This document is a proposal submitted by Sudip Lamsal for a master's degree in public administration. The proposal examines the status of public policy implementation in Nepal. It will analyze the current status of implementation, problems hindering effective implementation, and ways to improve implementation. The study uses a mixed methods approach, including surveys, interviews, document analysis, and case studies. The literature review found that factors like political instability, weak bureaucracy, and donor influence have negatively impacted implementation in Nepal. The proposal aims to provide recommendations to enhance public policy implementation for better governance and development outcomes in Nepal.

1. Proposal on
STATUS OF PUBLIC POLICY IMPLEMENTATION IN NEPAL
Submitted by: Sudip Lamsal
Second year Roll No.: (Private)
TU Registration No.:
Email Id: sudiplamsal123@gmail.com
Phone No.: 9843395476
Research Methods in Public Administration II (PA, 610)
Submitted to :
Central Department of Public Administration Tribhuvan University,
Balkhu
This proposal is submitted for partial fulfillment of Master of Public
Administration Degree
January, 2023

2. Contents
Background of the Study ..................................................................2
Statement of the Problem..................................................................4
Objective of the Study ......................................................................5
Importance of the study ....................................................................6
Literature Review .............................................................................6
Research Methodology .....................................................................8
Data Analysis and Presentation:.....................................................11
Limitation of the Study...................................................................11
Organization of the Study...............................................................11
References:......................................................................................12
1

3. 2
Background of the Study
Effective public policy implementation is a pre-requisite for delivering the services of
government to the public in a scientific way. Public policy implementation status can
depict the overall status of country. Through the effective implementation of public policy
the government can achieve their goals.
According to the public policy expert (Dean L. Fixsen, 2001) commented that
"implementation is certainly a complex undertaking." All agree that effective and successful
implementation of policies is the key to the nation development. However, it is believed that
“successful policy implementation often depends on creating strategies that are broad
enough to have a significant impact but are relevant to the issues that arise in a particular
context,” as stated by researcher Joseph Stewart.
This study will focuses on the study of status of public policy implementation in context of
Nepal by analyzing the status of implementation, problems in implementing the public
policy and way forward for effective public policy implementation. Effective policy
implementation is tuff task, especially in countries like Nepal whose economy is largely
dependent in foreign loans and aids, many studies and research projects have been
performed to find out what can be done.
In Nepal at the time of policy formulation, weak coordination among complementary
policies and judicious allocation of resources all had a negative impact. The overlapping
roles of political leaders and civil servants are also an active factor. Ministers are concerned
with micromanagement and bureaucracy in policy management. Another factor is the
commitment of our development partners. As long as donors maintain their generosity in
the politics they love, they will survive. Similarly, pension pressures and employment issues
such as corruption have undermined some policies. Insufficient management commitment
to policy has hampered various approaches being implemented.
The distraction of political leaders and the complacency of the bureaucracy are more related
to the failure and ineffectiveness of public policy to provide the basis for social
improvement and economic upgrading.
For effective implementation of public policy Nepal needs honest and committed political
leadership across all political groups, only this leadership can bring political stability to
match the nation's public policies to increase economic growth, strengthen national unity
and public welfare.
The country also needs well-integrated bureaucratic mechanisms at all levels of governance.

4. 3
An efficient and disciplined bureaucracy is a nation's precious asset. Any public policy must
be designed in such a way as to gain public support in targeted areas and in different classes
and sections of society. National policy stakeholders need to be consulted and trusted,
allowing their constructive participation to ensure success. Credible public policy makers
must be insightful and analytical while remaining in touch with the realities of the subject
matter they are dealing with.

5. 4
Statement of the Problem
It is very tuff to find the status of public policy implementation in Nepal in well
documented form and these studies try to fulfill that gap as an initiation of status studies of
policy implementation in Nepal.
It is therefore important to note that policy changes are closely related to status policy
implementation. Nepal has undergoing the many political systems changes in last 7
decades and has formulated several public policies. Mazmanian and Sabatier (1983) states
“implementation of public policy, usually mandated by law but sometimes in the form of
significant administrative regulations and court decisions.” identify issues to be addressed,
establish goals to be pursued, and establish implementation processes” (Sabatier and
Mazmanian 1980).
Development of a policy does not guarantee success in the field unless the policy is
properly implemented. Pressman and Wildavsky (1984) were the first to show that
implementation dominates results. It is difficult to say which factors or conditions will
favor successful implementation, as they depend heavily on political, economic and social
circumstances. For example, regional factors (size, institutional complexity, etc.) are
important for policy responses (McLaughlin 1987). In this sense, Payne (2008) argues that
seeking general solutions and ignoring specific contexts can lead to inconsistent
implementation efforts. Therefore, there is no one specific way to fit all policy.
Successful reform of the system means that a few powerful actors can work together to
make a big impact (Fullan 2009). Successful implementation can be defined by “an
institution’s adherence to legal guidelines, the institution’s accountability for achieving
certain indicators of success, the attainment of legislative goals, the achievement of local
goals, or improvement in the political climate surrounding the program” (Ingram and
Schneider 1990). Appropriate resources and clear goals are also important (McLaughlin
1987). Furthermore, the implementation process is characterized by a 'multistage
developmental trait (McLaughlin 1987).
Despite the seeming success of policy implementation, Fullan (2000) points out that there
is no guarantee that success will continue. There was strong acceptance and
implementation, but not strong institutionalization, of change processes in schools. Fullan
(2000) state that both local school development and quality of surrounding infrastructure
key to lasting success. However, successful policy change (in schools) is still in the
minority (Fullan 2007). Policy change is not enough without the “recapture” of the
classroom (Fullan 2000; 2007). Therefore, although the conditions vary from system to

6. 5
system, a number of conditions need to be met in order for change to be successful and to
promote sustainable implementation. This increases the difficulty of the whole process.
On the base of above mention statement of the problem, following Research Questions
are posed
A. What is the status of policy implementation in Nepal?
B. What is the major problem of policy implementation?
C. What are the major feedbacks for successful policy implementation in Nepal?
Objective of the Study
The general objective of this study is to find out the policy implementation problems in
Nepal.
The specific objectives of the study are as follows:
 To know the status of public policy implementation in Nepal;
 To understand the problems arising in the course of implementation of public
policies;
 To explain the causes of implementation failure; and
 To analyze the conditions for effective policy implementation.

7. Importance of the study
This study is focused to know about the ongoing status of policy implementation and
selection of implementation strategy for successful implementation. Durlak and DuPre
(2008) conducted a meta-analysis and found several important results. In one study,
follow-up implementation produces three times greater efficiency than non-implementation
monitored. Another study, which included more than 200 school-based assault prevention
programs, found that "implementation is the second most important variable in general and
the most important feature of the program influenced the results. However, another study
they looked at found that with closer monitoring implementation of the intervention, the
effect “will be 12 times more effective” Based on Durlak and DuPre (2008), “Results from
more than 500 quantitative studies have provided strong empirical support for conclude
that the level of performance affects the results obtained in terms of promotion and
prevention program” (Durlak and DuPre 2008). The general consensus is that
organizations cannot adopt a more laissez-faire approach to adopting new interventions and
programs (Fixsen et al. 2009), research and implementation to systematize the
implementation process concepts off-site and in environments where they can affect
individuals and have an impact.
Literature Review
The public policy development stage before B.S 2007 times was autocratic, made by
strong government, rulers made policies and people were as a receiver only. In policies the
interest of rulers were included as well as national interest synonymous with rulers
interests and the bureaucracy / experts/ influential were like a subservient and
implementation was effective. Similarly before B.S. 2047 in Panchayat time the public
policies found to be made through guided people’s participation and ultimate decision
maker the sovereign/ crown, the people subject were selected based on export technical
and bureaucratic influence and at this stage implementation was also effective. After B.S.
2047 people became sovereign, practice of plural democracy, soft state- civil society
power, liberal, multiple actors, plural interests in policy making, democratic, state, market
and civil society collaboration, populist statements without serious cost/ benefit analysis,
manipulation at the implementation level, foreign agency, corporate group and interest
group lobbying influenced public policy. From this phase the implantation of policy is not
as effective as expected. In transition period between B.S. 2063-2072, the state, civil
society, local community and private sector were weak, and also the political parties were

8. discredited and not strong. At this phase the policy making and implementation was
influenced by international donor’s agencies and partners. After B.S 2072 Nepal
constitutionally decentralized, regionalized in inclusive / proportionally representative,
regional power, interests and state and local government have become stronger, The
influence of civil society, private sector and international partners became weaker. The
implementation process is ongoing and there is much space to fulfill for effective
implementation of public policy yet, Jagadish C. Pokharel (2014).
Policies are converted into themed programs fordone with the allocation of resources in the
budget. It allocates every year resources for population growth based on demand and stress
on demand. The budgeting process begins with the National Development Council (NPC)
by contacting the line ministries to deliver programs with an interim budget within a
structured framework. This proceeds down to local agencies and send it back to reputable
ministries with proposals for programs and budget. The NPC also examines the programs
received through various discussions, based on data analyzed and transmitted to the
Ministry of Finance ceiling budget (Prem Prasad Limbu, 2019).
The Ministry of Finance finalizes the budget through various consultations mainly with
legislators, allocate the budget and determine the taxes and revenues remaining in the
ceiling NPC in direct and indirect consultation with the Prime Minister`s office (Prem
Prasad Limbu, 2019).
NPCs are independent observers and reviewers who can ask important questions. Ongoing
programs and projects, taking into account the resulting policies, strategies and constraints
NPCs are mandatory for all respected plan enforcement agencies (Ordinance, 2018:18)
However, never before has her NPC performed such impressive and exemplary work.
Nepal has 63 years of planned development practice but has completed many
developments. The issue is still open. The practice of deferring major development work to
the future plan continuously a review of previous plans shows that there are improvements
People's level of consciousness compared to the past, entry into society modernization,
health, education, drinking water, Social security, roads, communication technology, urban
infrastructure, etc. infrastructure quality is not yet guaranteed (Prem Prasad Limbu, 2019).
Apparently, the people of Nepal are suffering from stagnant economic growth due to the
lack of strong public policy implementation caused by frequent changes in political leaders
and a weak bureaucracy that has hindered economic growth (Madhav Shrestha, 2021).
Public policy research addresses issues of social importance; mixed-method research is
often preferred as a means of reaching sufficiently specific results and conclusions, reliable

9. basis for politics (Susan Mbula Kilonzo and Ayobami Ojebode, 2022)
Research Methodology
Research design: Public policy research is research whose primary objective is to
understand or explain social, political, economic, cultural and other issues that are
important to society and require intervention or intentions of policy actors. By providing an
understanding of these issues, research also presents itself as a reliable basis for the actions
and interventions of these political actors. It must therefore be solid evidence-based
research, crafted with compelling rigor and woven from start to finish around a social issue
of interest. Public policy research must not only be thorough and credible, but it must go
beyond describing problems and situations to consider how and why things happen (Osifo,
2015), establishing causality in relation to a given problem and options for solving such
problem. Descriptive research can provide an important basis for policy. However,
causality studies often receive more interest and attention than descriptive studies.
The literature shows that statistical evidence is of great importance in the history of policy
research (Mead 2005). Studies designed to inform policy are therefore mostly, if not
always, research-based (Mead 2005) are good at creating an accurate representation of the
customer served by a particular policy.
Mead (2005) argues that a more complex and robust approach incorporating factors
beyond statistics are needed. It was considered that the synthesis of research methods, that
is mixed-methods design, is important for public policy research arguing for the credibility
of results that capture the attention of policy makers and inform subsequent policy
processes.
Good research methods for public policy require stakeholder engagement in the research
process to improve the use of research findings and recommendations for effective policy.
In addition to policy makers, political actors include the general public, who invariably
receive the end products of public policy research.
Qualitative Methods in Public Research:
In short, qualitative methods aim to provide perspectives, attitudes, insights, and contextual
understanding around the problem is being studied as it is lived and understood by those
who live it. The output of qualitative methods is often the verbalized thoughts and opinions
of the survey subjects rather than numbers or statistics. Below are some research methods
that will be used in this study as a qualitative research method. Note that each of these

10. methods applies a variety of tools to data collection.
Historical and archival research:
For this type of method libraries and archives will be used, usually they store historical
information in a variety of formats including, but not limited to, diaries, photographs,
documents, logs, and artifacts. This means they may be stored as primary or secondary
data.
Ethnographic Method:
In this study through this method, examination of communities in their natural
environment in order to understand their activities, behaviors, attitudes, perspectives and
opinions in social environments will be performed. For this reason, ethnography requires
close ties to the research community and sometimes participation in their activities. Indeed,
a commonly used data collection method in ethnography is observation of participants.
Phenomenology:
This method focuses on the lived experience of a particular phenomenon by an individual
or group of people. Individuals can express their own views and opinions about the
phenomena in question. In this study the experiences of concerned people will be collected.
Narrative method:
In this study this method will use for to know a story that structures human activity and
gives it some form of meaning. In studies using narrative methods, research participants
are prompted to tell their own stories about a particular topic. Researchers listen to stories
and use them to create informed analyzes about the topic at hand.
Case Study Method:
For this study a case study one of the most important methodology to understand a focused
analysis of a small number of phenomena (events, actors, activities, processes,
organizations, communities, etc.) in each context. Single case as well as comparative case
study will be used for individual and a comparative causal explanation.
Action Research Method:
In this study this method will uses practical approaches to solve pressing problems.
In this case, through this method it will apply to identify difficult problems within
communities that require possible solutions. It will be applied to the problem for which the
survey is designed. The community will ponder the effectiveness of the applied solution
and take appropriate action. In this process a variety of data collection methods, including
oral interviews, surveys, community mapping, and observations will be applied.
Ground theory research method:

11. This study will apply inductive approaches to conduct research. The inductive approach is
grounding, or bottom-up approach. In this case, study start with observations and provide
patterns from which to draw conclusions and theories. Evidence-based research therefore
moves from the point where a theory is inadequate or no theory exists, to the point where
researchers can derive good hypotheses, and where theories can be constructed from
observations and analysis of the data. Like other qualitative methods that use different data
collection methods such as oral interviews, observations, and the use of documents of all
kinds.
Quantitative methods:
Quantitative research uses research tools such as surveys, tests, content dimension sheets,
and other similar sources to generate numerical data. The data are then subjected to
mathematical or statistical analysis. The following methods will use for this study under
quantitative method.
Surveys:
For this study both close-ended and open ended query will be used for data collection. For
this purpose cellphone interviews and written questionnaire will be used for survey works.
Observation Survey:
Observations are essential for each qualitative and quantitative study. In this study this
method is important, for interacting with the study environment and participants in a
manner that the questionnaire could not. Observational data for this study will be collected
using standardized/structured observation schedules. A descriptive observational record or
a rating scale will be used, which is applicable to collect observational data. This method
will apply to observe and record the behavior and activities in the selected study sites in a
standardized way.
Applied Quantitative Method:
In this method will use existing data sets and apply analytical methods to facilitate
description of data that has already been recorded and stored. Usually various research
organization store various type of data sets. This method is very useful for analyzing with
the purpose of achieving a certain research objective. For this typeof method it is required
to get permission from relevant organization to access such information. One of the
challenges with these types of data sets is that if they contain error in data in any way, then
the errors will be carried in the analysis.
In this current study, using of both qualitative and quantitative method is important for
various reasons. The qualitative method provides explanations and quantitative method for

12. statistical results.
Data Analysis and Presentation:
Status of public policy implementation, their positive impacts and the major fallacies arises
during implementation will be analyzed thoroughly and presented.
Limitation of the Study
Almost all the studies have some sorts of limitations and this study has some
limitations, which are mentioned as follows: Because of the short period of time,
resources as well as money, study will be some following limitations: -
 This study will be focused on more secondary data base and there are not enough
previous studies related to these topics in Nepal.
 The study will be very broad; therefore, the conclusions drawn from this study
will be more indicative rather than conclusive.
 The conclusions might be generalized conclusion not a specific one.
Organization of the Study
The study is organized in different chapters and sub-chapters as given below:
Chapter I Introduction includes background, statement of the problem, objective of the
study, significance of the study.
Chapter II Literature review consists of theoretical discussions. On the other hand it
consists of empirical studies of research articles and dissertations.
Chapter III Research methodology, include the research design, its methodology
has been explained. The methods and materials used for the collection of qualitative
and quantitative information and data. Basically this chapter focuses on selection of
the study areas; method of data collection, universe and sampling, description of the
sample, Interview method was done. Data Processing is also due attention.
Chapter IV Data presentation and analysis
Chapter V Summary, finding and conclusion.
References

13. References:
Durlak, J. A., & DuPre, E. P. (2008). Implementation matters: A review of research on the
influence of implementation on program outcomes and the factors affecting
implementation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41(3-4), 327-350.
doi:10.1007/s10464-008-9165-0
Fixsen, D. L., Blase, K. A., Timbers, G. D., & Wolf, M. M. (2001),Implementing and
evaluating effective programs, London: Wiley. (2001). Book review: Offender
rehabilitation in practice: Implementing and evaluating effective programs. Probation
Journal, 48(4), 307-307. doi:10.1177/026455050104800421
Kilonzo, S. M., & Ojebode, A. (2022). Research methods for public policy. Public Policy
and Research in Africa, 63-85. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-99724-3_4
Levin, B., Glaze, A., & Fullan, M. (2008). Results without rancor or ranking Ontario's
success story. Phi Delta Kappan, 90(4), 273-280. doi:10.1177/003172170809000408
Limbu, P. P. (2019). Development policy process in Nepal: A critical analysis.
International Research Journal of Management Science, 4, 65-82.
doi:10.3126/irjms.v4i0.27886
Mazmanian, D. A., & Sabatier, P. A. (1980). A multivariate model of public policy-
making. American Journal of Political Science, 24(3), 439. doi:10.2307/2110827
McLaughlin, M. W. (1987). Learning from experience: Lessons from policy
implementation. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 9(2), 171-178.
doi:10.3102/01623737009002171
Ministry of Finance, (2018), Economic survey 2017/18. Kathmandu: Nepal Government,
Ministry of Finance
NPC, (2019). Approach paper of fifteenth plan (Fiscal Year 2067-67 to 2080-81B.S.).
The meaning of educational change. (2001). The New Meaning of Educational Change,
28-41. doi:10.4324/9780203986561-9
Pokharel C. Jagadish (2014). Reimagining public policy in nepal: process, practices and
management, Nepal: https://dms.nasc.org.np/
Sabatier, P. A., & Mazmanian, D. A. (1983). The internal process of policy
implementation. Can Regulation Work?: The Implementation of the 1972 California
Coastal Initiative, 95-130. doi:10.1007/978-1-4684-1155-3_4
Shrestha Madhav, (2021), Public policy implementation: Ways to upending barriers:
Nepal, https://thehimalayantimes.com/