks

Chief Guest, Hon. Rameshore Prasad Khanal, Minister of Finance and Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration

Session Chair Remarks

Mr. Ram Sharan Pudasaini, Executive Director, Nepal Administrative
Staff College

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Group Photo and Disperse to Respective Halls

Policy Studio 1:

Room A

10:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Policy Studio 2:

Room B

Policy Studio 1: PEOPLE

Reimagining Public Service Delivery: Leadership Requirements for a Resilient and Adaptive New Normal

Chair: Ms. Chandrakala Poudel, Secretary, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration

Moderator: Mr. Anil Kumar Gupta, Deputy Director of Studies, NASC

Presenter: Dr. Guna Nidhi Sharma, Section Chief, Policy and Planning Division, Ministry of Health and Population

Speakers:

Mr. Kewal Prasad Bhandari, Former Secretary, Government of Nepal
Mr. Dila Ram Panthi, Joint Secretary, MoFAGA
Mr. Tulasi Sharan Sigdel, Senior Director of Studies, NASC
Dr. Sucheta Pyakuryal, Adjunct Professor, Tribhuvan University and Advisor, Governance Lab
Mr. Sanjay Pokharel, Senior Program Manager, Daayitwa

Knowledge Partner: Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC)

Policy Studio 2: MONEY

Rethinking Financial Mobilization for a Self-Reliant Nepal

Chair: Dr. Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Moderator: Mr. Sushant Vaidik, Daayitwa Fellowship Alumni/Former Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister of Lumbini Province

Presenter: Ms. Sabrina Singh, Daayitwa Fellow 2014 and Organizer, Mission Aasha

Speakers:

Mr. Baikuntha Aryal, Former Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal
Mr. Mahesh Bhattarai, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance
Ms. Preeti Adhikary, Founder, The Great Nepali Diaspora & General Partner, Momo Venture Capital
Mr. Hari Bhakta Sharma, Executive Director, Deurali-Janta Pharmaceuticals

Knowledge Partner: Daayitwa

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

LUNCH

Policy Studio 3:

Room A

1:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Policy Studio 4:

Room B

Policy Studio 3: DATA

Using Integrated Statistics for Effective Policymaking

Chair: Mr. Rabilal Pantha, Secretary, National Planning Commission
Moderator: Ms. Supun Dahal, Daayitwa Fellow 2025 (OPMCM)

Presenters: Ms. Jenna Allard and Mr. Apurva Subedi, Inclusion Economics Nepal

Speakers:

Dr. Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, Joint Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Mr. Khomraj Koirala, Joint Secretary, National Planning Commission
Mr. Dhundi Raj Lamichhane, Deputy Chief Statistician, National Statistics Office
Ms. Arpita Nepal, Co-founder and Advisor of Research & Development, Samriddhi Foundation
Dr. Santosh Adhikari, Head of Economics Department, Kathmandu University School of Arts

Knowledge Partner: Inclusion Economics Nepal (IEN)

Policy Studio 4: TECHNOLOGY

Strengthening Governance through Pragmatic Digital Reform

Chair: Dr. Krishna Hari Pushkar, Secretary, Ministry of Labor, Employment & Social Security

Moderator: Ms. Anoushka Pant, Daayitwa Fellow 2025 (MoICS)

Presenter: Mr. Bibhusan Bista, Executive President, Young Innovations

Speakers:

Mr. Aadesh Khadka, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Communication & Information Technology
Mr. Prince Shah Chaudhary, CEO, SpeakUp Nepal
Mr. Gaurav Raj Pandey, President, Nepal Association for Software and IT Services Companies
Mr. Dipesh Tripathi, Founder, The Nepali Comment

Knowledge Partner: Young Innovations

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Tea Break/Gather at the hall

3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Prithvi Hall

CLOSING KEYNOTE PLENARY

Doing Development Differently: Governance Reform for Inclusive Prosperity

Moderator: Dr. Pukar Malla, Founder and Chairperson, Daayitwa Abhiyaan

Presenter: Prof. Michael Callen, Associate Professor of Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science (video)

Plenary Speakers:

Mr. Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers
Dr. Ajay Bhadra Khanal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister
Mr. Hem Raj Dhakal, Co-Founder and Managing Director, IME Group
Ms. Swastika Shrestha, Co-Founder and CEO, Teach for Nepal
Ms. Monisha Chaudhary, Member, Gen-Z Movement Alliance

Knowledge Partner: Inclusion Economics Nepal (IEN)

Keynote Remarks: Special Guest and Session Chair, Mr. Suman Raj Aryal, Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal

Closing Remarks: Mr. Krishna Gyawali, Former Secretary, Government of Nepal & Senior Governance Advisor, Daayitwa

Vote of Thanks: Mr. Basanta Raj Sigdel, Deputy Executive Director, NASC

5:00 PM onwards

Hi-Tea and Networking

About The Organizers

Governance Lab, a Nepal-based think-and-do tank, plays a pivotal role within Daayitwa Abhiyaan (DA), enabling the government to make evidence-based policy decisions through rigorous research, enhanced policy implementation capacity, and strengthened governance ecosystems. Daayitwa Abhiyaan is a collaborative movement driving inclusive and equitable economic growth by accelerating grassroots innovations, fortifying government institutions, and fostering a virtuous cycle of democracy and development through local government engagement. The initiative brings together four key organizations—Daayitwa, Governance Lab (Govlab), Nepal Leadership Academy (NLA), and Nepal Rising (Daayitwa-US)—uniting experienced researchers, policymakers, and partners to advance Nepal’s sustainable development. Within this framework, Daayitwa focuses on economic empowerment, envisioning an enterprising Nepal where youth have opportunities for a prosperous future. Governance Lab serves as the research and governance engine of DA, providing critical insights and practical solutions to inform policy and governance reforms. NLA, a flagship component, cultivates leadership among change agents guided by values of collaboration, innovation, and service, and principles of community, justice, and sustainability, enabling them to design impactful policy, business, and civic solutions for complex challenges. Nepal Rising engages the Nepali diaspora in the U.S., strengthening local-global partnerships and promoting socio-economic development in Nepal.

NASC, a national-level institution engaged in capacity building of the public sector in Nepal, was established in 1982 and is governed by the NASC Act, 1982. The institution provides necessary training to the employees of the Government of Nepal (GoN) and public enterprises. Aimed at enhancing the capability of administration of the Nepal government and management of public enterprises, the institution designs and executes training programs that contribute towards the overall development of the country. Besides, NASC is also heavily invested in undertaking problem-oriented research, consulting, and informative service programs for preparing training materials to make training more successful. NASC also provides a range of short and long courses as per the need of government agencies and public enterprises. The areas under training range from Basic Administration Training designed to the newly appointed gazetted Class I officers to the Senior Executive development program for Joint Secretaries of GoN. It has been continuously revising and implementing the Advanced Course on Management and Development for gazetted Class II officers; and The professional Course on Management and Development for gazette Class III officers of GoN and public organizations with innovative learning modules. With a history of over forty years, NASC continues to contribute to strengthening the capacity of public administration and adopting innovative tools to share knowledge among institutions.

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