Completed Projects

The purpose of this study is to explore and better understand the social and economic impacts of the global pandemic related reverse migration of an unprecedented number of migrant workers to Nepal. The proposed research has its policy relevance in identifying the immediate, mid-term, as well as long-term needs and concerns of returnee migrant workers and their families. This research will contribute empirically by conducting a comparative analysis of the impacts observed between the cross-border (India-Nepal) returnee migrants and international (besides India) returnee migrants.

Project Description:  The main objectives of this study was to identify the needs and vulnerabilities of returnee migrants through research for the advocacy at the national level; advocate for the delegation of labour migration-related authorities and institutions at the local level to establish the complaint or referral mechanism, compensation, regulation of agents and sub-agents; recommend the Government of Nepal for the formulation and implementation of plans and strategies related to effective rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration; and liaise with different state and non-state actors relevant to the labour and migration and build a partnership for effective advocacy for the creation and exploration of employment opportunities in the local and foreign markets in post-COVID-19 situations.

This study aimed to understand the socio-political effects of Nepal’s 2015 earthquakes and post-earthquake reconstruction. The main objectives were: 1) To build an international network of scholars, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations focusing on post-earthquake reconstruction and social transformation in Nepal, with strong nodes in Canada, Nepal, and Denmark (with the Danish connection furnishing links to the Copenhagen Centre for Disaster Research); 2) To collaboratively develop and deploy mixed ethnographic and survey methods through three pilot research projects in selected earthquake-affected areas of rural and peri-urban Nepal where team members have existing relationships. These focused on three domains of expertise critical to post-conflict and post-disaster transformation: construction (engineers, architects, and traditional builders); law (politicians, civil servants, and lawyers); and finance (bankers, corporate investors, and microfinance/cooperative fund managers); 3) to enhance training and research capacity in Canada and Nepal, with an emphasis on field-based methods; 4) to build foundations for a larger Partnership Grant application to investigate and improve post-disaster reconstruction in mountainous regions with a focus on the trans-Himalayan region, using a framework that addresses both Connection and Insight approaches.

UNFPA was piloting innovative approaches in Okhaldhunga and Udayapur districts to address social norms that are at the root of gender-based discrimination and violence. The pilot also focused on building capacities of locally elected representatives and their offices (municipalities) in understanding gender inequalities and in supporting/institutionalising prevention and response mechanisms. Social Science Baha conducted operational research to accompany the pilot throughout its life cycle, from inception to completion, to identify approaches that have worked.

Project Description: Nepal emerged from a ten-year civil war in 2006, and the country’s main political players then embarked upon the long process of transition political transition. The 2015 earthquakes had a major impact upon this process. The project investigated and documented the long term cultural and political impacts of Nepal’s 2015 earthquakes. It explored the ways in which they influenced the ongoing political, media and literary discourse on a number of key cultural, social and political issues. It showed how the restoration of destroyed physical heritage is carried out. It also draws historical comparisons between the sociocultural and political impacts of the 2015 quakes and those of the major quakes that struck Nepal during earlier periods of political and cultural transition in 1833 and 1934. It also archives material to identify the permanent marks left by previous disasters.

Project Description: This research aims to experimentally test whether seasonal a migration subsidy programme has positive impacts in addressing seasonal food insecurity in rural Nepal. It will also explore how migration may transform rural, agricultural labour markets by studying the effects of seasonal migration on both rural labour supply and labour demand.

Project Description: The overall objective of the project is to promote and protect freedom of religions or belief (FoRB) in South Asia by improved and more collaborative monitoring, reporting, and advocacy on FoRB violations. It specifically aims to strengthen the capacity of a regional researchers’ and activists’ network to monitor incidents, trends, and patterns of FoRB violations; produce and publish authoritative reports; and carry out linked advocacy to combat discrimination, intolerance, and violence against religious minorities, and improve protection of FoRB in South Asia Minority and human rights researchers, activists, and organisations working to promote FoRB across South Asia are direct beneficiaries. And, it will also serve minorities and particularly religious minorities and stateless groups in South Asia.

Project Description: The ‘International Conference on Resilient Social Protection for an Inclusive Future’ was organised on September 18 and 19, jointly with NPC, ILO, GIZ, UN ESCAP, The World Bank, UNICEF and UKAid. The conference aimed to support the Government of Nepal to deliver in its vision to deliver a core package of social protection for all and become a more prosperous nation, with a focus on the next generation and the most vulnerable. Recognising that there are many paths towards universal social protection, and programmes in different countries have followed different paths towards their expansion and consolidation, the conference aimed to bring regional experience and practice to offer a realistic path to support Nepal achieve this ambition moving forward. 

Project Description: Foreign labour migration is likely to play a key role as a source of employment for Nepalis for years to come in the future. In recognition of this fact, the government has taken some initiatives towards enhancing safe, regular and beneficial migration. The monitoring of and reporting on SDG indicators related to labour migration (SDGs 8 and 10) is one such step towards making labour migration safe for Nepalis. On behalf of the National Planning Commission (NPC) and with the support of ILO, the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) at Social Science Baha is undertaking the task of developing a monitoring and reporting (M&R) framework to help the NPC establish a standard set of tools and mechanisms on labour migration-related SDG targets and indicators that would help it report the progress on SDGs to UN High Level Political Forum (HLPT) on Sustainable Development. The tools and mechanisms will also benefit other actors working in the area of labour and migration and the decent work agenda in Nepal. Simultaneously, the project will support the Ministry of Labour Employment and Social Security (MOLESS) to develop the National Global Compact on Migration Implementation Strategies.

Project Description: The Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) at Social Science Baha conducted a mapping exercise involving Private Recruitment Agencies (PRAs) that are already engaged in or interested in being engaged in fair recruitment practices. The research project seeks to prepare comprehensive profiles of the selected PRAs that recruit workers for Jordan, Malaysia and Qatar. The study examined the recruitment processes followed by selected PRAs, including hiring, pre-deployment and post-deployment procedures. The research output helped ILO-Nepal in its search for possible partners for its two projects – the Integrated Programme on Fair Recruitment (FAIR) and the Global Action to Improve the Recruitment Framework of Labour Migration (REFRAME).

Project Description: The Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) at Social Science Baha will provide technical support to the Government of Province 1 to develop approaches, methodological tools and indicators for a migration profile and throughout the execution of the profiling exercise. The migration profile will provide comprehensive provincial data on migration, including information on internal and international migration; in- and out-migration; migration for labour, education, and permanent settlement; skills and labour market integration of returnee migrants; and seasonal and long-term labour migration, to allow the provincial and local governments of Province 1 to optimise the benefits of migration. The profile will contribute to evidence-based policy through the use of data on migration in the policy-making and planning processes of different thematic sectors. The migration profile will serve as an important and useful tool to better understand and manage the diverse migration flows in the province.

Funding Agency: The Asia Foundation
Duration: 1 September 2017 to 31 March 2019
Social Science Baha produced a companion volume to complement the nation-wide ‘Survey of the Nepali People’ to provide a deeper analysis of the themes identified in the survey.
Read output in English and Nepali