ASPECT has been translating English materials into Nepali for wider dissemination of knowledge and sensitisation of the local population on the technical matters such as security issues, choices of federal policing, national security concept and conflict transformations. This Translation of Knowledge Project is only possible with the partnership and generous support from like-minded organisations such as Geneva Center for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and The Asia Foundation.

Almost all erudite agree on the fact that education is both a means and an end in itself for the overall development of human society. In spite of this established fact, often educational issues are not prioritized. Education took a further hit during Nepal’s decade-long conflict, when both state and then armed group Maoists did not prioritize the education sector. The repercussions of this are now explicit and continuing. Roshani’s research on the “Effect of decade long armed conflict on education in Nepal” will explore the situation of education during the decade long insurgency. The study employs quantitative methods to analyze and draw reliable, valid conclusions.

In Nepal, where over 75% of the population is involved in agriculture, land is an important resource. But, for centuries, unequal distribution of land has been characteristic of Nepali society. Therefore, the issue of land reform, whereby the available land is justifiably distributed to the population, has been an important agenda after democracy replaced autocracy in 1951. Different governments attempted to implement land reform programmes, but without much success. The Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) presents land reform as one of the crucial issues that need addressing for a ‘progressive’ new Nepal. Prawash Gautam’s research looks at the history of land reform in Nepal, focusing on the different attempts to implement it, and reasons they have generally been unsuccessful. Research also looks at current initiatives and, in particular, those that could ensure successful land reform in Nepal.

ASPECT’s research on political discourse in Nepal is a focus of Research Associate, Prawin Limbu. This research focuses on topics ranging from Nepal’s 2005 12-Point Understanding to the current political processes which are working to bring sustainable peace to Nepal. Research looks at the underpinnings of values in the 12-Point Understanding as well as the connection between the context of the present political process and social psychology.