Since its establishment in 2020, Policy and Research Advisory Services (PoRAS) has been championing transformative change in governance and development across Nepal. With a dedicated team of experts and professionals, we specialize in comprehensive policy research, strategic analysis, and capacity-building initiatives. Our mission is to empower institutions, foster sustainable solutions, and facilitate informed decision-making for an inclusive and prosperous society. Through collaborative efforts with governments, local stakeholders and international organizations, we aim to catalyze effective governance strategies and sustainable development practices. Committed to excellence and innovation, we leverage our expertise in policy formulation, capacity building, project implementation, and advisory services to create tangible, impactful change.
Our work revolves around four dynamic thematic areas, each serving as a cornerstone in our mission to drive transformative change and facilitate sustainable development.
Policy Research and Analysis: We specialise in in-depth policy research and analysis, employing a blend of field studies, surveys, interviews, and data analysis. Our focus spans federalism, governance, decentralisation, public financial management, social protection, and local economic development. Our expertise lies in crafting pivotal legal and policy documents crucial for effective governance.
Capacity Building and Training: We are dedicated to enhancing capabilities within the public and private sectors through coaching, mentoring, and tailored capacity-building activities. Our initiatives aim to strengthen core competencies at the individual, organizational and institutional levels, ensuring adaptability in the evolving governance and development landscape.
Project Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation: With an unwavering focus on project success, we offer technical expertise and conduct comprehensive evaluations, spanning feasibility studies, needs assessments, planning, programming, and support for effective project execution.
Government Advisory Services: Serving as trusted advisors to governmental bodies, our services encompass drafting policy guidelines, conducting institutional assessments, and designing operational structures in areas such as public financial management, revenue generation, public service delivery, and accountability. Our expertise contributes to informed decision-making and streamlined governance processes.
These thematic areas represent our commitment to driving impactful change, fostering innovation, and achieving sustainable outcomes in the realm of governance and development.
Portfolio of our engagements and projects
2023
- August 2023: Provide support to draft O&M Study and Policy Document to establish a National Institution to Control Fire for the Ministry of Home Affairs, funded by a USAID project ‘TAYAR Nepal’.
- August 2023: Provided Coaching and Mentoring Services to three Municipalities of three Provinces (Bansgadhi Municipality of Lumbini Province, Bhagawatimai Rural Municipality of Karnali Province and Punarbas Municipality of Sudur Pashchim Province) for Inclusive Annual Planning, funded by CDSG/GIZ.
- July 2023: Mid Term Evaluation of SDC-funded Nepal Agriculture Markets Development Program (NAMDP) Phase II, for SDC.
- May 2023: Draft O&M Study of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality.
2022
- May – June 2022: Technical support to Bagmati Province in drafting SDG-based MTEF document for the FY 2079/80, UNDP Nepal.
- March – July 2022: Framework for Disaster Risk Financing at Local Level, for Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, funded by a USAID project ‘TAYAR Nepal’.
- May – August 2022: Official documentation manuscript describing the official history of Decentralization and Federalization and the role of MoFAGA in Nepal.
- January – March 2022: Mid Term Expenditure framework (MTEF) of two LGs (Tulsipur Sub Metropolitan and Dangisharan Rural Municipality) of Lumbini Province for USAID Sajhedari STF.
- January 2022: Technical support and Training facilitation for CD planning of Sajhedari Partner Municipalities (four Municipalities) for USAID-supported federalism support project ‘Sajhedari’.
2021
- September 2021 – March 2022: Support to design TVET Quality Improvement Project, for SDC.
- March – December 2021: Periodic Planning Document of six Palikas of Nuwakot, Gorkha and Rasuwa Districts.
- May – August 2021: Local Revenue Mobilization Implementation Plan (RAIP) to five Local Governments of Lumbini and Sudur Paschim Province.
- March – June 2021: Local Government Capacity Development Planning, six Local Governments of Lumbini Province, Provincial Training Academy, Lumbini Province.
- May – July 2021: SDC-TVET Support Programme to facilitate orientation of Provincial Governments for preparedness for Provincial TVET Law drafting.
- March – April 2021: Designed and drafted online training modules on Fiscal Federalism.
- January – May 2021: Support to implement the Support to Federalism Programme of USAID Sajhedari as policy advisor.
- February – March 2021: Support to draft policy guidelines in the implementation of Agriculture support grants to farmers in Province 2.
2020
- FY 2020/21: Analyzed the Health Sector Conditional Grants to Subnational Governments.
- FY 2020/21: Conducted Assessment of conditional grants as a mechanism for financing Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) programming by subnational government in Nepal.
- 2020: Supported Forum for Federalism, Nepal working closely with MoFAGA and National Natural Resource and Finance Commission and Provincial Governments on Intergovernmental Relations.
- 2020: Support to design the Organisation Structure of the Health Insurance Board, Nepal, funded by KOICA Nepal.
- 2020: Designed Organisation Structure of Roshi Rural Municipality, Kavre, and Sabaila Municipality, Dhanusha.
- 2020: Consultant to GIZ-CDSG – to conduct Local Government Institutional Assessment for three LGs of CDSG supported LGs of Province 1, 2 & Lumbini Province.
- 2020: Conducted Local Government Institutional Assessment for nine LGs of Nuwakot and Gorkha Cluster, and conducted revenue Improvement Studies of the same LGs, funded by Mott MacDonald (under the Purnima Project).
- June 2020: Support to provide COVID-19 responsive planning at the Local Level through webinar for GIZ, NARMIN and Nepal Law Society, separately involved in 10 sessions.
- May – October 2020: Support to draft Local Government Operation Regulation, to MoFAGA.
- March – June 2020: Conducted Local Government Institutional Assessment for 14 LGs of CDSG/GIZ supported LGs of Province 5, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.
- March – June 2020: Supported to draft Sample Resource Mobilization Guideline for Local Governments to PLGSP/MOFAGA.
- March – April 2020: Supported to draft sample ‘Gender and Social Inclusion Audit Guideline for Local Government’ to PLGSP/MoFAGA.
- February 2020: Provided orientation to Provincial Parliament Members on Rural Energy Governance at the Province Level and the Role of Parliament Members in Province 1 and Sudurpashim Province, for RERA/GIZ.
- February 2020: Support to draft working strategy for District Coordination Committees of Nepal for Association for District Coordination Committees of Nepal.
- January – March 2020: Support to draft handbook for LGs on Renewable Energy based Local governance.
2019
- November 2019 – March 2020: Support to Assess the Fiduciary and Institutional Risk at the Province Level in Nepal, Public Financial Management and Accountability (PFMA), a DfID-funded project for the Improvement of Public Financial Management in Nepal.
- October – November 2019: Support to Design and Deliver Training on Renewable Energy (RE) Perspective Strategic Programme Planning, Design and Institutional Management, for GiZ/RERA.
- September 2019 – March 2020: Support to prepare Periodic Plan of Suryodaya Municipality, Ilam District, Nepal and Roshi Rural Municipality, Kavre District, Nepal.
- September – December 2019: Support to Review and assessment to Channel Grants to Sub National Governments (SNGs) in Nepal Health Sector, NHSP3, PPFM, a DfID-funded project for the Health Sector.