RSEL Team Visit to the Office of the Chief Minister at Koshi Province

On January 9, 2025, the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (RSEL) team, led by Professor Sunil Prasad Lohani, visited the Office of the Chief Minister of Koshi Province in Biratnagar. The team engaged in a productive discussion with key government stakeholders on “Evidence-based Policy Formulation and the Role of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in Policy Development”. The meeting was attended by the Honourable Chief Minister of Koshi Province, Hikmat Karki, along with other high-ranking officials including, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Law, the Minister of Social Development, the Minister of Economic Affair and Planning, the Vice Chairperson of the Provincial Planning Commission, Chief Secretary of the province and the secretary of Ministry of Water Supply, Irrigation and Energy.

The RSEL team highlighted the role of research and data in shaping policies that effectively address real-world challenges. Prof. Lohani highlighted the importance of advancing research-driven solutions to develop and implement policies that align with the needs of the people.  During the meeting, the team also briefly shared insights into the ongoing projects at RSEL, including the ACCESS initiative, which focuses on enhancing the capacities of HEIs in climate change and sustainability education in Nepal. The discussions emphasized the necessity of collaboration between academia and the provincial government as a key strategy for formulating evidence-based policies. A special emphasis was given to addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and identifying the renewable energy sector as a critical tool in mitigating its impacts. At the conclusion of the session, Honourable Chief Minister Hikmat Karki directed the Energy Secretary to explore the possibility of collaborating with researchers on an annual basis to ensure that evidence-based policy formulation becomes an integral part of the provincial governance.