Envisioning a Social Science Research
Council in Nepal
Stakeholder Consultation
July 12, 2010
SIRF Phase 2 Institutionalization: Way
Forward
Presenter: Manju Tuladhar (PhD)
Lead Adviser, Social Inclusion Research Fund
Three Key Questions
1.
Why a social science
research council?
2. Who owns and what type of
institution?
3. What process from here?
Phase 1 Views on SIRF Institutionalization
1. Need for a Hybrid Institution – several
options tested, no suitable taker
2. Expand to social science with long term
perspective on institutionalization
3. Autonomy, professionalism and efficiency
4. Value addition of stakeholders need to be
ownership not just project implementation
5. Budget through Redbook, matching funds
6. Detailed assessment of legal and
procedural issues
Understanding the rationale
• Bhandari, 1990 – autonomous institution
• Hachhethu, 2000 - weak interest of state;
absence of societal demand; endowment
fund
• Oommen and Gurung, 2010 - Research
Council and An Interim Council
• Nepali, 2010 – autonomous institution
• World Social Science Report, 2010 absence of adequate governmental
support; funding marginal compared with
science and tech.
Social Sciences /South Asia (UNESCO 2010)
• Declining quality of teaching and
research
• Accountability is virtually absent
• Peer evaluation systems are weak
in publicly funded research
institutions and universities
• Government support - marginal absent
• Inability to attract best students
Preamble
• Social science research is driven by:
– Interest in knowledge about the
functioning of society in its diverse social,
cultural, political and economic aspects
and in understanding the factors that
shape them
– Practical needs of policy makers and
managers in government, civil society
and the private sector for reliable
information and professional analysis
(ICSSR, 2007)
Objectives of the council
• Produce high quality and critical
research on contemporary social
problems (exclusion and inequality
..…) and contribute to a just, equal
and prosperous nation
• Facilitate a better public
understanding of contemporary social
problems by undertaking detached
critical scrutiny of social problems
2010
2011
2012
Interim Council
Core Group
Stakeholders
2013…
Council Act
creates congenial environment,
facilitates legalization, takes over
SIRF management, others…….
Social Scientists plan, strategize and enlarge
stakeholder base and levels, facilitate
institutionalization, resources mobilization
SIRF Screening Committee
SNV/
RNE
Research Grants
Research quality enhancement
SIRF
Research networks
Mandates of Council
• Undertake (?) and facilitate scholarly social
science research
• Provide research grants / fellowships
• Strengthen platforms for policy and public
discourses
• Organize/fund documentation, archiving
and training in research methodology
• Build research capacity for social science
researh
• Train researchers from excluded groups
• Advise policy making (?)
Functions of Interim Council
• Develop legal framework and mandate
• Dialogue with government and high level
stakeholders
• Sensitize academia, civil society
• Facilitate resources mobilization
• Integrate and institutionalize existing
initiatives of SIRF, and others….
• Oversee the functions of preparatory
work of program and secretariat