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Fellowship is the flagship program of Daayitwa. The journey that started in 2013 has continuously and directly worked towards bridging the trust-gap between Nepali youth and the government while strongly emphasizing the importance of use of evidence in policy making. Under the umbrella of Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF), Daayitwa offers two different programs, the Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship (DNPPF) and the Daayitwa Nepal Public Administration Fellowship (DNPAF). The former one supports the federal government in conducting evidence-based policy research and the latter provides policy research, implementation and administrative support to the local municipal governments. Daayitwa Nepal Public Service Fellowship (DNPSF) has a unique model that creates rare opportunities for young talents to collaborate and work in close coordination with the government as well as Parliamentarians at all levels. DNPSF competitively selects and places young professionals and students in public agencies and with parliamentarians for 3-6 months, builds their technical and adaptive capacities and enables them to provide research or implementation support to their public partners.  During the past nine years, from 2013 to 2021, Daayitwa fellowship has supported 164 young Nepali policy professionals from 30 countries to conduct research projects for 74 government organizations as well as 25 parliamentarians at federal, provincial and municipal levels on policies related to access to investment, women’s economic empowerment, enterprise value chain, youth employment and economic governance. Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship The Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship is a program where young professionals collaborate with the government to conduct economic policy research and promote evidence-based policy decisions. The mission is to ignite self-responsibility for public service in Nepali youth by nurturing their collaborative leadership towards an enterprising Nepal.  It has three major goals:

1. Support the government and political representatives in addressing critical needs of priority projects
2. Strengthen innovation and leadership capacity of youth through engagement in government projects
3. Build a collaborative community of young policy entrepreneurs, action-oriented policy-makers and policy experts in promoting innovation in the governance system

Educating a girl means creating a more informed family, a stronger community, and a brighter future. For each additional year of schooling she completes, her future income increases by an estimated 15-25 percent. In the last decade, Nepal has made significant gains in primary school enrollment. But girls in historically under-resourced communities continue to drop out, particularly in secondary school. When children reach secondary school, the lack of gender equality in education becomes more pronounced; factors contributing to this situation include gender-based norms and roles, low-income families, a poor learning environment, and early marriage. Room to Read is addressing this vast challenge through its Girls' Education Program, which intervenes at a time when girls are particularly vulnerable to falling behind or dropping out of secondary school. With a focus on teaching girls important life skills and providing mentoring support, young girls are prepared to overcome common obstacles and succeed in their education and their lives after graduation.  In the life skills curriculum, Room to Read teaches students to learn to become self-awareness, self-efficacy, and social- awareness which leads to ten skill sets that will help girls stay in school, make responsible decisions, build healthy relationships, and achieve their goals. When girls are empowered with life skills and supportive mentors, they not only stay in school longer but become leaders of their own lives and agents of change. These abilities assist young women in breaking down barriers, shifting societal paradigms, and sparking solutions to issues such as gender inequality, poverty, hunger, disease, conflict, climate change, and others. Trained local mentors, also known as social mobilizers, who act as role models, advisors, and advocates for girls, are essential to the process. Mentors offer individual sessions to girls, which serve as a safe space for them to share and maneuver through the challenges of adolescence. Meet Reshma. She had always wanted to be a lawyer since she was a young child. She learned that she was getting married in a week, though, when she was in the eighth grade. She had to deal with the ongoing pressure from her family and relatives even though she did not want to quit her education and get married. "I was shocked when they told me I was getting married in a week, and I was terrified of being away from my mom, my friends, my school and my dream." Fortunately, she was taught to oppose child marriage during her life skills session. She was aware that married before the age of 18 was illegal, and she had every right to file a complaint. She took help from her social mobilizer and filed the case when her ceaseless pleading of not wanting to get married and her dream of completing her education was left unheard. Reshma persevered through the police intervention and kept herself composed to voice out against wrong. She is now in grade 9 and tightly holding her dreams of advocating for social good. Nepal has Asia's third highest rate of child marriage. Despite laws and policies to eradicate child marriage the practice remained widespread, with 7 percent of girls married by age 15 and 40 percent married by age 18 ( Human Right Watch, 2021). We know that families suffering extreme economic hardship often choose to deprioritize a daughter’s education. This intervention could be an end to the vast opportunity- an end to taking charge of their life, an end to their dream, or an end to a gender-equal world. Quality education is more than just access to school but equipping them to handle challenges that girls may face, from gender bias to societal values and norms that construct their personal and professional growth. To support girls in their academic endeavors and beyond, it is crucial to create an environment that encourages family, school, and community involvement. Room to Read pioneers the life skills curriculum and works closely with communities, government, and schools across Nepal under the Girls’ Education Program and aims for gender equality in Nepal at scale. The impact that a girl's decision to stay in school will have on her future, her community, and her quality of life is astounding. Girls who complete their education are more likely to be in charge of their own destiny, to challenge gender biases, and to have better employment opportunities, all of which will contribute to the growth of the nation's economy. Thus, investing in girls’ education creates more informed families, and transforms communities, countries, and the entire world.

For many years, Nepal has been working to eliminate lymphatic filariasis, a disabling and stigmatizing neglected tropical disease (NTD) spread by mosquitoes. While symptoms can be managed, those who suffer from elephantiasis, cannot be cured. That is why the Government of Nepal is championing efforts to eliminate the disease from the country. USAID has been contributing to Nepal’s efforts to fight neglected tropical diseases, including lymphatic filariasis, since 2009. From mapping the burden of disease, to supporting government-led treatment campaigns, implementing surveys to track progress, and strengthening local capacity to respond, the work continues to ensure the disease is eliminated for good. USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East, which is implemented by RTI International, is a global effort assisting governments to eliminate NTDs, in Nepal, and around the world. The good news is that safe, effective medicines exist to help prevent lymphatic filariasis—and they are donated free of charge to governments working to eliminate the disease. Over the past decade, the Government of Nepal has worked to ensure these medicines reach all those that need them. By providing these preventive medicines for multiple years to whole communities, Nepalis are closer to being free from this devastating disease. However, effectively reaching all Nepalis with these medicines is no small job.  Alongside the government, USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East has supported significant and innovative efforts to ensure all Nepalis are treated, including through targeted efforts such as partnering with youth, journalists and health professionals, and by reaching minority groups often missed by health services.  Raising awareness in schools Nepal’s growing youth population plays a significant role in society and can inform and educate their communities about health activities, including the importance of participation in treatment campaigns for lymphatic filariasis. To this end, Nepal launched a school awareness program with support from USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East to engage and equip youth as community ambassadors. Across seven districts, approximately 100,000 youth have been engaged in this successful school awareness effort, helping to reach youth and their families with annual treatments to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in Nepal.  Partnering with journalists Knowledge can be a powerful tool by helping individuals to understand the disease and raising people’s awareness, interest, and demand for preventive medicines. In an effort to overcome misinformation and increase public awareness about national treatment campaigns, USAID’s Act to End NTD | East has organized interactions with Nepali journalists to make sure they have the resources and information they need to report on lymphatic filariasis and the national efforts to eliminate the disease. These sessions include sharing data on progress across districts, information on budgetary issues for interventions, expected side effects and management plans put in place to address any health concerns following treatment with ample time allocated for questions and clarifications. These efforts have helped in reducing rumors and increased participation in lymphatic filariasis treatment campaigns. Improving uptake of treatment by all Nepalis Over the last few years, with support from USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East, the Government of Nepal has been working to determine which Nepalis are not getting the treatment they need. A gender equity and social inclusion analysis conducted in Dang, Banke, and Kapilvastu confirmed that there are challenges faced by different communities causing them to either miss or refuse treatment. Detailed results are currently being used by national, provincial and district officials, with support from USAID’s Act to End NTDs| East, to develop plans to adapt treatment campaigns to the needs of these communities, including people of certain religious and ethnic groups and young women who face mobility restrictions, by engaging men to achieve better treatment results in the challenging geographic areas in the coming years. A Nepal free from lymphatic filariasis Despite some challenges, Nepal has made tremendous progress toward eliminating lymphatic filariasis, with more than 18m Nepalis no longer requiring treatment across the country, thanks to the success of these interventions to date. The massive task to distribute treatment is driven by strong government leadership, the commitment of municipalities in planning and financing treatment campaigns for their populations, and the diligent efforts of health workers and female community health volunteers in planning and mobilizing people for treatment and sharing other important health information.  Nepal has made incredible progress to date, but the work is not over. Currently, treatment continues for 10m Nepalis still at risk of lymphatic filariasis—ensuring that treatment campaigns reach these people effectively will be a key step to securing a healthy and productive future free from lymphatic filariasis. USAID’s Act to End NTDs | East program continues to support the government to conduct surveys to measure progress—these results show where adaptations and improvements are needed, as well as the areas that are having successes in eliminating the disease.  Nepal has proven that it is capable of eliminating a neglected tropical disease before and can do it again. In April 2018, the World Health Organization validated Nepal’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. Through the leadership of the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), and with support from partners like USAID and Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, Nepal achieved an incredible success in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem. Nepal was the sixth country globally to eliminate trachoma, and the first in WHO’s Southeast Asia Region. As we move forward, we must work together to eliminate this disease for good. This will require adaptive and targeted strategies to ensure that all those at risk receive treatment and continued efforts to monitor and track progress. Together we can achieve a Nepal free from lymphatic filariasis – we can and we are making Nepal better. 

Harkening back to 2004, seven scholars after their doctoral degree from renowned Universities abroad were wandering and pondering while chasing a key question “what new initiative shall be done in Nepal to make a breakthrough in the development”. The founder members had a strong conviction that there is a dire need for policy reform based on the research-based evidence in Nepal and they came up with an idea to start up a policy research institute in Nepal that resulted in the establishment of Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI). NDRI stands today as a leading Think Tank in Nepal, working independently and free from partisans. NDRI aims to carry out research activities on contemporary issues related to development and advancement of society, and to provide substantive analytical inputs for policy making on contemporary issues through rigorous research and dissemination of findings. NDRI comprises an interdisciplinary team of experts/researchers working in the field of Agriculture, Livelihood and Food Security; Water and Climate; Heath, Education and Environment; Economic Development; Disaster Risk Management, and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). The beneficiaries of NDRI’s activities include government institutions, international organizations (bilateral and multilateral), universities, and research institutes. The activities of NDRI are divided into four strands: Policy Research, Data-Based Research, Events and Publication. Through Policy Research, NDRI identifies pertinent subjects in contemporary issues, collects data/information and analyzes, runs discourses with an interface between the policymakers and scientists, and prepares research papers and policy briefs. Some of the pertinent issues being researched in NDRI include, not limited to: Foreign Direct Investment, Water induced disasters such as Floods and Landslides, Tobacco economics, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, GESI and Mycotoxin in food commodities. NDRI has covered all 77 districts of Nepal for the database research such as for impact assessment of development interventions done by both the government agencies and other collaborators. Organizing interactive platforms such as workshops, seminars, dialogue inviting critical masses from diverse sectors, and webinars are the regular activities of NDRI. NDRI gives importance to producing knowledge products such as peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, factsheets, and policy briefs that have great value for scientific communities and national stakeholders.  Some of the notable publications/works of NDRI include: Railway development in Nepal: NDRI published a peer-reviewed proceeding report titled “Railways Development in Nepal” in 2009 which recommended ample prospects for railway development in Nepal. The proceeding came from the expert’s consultation from countries where Railways have been playing an instrumental role for their economic development such as Japan, India, and others.  This report is considered as the first paving stone for the Railways development which played a prominent role to conceive the trust in the possibility of the railway development in Nepal. Food Security Atlas:  NDRI, in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP) and National Planning Commission (NPC) has prepared the Food Security Atlas in 2010 (First edition) and in 2020 (Second edition). This is the only Food Security Atlas in Nepal that has widely been used as a decision supporting document. Tobacco control program: It is well known that Nepal belongs to one of the least taxpayer countries in the world for tobacco which is 37 percent (excise duty) while the WHO recommendation is 75 percent. The repercussion of this paradoxical lowest tax rate has led Nepal to be one of the countries with high prevalence of tobacco consumers (32 percent) and significant GDP loss in health (1.04 percent). The Tobacco Control Program of NDRI has succeeded in convincing the Government of Nepal to increase the excise duty by 25 percent and 20 percent in the fiscal year budget 2021/22 and 2022/23, respectively. Climate change impact on urban flooding: Increased rainfall extremes cause severe urban flooding in cities across the globe with adverse socio-economic consequences. NDRI analyzed historical extreme rainfall patterns across Kathmandu city and used these as the basis for future projections in combination with a range of General Circulation Models. Future projections of extreme rainfall were then fed into the flood inundation model HAIL-CAESAR (Lisflood) for Kathmandu using a high-resolution digital elevation model. The results show that the future flood magnitude and extent (hazard) will increase. The historical 100-year return period flood will correspond to a 25-year period future flood. This analysis has served as a scientific basis to assess future flood-induced risk in Kathmandu in response to climate change. 19 years of service excellence NDRI has been continuously providing service since 19 years. It celebrated its 19 anniversary on 13 April 2022. It was an honor for NDRI to have Bindu N Lohani, Former Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Distinguished Fellow, Emerging Markets Forum, USA as a Key Speaker with the guest presence of Ram Manohar Shrestha, Emeritus Professor of Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. Also, NDRI feels the privilege to have the presence of Ambassadors and Deputy Chief Mission from various countries. Challenges and recommendations Despite several success stories in the course of 19 years of services, NDRI is no exception to different challenges, those include inadequate policy of the government to govern research institutes, inadequate sense of authorities on the need for research and evidence on decision making, and inadequate capacity of research institutes. NDRI is persistently advocating the need for a policy to govern think tank research institutes. The government shall operate some research funds for think tank institutes which shall be accessed through a competitive basis i.e. call for proposals in specific sectors to address the relevant issues. Equally important is to make designated provisions to monitor and evaluate think tanks and research institutes in appropriate ways. Similarly, there is a dire need for the provision of ethical approval of research pertaining to varied sectors for the consistent regulation. Last but not the least, the state should consider the research capacity development through universities and research institutes, making them resourceful with a strategic plan and linking with the strategic development of Nepal.

The ability to access finances and borrow money can be transformational for many families; however, there are many in Nepal—particularly the marginalized and low-income—who often miss out on formal lending products for housing because there is nothing on the market that can service their needs or is affordable. Instead, they remain vulnerable in the inadequate houses they live in, often suffering from overcrowding, lack of privacy, lack of sanitary facilities, and poorly built structures. Since its founding in 1997, Habitat Nepal has provided housing services to over 70,000 households and has developed a network of valued local partners to carry out its housing initiatives. Habitat for Humanity Nepal employs a holistic approach to long-term shelter solutions by developing better alliances with government agencies, leveraging government resources, fostering ties with local partners, and pursuing expansion through housing microfinance and market development programs. The market penetration of housing microfinance products for low-income families is still relatively low. Habitat Nepal’s market research for housing microfinance found that there is a sizable gap between supply and demand because microfinance institutions (MFIs) have little experience with housing microfinance. The lack of appropriate and affordable housing finance options only exacerbates Nepal’s housing challenges. Often financial institutions view low-income marginalized people as high risk and high cost due to their frequent small transactions and difficult-to-reach locations. The collateral requirements of commercial banks and the mortgage market in Nepal are still in their early stages, with the total amount of home mortgage loans outstanding as a percentage of GDP being 6.67 percent in 2019, whereas a country like Australia has 94.7 percent in the same year. Commercial and development banks and finance companies provide home loans, and due to the requirement of collateral and proof of income sources, low-income families do not qualify for such financing. Microfinance, on the other hand, can overcome these obstacles by assisting low-income households in balancing their income flows and setting money aside for the future. Due to various challenges and unavailability of medium to long-term on-lending funds, Nepal’s microfinance institutions struggle to reach large numbers of low-income households through housing microfinance services. Many MFIs in the nation offer short-term loans to low-income families for income generation purposes. MFIs can address the need for housing finance to low-income households by offering affordable loans that could be both profitable and offer transformational social change for families. Though MFIs have networks that can reach these communities, they still need partnerships to enhance their technical capabilities to deliver housing microfinance services targeting low-income families. A competitive and stable marketplace comprising various providers is also essential to the financial inclusion landscape. One of the biggest MFIs in Nepal, Jeevan Bikas Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (JBLBSL), made the decision to extend the housing-related services to low-income households. The decision to offer housing was carefully thought out after taking into account a number of aspects, including: the enormous gap between the supply and demand for housing microfinance solutions; JBLBSL’s vision of improving the lives of low-income households; JBLBSL’s parent organization history and background related to the housing sector; JBLBSL's long-term business strategy. With the objective of introducing a client-centric housing finance solution that addresses the markets' pain points and promotes adequate housing for low-income households, JBLBSL collaborated with Habitat for Humanity Nepal and Habitat’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter to develop a viable housing product. Officials from JBLBSL have observed that housing loan borrowers now feel a greater sense of security, dignity, and social ties; their families or friends are able to visit and stay. A business case study of housing microfinance at JBLBSL reveals the positive impacts on families, with 65 percent of respondents feeling more respect and dignity in their communities, 57 percent feeling more cooperation from their social groups, 55 percent feeling more security for their lives and property, 49 percent expressing improved social relationships, and 41 percent feeling better about their credit because they can now access loans secured by their homes.  Improved housing has had a positive impact on people's health, increasing their capacity to work, reducing illness frequency by 59 percent, reducing cases of water-borne infections by 43 percent, and lowering medical expenses for their families by 43 percent. The children now have access to a separate place for studying and reading, which has improved their learning environment. Homes became more pleasant thanks to better lighting brought on by access to electricity and ventilation via built-in windows. 98 percent of respondents to the household survey believed that better housing contributed to better educational outcomes. Housing microfinance loans' most significant and direct benefit is the reduction in house maintenance costs. The decrease in home maintenance costs is the most substantial and immediate advantage of housing microfinance loans. Families spent Rs 10,000 to 20,000 ($ 84 to 168) on maintenance and repair on average every six months. However, 76 percent of respondents said their home maintenance costs have decreased. Additionally, 59 percent stated that they now had easier access to loans from other financial institutions since they could use the collateral of their new home. Other savings were seen in the form of expenses or profits from rentals. With technical support and collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Nepal, JBLBSL applied a human-centered design, which kept the end client’s needs at the center while developing the housing microfinance product. Therefore, a client-centric product can attract large numbers of low-income families who are in need of home improvements. Similarly, such a process would help to diversify the loan product and ultimately could enhance the sustainability of the institution.

The Bhutanese people of southern Bhutan who are the ethnic Nepali in origin were forced to leave the country after the Government’s crackdown on the political upheavals and demonstration against it for its human right violation. These people were housed at the bed of river Mai at the beginning (1991-1992) and placed in the seven different camps of Jhapa and Morang districts of Nepal. The children had no future if they were barred from education. The refugee leaders, teachers, and the Student Union of Bhutan (SUB) approached CN in late 1991 for the educational assistance to run the school at the bank of the river.  The positive response of CN then became the source of consolation and joy for the deprived future citizens of the world.  Ashish Gurung the then Director of CN came forward with textbooks, exercise books, and stationery and distributed them in the open classroom of the river bed in late November 1991. The first school in the refugee camp was named ‘Panchaoti English School’. There were around 200 children of different grades at the start with 15 teachers. Some people instead of coming to river Mai had gone to Timai where another school had started with around 130 children and 11 teachers. Subsequently, as the number of people increased, they were shifted to seven different camps. The people had left behind everything but had carried the source of inspiration and the thirst for education with them. Hence, as the camps were getting established, open ground school was started in each camp.  CN was the source of inspiration and support for the teaching/learning materials and school structures at that time. In November 1992, a school management committee was formed named as Bhutan Refugee Education Coordinating Committee (BRECC). CN was the advisory and sponsoring organization. In 1993, UNHCR came forward to support primary education but would not work with refugee organizations directly. BRECC requested CN to be the implementing partner of UNHCR for the education of refugee children. The then existing portfolios of BRECC went under the umbrella of CN and the program was named as Bhutanese Refugee Education Program (BREP). BREP streamlined the school administration and strengthened the office set-up.  With the number of people increasing in camp, the students’ population was also increasing. The nine main schools had limited space for class-rooms. Moreover, the smaller children lacked special care. So, in 1994 sector schools were created as the satellite schools in each sector of the camp, reaching 42 units in 1995. The highest number of students recorded was 40,208 in the 2000-2001 academic session.  Involvement of CN in non-formal refugee education Speaking English classes: For the adults aged 25 and above, these classes were informally started and run in 1993 but and later it got proper shape when the third country resettlement program started. Most of the people felt the need to learn English in the country of resettlement.  Play station for children: started by AHURA Bhutan and SCF, in 2001, CN looked after with the support from JRS Singapore.   Vocational training: The World Food Program-Vocational Training (WFP-VT) was initiated in 1998 for the school drop-outs. Out of the total vocational training, 75 percent of seats were reserved for the refugee community and the remaining 25 percent was for the local community. Later, it was made 50/50. From 2007 with the planning of third country resettlement, UNHCR also came forward and started funding for vocational training. Courses like beautician, hotel catering, housekeeping and caregivers, basic electronic goods servicing and freeze repair are given to the participants. These skills are in demand in the countries of resettlement. Youth Friendly Centers (YFC): A common platform for the youths of 18 to 25 years of age for knowledge enhancement, physical development, creative work, and social service, started in 2006 to centralize their attention and prevent antisocial activities. Different games/sports activities are carried out by the youths. Skill development training, dissemination of information to the community through skits, awareness programs and through personal contacts is being carried out. At the time of emergency like fire/flood, the youths are in the forefront for their free service. Care for the needy through mentor is also carried out by YFC.  Host community support program: This platform was initiated to enhance the host community public schools. Support like teaching/learning materials, science lab materials, computers, printers, projectors, generators and different workshops and training to the students and the teachers were provided. With the decreasing number of refugee population and large-scale resettlement process, UNHCR and Caritas’ strategy is diverted to promote alternative durable solutions for the access of education to the remaining refugee children in the camps. As a result of sustained advocacy efforts with local and central level government authorities, a total of 180 refugee students from grade nursery to X from Sanischare camp and around 100 refugee students of grade IX and X from Beldangi camp are enrolled in nearby host community public school from the previous academic session 2018-19. By the end of December 2020, despite a lockdown due to covid, out of 793 (389 Female), 569 students (289 Female), had enrolled in the host community public schools. Textbooks, note books and school uniforms were supported by CN under the UNHCR/Caritas fund for all the school going children by the end of December 2020.  After serving for more than two decades in the Bhutanese refugee camp Caritas’ strategy was to promote alternative durable solutions for access to education for remaining refugee children in the camps after the large scale of resettlement till 2016. Caritas along with UNHCR continued its involvement in advocacy to the local and central level government. With the intensive advocacy effort with local and central level government authorities, Bhutanese Refugee students got access to nearby to host community public schools. Upon request from the Camp Management Committee (CMC), Caritas Nepal helped to retain the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) inside the refugee camp to maintain a conducive learning environment for small kids (3-5 years of age). With the funding support of Caritas Korea Caritas Nepal is now supporting the ECDC with stationery items, school uniforms, Day meals, etc. and for effective teaching number of workshop has been organized for the teachers/facilitators of ECDC.