Project Sambaad - (Rethinking) Nepal's Development Narratives: Exploring Past, Present, and Future Perspectives

04/19/24 • 45 min

Last month, in our efforts to revitalize deep discussions in Nepal, PEI and other like-minded organizations in Kathmandu began a new venture we call Project Sambaad.

Project Sambaad is a collaborative platform promoting in-depth conversations that critically examine Nepali society and its policy-making space. Through Project Sambaad, we seek to explore broad, impactful questions that contribute to a wider dialogue on the politics and development of Nepal and the South Asia region.

In the two days, we had six immersive and interactive panel discussions on relevant contemporary topics from development migration to business in Nepal.

We think that Sambaad comes to life when it reaches a wider audience, and that's why we're excited to share live recordings of the conversations.

If you found the conversation insightful and crave more lively interaction from the audience, hop over to Policy Entrepreneurs on YouTube for the complete live broadcast.

To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad.

https://projectsambaad.info/

Last month, in our efforts to revitalize deep discussions in Nepal, PEI and other like-minded organizations in Kathmandu began a new venture we call Project Sambaad.

In the two days, we had six immersive and interactive panel discussions on relevant contemporary topics from development migration to business in Nepal.

We think that Sambaad comes to life when it reaches a wider audience, and that's why we're excited to share live recordings of the conversations.

If you found the conversation insightful and crave more lively interaction from the audience, hop over to Policy Entrepreneurs on YouTube for the complete live broadcast.

To sound out your thoughts and reflections join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, all @projectsambaad.

https://projectsambaad.info/

Previous Episode

Dilrukshi Handunnetti on Thinking Sri Lanka: Recalling Legacies of Conflict, Domestic Politics, and Aid

Ep#090

Dilrukshi is an international award-winning investigative journalist and a lawyer from Sri Lanka. She has worked extensively across South Asia as an on-ground reporter and trainer. As an investigative journalist, she has broken stories on grand corruption and crime, conflict and communities, and dedicated significant time to reporting on women, children, health, and the environment. A recipient of many prestigious journalism fellowships, she won the coveted Wash Media Award in 2014. She was also the Sri Lankan Journalist of the Year in 2012.

Sushav and Dilrukshi discuss Sri Lanka's complex socio-political history, including its violent ethnic conflict and colonial legacy, exploring the role of various events in shaping its identity. Drawing simultaneously from her work and her lived experience of the war, Dilrukshi illustrates the political roots of the conflict, reflecting on the civil war's impact and the quest for ethnic minority rights, including the rise of groups like the LTTE. They also examine international influences, notably from India, China, and the West, on Sri Lanka's political landscape and review its governance challenges, human rights issues, and economic reforms. The dialogue concludes with reflections on Sri Lanka's civic space, civil society, press freedom, and the broader South Asian context of handling dissent and nurturing democratic spaces.

If you liked the episode, hear more from us through our free newsletter services, PEI Substack: Of Policies and Politics, and click here to support us on Patreon!!

Next Episode

Rebroadcast: Ajaya Dixit Risk and Resilience (Part II): Climate Change and the Future of Nepal’s Development Pathway

Namaste and Happy Earth Day.

Over the year, we have collaborated with visionary individuals who have enhanced our discussions and expanded our perspectives on environmental sustainability and stewardship. At PEI, Earth Day 2024 is about expanding the conversation surrounding the environment to include and highlight the narrative of climate change, energy, and sustainable development.

For today’s episode, we are rebroadcasting a conversation between PEI colleagues Saumitra Neupane and Ajaya Dixit on Risk and Resilience: Climate Change, Loss and Damage, and the Future of Nepal’s Development Pathway. The second of a two-part series, this discussion explores Nepal’s ambitious net zero emission goals and the impact of climate change on Nepal’s water, energy, and infrastructural development. They also discuss the transboundary nature of the water relationship in the region and how climate change can perturb the existing interdependencies.

Ajaya is the co-founder and advisor at the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET) – Nepal. He is an Ashoka Fellow and a leading voice in Nepal, and internationally, on issues of climate change adaptation, resilience building, and disaster risk management.

We hope you enjoy the conversation!