Introduction
Public policy is long practiced but evolving discipline for the public sector. With the advancement in data science, the demand for using evidence in public decisions is increasing. Public policies are criticized for being rhetoric, subjective and arbitrary wills of the policymakers. This shortfall encourages searching avenues to apply innovative approaches in policymaking. Policies are designed around the policy theories, where use of evidence provides bases to build persuasive proposals. Policymaking in Nepal is portrayed as an assumption-based, top-down and normative framework. The major challenge to the policy process is to use an evidence-based rationality approach, which allows the decision makers to consider multiple perspectives, be informed with evidence and choose a better alternative. As a result, policies do not reflect the social needs, they are not implemented effectively and they do not deliver the intended results.
Although policy decisions are political functions, the role of bureaucrats is instrumental to provide technical explanations on the policy proposals, allowing the decision makers for a rational decision. In many cases, the bureaucrats influence or dominate the policy decisions. Therefore, it is necessary to orient the government officials on the broader framework of policymaking. Nepal Administrative Staff College (NASC), a premier national institution for public sector capacity building, have designed the seven-day training course entitled “Innovating Public Policy: Use of Evidence (InnoPoLE)”. The training course builds on the concept of the ‘Policy Innovation Lab (PIL)’, a concept central to which is to bring innovation in policy-making through engagement, research and iterations.
Learning Objectives
The course, in general, intends to enhance the competences of the mid-level government officials for applying innovative approaches in policy making through the use of scientific evidence.
- Appreciate and apply the systematic approach to policy making
- Apprehend and apply evidence in policymaking
- Prepare policy briefs to communicate and persuade policy decisions
Training Duration
The training will be of 35 hours spread over seven days, with two days assigned for policy brief preparation.
Training Day: 2080/10/22-2080/11/02
Training Time: 10 AM – 4:10 PM (Opening Day: 9:00 AM)
Training Venue: Malashree Hall, Sampada Sadan
Contact
Nepal Administrative Staff College
Governance and Development Management Learning Group
Centre for Development Policy and Management
Dr. Shyan Kirat Rai, Deputy Director of Studies
Mobile: 9841176155