The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS), launched a national training on Evidence-Based Policymaking for Social Justice and Decent Work for All. The week-long course, held in Nagarkot from 8-12 September 2025, brought together policymakers and social partners to develop practical skills for shaping policies that create decent jobs and promote social justice in Nepal.
Nepal faces significant labour market challenges: slow job creation, high levels of informality, and continued reliance on foreign employment. With the country's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status approaching in 2026 and the Government's declaration of the Decade of Internal Employment Promotion, the need for effective, evidence-driven policies is more urgent than ever.
© ILO
"The future of work in Nepal depends on our ability to design policies that are not just visionary, but effective. Evidence is what makes this possible. This training equips policymakers and social partners with the skills to use data, research, and lived experiences to shape policies that create decent jobs and strengthen social justice," said Numan Özcan, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nepal.
The training was targeted at officials from eight ministries, representatives of trade unions and employer organizations, and researchers. Over the course of five days, participants learned how to:
- Formulate strong policy questions;
- Search for and critically assess evidence, including labour market statistics;
- Synthesize and communicate findings effectively; and
- Draft a policy brief on a priority issue of their choice.
© ILO
"This training is a great opportunity for us to improve our policy making guided by evidence and hence has long term benefits," shared Gyan Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary/Head, Labour Relations Division, MoLESS.
"This course is about turning evidence into action. By the end of the training, participants not only understood the principles of evidence-based policymaking but will also apply them by drafting policy briefs on decent work issues relevant to Nepal," said Naren Prasad, Head of Education and Training at the ILO Research Department.
© ILO
The programme reflects the ILO's Programme and Budget 2024-25 focus on capacity development and is in line with the Singapore Statement adopted at the 17th Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting in 2022. It also supports Nepal's role as a Pathfinder Country of the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection.
© ILO
At the conclusion of the training, participants presented their individual policy briefs, which will be reviewed by ILO experts. Successful participants will receive an ILO certificate from the ITC. Participants are drafting policy briefs on topics they are passionate about, ranging from reducing the cost of migration and promoting youth employment to addressing informality, rural employment, and social protection. A follow-up evaluation will be conducted to assess the application of new skills in their respective institutions.
