Ongoing Projects

The study is about general people’s (dis)satisfaction towards governance and services as well as various public institutions. The study which is carried out in the 9 districts of Gandaki Province seeks to identify level of (dis)satisfaction, how it is articulated and key factors shaping the same. Further, it examines how (dis)satisfaction is distributed among different socio-economic groups, age, gender, caste and ethnicity as well as rural and urban areas. It is expected that the findings of the study will help understand how the public have experienced and perceived governance and public services as well as roles of various institutions under the federal system of government and what it means for democratic governance.

This study will provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of remittances coming into Nepal and of remittance-recipient households as well as identify the factors that are associated with remittance-spending behaviours. The study will cover the topics, such as remittance inflow and outflow trends in Nepal; relation between labour migration and remittance inflow in Nepal; legal and institutional mechanisms for regulating remittances in Nepal; mapping of remittance transfer service providers in Nepal; trends in the costs of remittance transfers to Nepal from major destinations of Nepali workers; channels used to transfer remittances and preferred channel for remittance transfer (formal and informal); patterns of remittance use and the factors associated with remittance-spending behaviours; and characteristics of remitters, remittances, and remittance-recipient households.

The objective of the proposed assignment is to provide technical support in the development of the Nepal Labour Migration Report 2024, which will provide a comprehensive overview of labour migration from Nepal with a focus on the fiscal years 2022/23 and 2023/24. The report will provide: i) updated information on the major trends of labour migration from Nepal disaggregated according to countries of destination (including India), districts and provinces of origin, number of labour approval renewal, modes of obtaining labour approval, gender, age, skills profile, and return migration while also highlighting gaps in the data. The report will also collate and present information on foreign migrant workers working in Nepal; ii) an overview of Nepal’s labour migration governance regime, including institutional mechanisms in line with GCM and legislative frameworks as well as the employer-pays principle, commitments made at regional and global fora, bilateral labour migration agreements (BLMAs), good practices in labour migration governance, services provided by diplomatic missions, key policy developments in destination countries, and an overview of data, policy and programmes at all three tiers of government; iii) information on emerging themes such as remittances, reintegration, migration cost, and lessons from the Safer Migration Programme; and iv) way forward, including analysis based on the findings of the recruitment cost survey of Nepali migrant workers conducted by the NSO.

The primary objective of this research is to uncover changes that have occurred post-federalism at the subnational level, particularly as they relate to gains in gender equality and social inclusion (GEDSI). The study additionally aims to document the collective impact, if any, of the Nepal Subnational Governance Program (SNGP) across four study sites. More concretely, the study outcome will include: i) what changes have been observed and the value of those changes as perceived by various stakeholders in the study sites; ii) an understanding of connections, if any, between the program activities and the identified changes.

The research project involves implementing a mentorship programme in 125 villages in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts to help current and potential migrant workers build social networks to find (better) jobs in various locations in India and Nepal. The study seeks to enrol up to 2000 potential migrants (mentees) and 500 experienced migrants (mentors) across the study villages and help them connect based on their migration plans and preferences. The study also includes follow-ups to assess the success of the mentorship and re-match if needed and surveys to collect data on migration behaviour of mentors and mentees.

The main objective of the study is to quantify and examine the characteristics, drivers (both sector-specific and general), and circumstances of informality, in addition to identifying the (dis)incentives that have a bearing on the formalisation process of informal economic units in the transport sector and workers therein. More specifically, it will quantify extent, nature, and composition of informality within transportation sector; identify main drivers and incentives of formalisation; identify main actors involved in formalisation process in the sector; and identify and assess current policy approaches on formalisation and their impacts on transition to formality for informal economic units and workers (specifically women) in the transport sector.

The main objective of this study is to identify the characteristics, causes, and circumstances of informality in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and aquaculture sectors, facilitating the design and implementation of sector-specific and crosscutting approaches for transitioning the economic units and workers involved to the formal economy. More specifically, the study will: quantify the extent, nature, and composition of informality within the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and aquaculture sectors based on available data that is complemented by a short survey; identify main drivers and incentives for formalisation, highlighting sector-specific and transversal drivers; identify main actors involved in formalisation process in the sector and coordination mechanisms, if any; identify and assess current policy approach, specific programmes and measures and where possible their impact on facilitating the transition to formality for informal economic units and workers (especially women) in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and aquaculture sectors.

This project explores the role of heritage in risk preparedness, disaster response and recovery, and long-term disaster risk management planning. It also focuses on how heritage can be used to better strengthen communities’ resilience, an integral part of sustainable development. Experiences across various jurisdictions in the Kathmandu Valley present contemporary understandings of stress, adaptation, wellness, and resource dynamics, which are sparsely documented or disseminated, especially due to Covid 19 pandemic. It aims to bring together existing partnerships into a wider stakeholder network to enable the flow of ideas, resources, and capacities around community-led ‘resilient’ practices for post-disaster rebuilding.

The objectives of the study are: a) to gauge the perceptions of local elites vis-a-vis public service delivery and planning and decision-making processes at the provincial and local levels in addition to identifying factors that drive their perceptions that aid or hinder their influence and/or participation in agenda-setting and decision-making; b) to explore the role of local elites’ perceptions in enhancing or obstructing public service delivery and also ensuring inclusive and participatory planning and decision-making processes at the provincial and local levels; c) to explore the perceptions of local elites towards the functioning of provincial and federal governments, along with factors that drive the perceptions of local elites regarding the same; and d) to explore the interlinkages between local elites’ perceptions and practices vis-a-vis both public service delivery and planning and decision-making processes, and understand how each affects the other.

Under the overall guidance of MRG, Social Science Baha will coordinate with South Asia Collective (SAC) members with regard to the joint publications and advocacy/outreach activities, including conducting primary and secondary research as needed to support SAC publications, including carrying out original research to be included in the annual ‘state of minorities’ report and quarterly bulletins within each publication’s deadlines. you can read the 2022 State of the Minorities report on the weakening of human rights and its impacts on minorities here.

The proposed network intends to contribute with more in-depth knowledge of policies that may contribute to a more rapid transition towards inclusive growth with competence building and increasing incomes for the unskilled poor. CMI is combining insights from the partners’ countries and neighboring countries using different methodologies, including RCTs, analysis of survey data, and qualitative methods. The network will build on previous and ongoing research programs that involve the core partners in the network.

Project Description: This four-year project promotes diversity and inclusiveness through a better understanding of solidarities forming and disintegrating amongst communities invested in lived and living heritage. The project brings together a team of critical and passionate South Asianists, specialising in anthropology, geography, art history, museum and heritage studies, literary studies and conservation architecture. Eight research sites – three cities in India and five in Nepal – were selected lying within 350km from each other, related through cosmologies and transnational histories. Ethnography with qualitative interviews, oral histories and participant observation will provide the key methodological framework within a relational and comparative case study approach. Archival material, bureaucratic frameworks and documentation, media analysis and object studies will enhance the data repertoire.