Institute of Foreign Affairs

Institute of Foreign Affairs

Articles on Nepal's Foreign Policy

Resources

Nepal A Generic Guideline for Development through Economic Diplomacy

Report on Special Orientation Programme for Nepalese Foreign Service Officials (Deputed) working in different missions abroad

Report on Briefing-cum-Interaction Programme for the Nepalese Ambassadors (Designate) to Different Missions Abroad

Papers presented at a national seminar on “Nepal as a Transit State: Emerging Possibilities”

Papers of Regional Conference on "New Life within SAARC"

Report on Nepal's Foreign Affairs (2002-2003)

Economic Diplomacy Report

Total Library Books

IFA Issue Brief

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Background

Founded in 1993 as an integral part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the office of the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA) is located at Tripureshwor in Kathmandu, Nepal. In 1998, the Government of Nepal reconstituted IFA as a semi-autonomous body under the Development Committee Act 2013 B.S. The Institute was originally designed to cater to professional training needs of the Nepalese Foreign Service officials and personnel by providing them with background knowledge, information and professional skills as well as to serve as a catalyst for generating national consensus on foreign policy issues through interactions, discussions and deliberations. Under the new set-up, IFA now is also conceived as a 'think-tank' on foreign policy issues. Preserving the documents of historic importance as well as dissemination of information on foreign policy related issues is another major responsibility of the Institute.

Background | Objectives | Functions | Areas of Study | Library | Activities of the Institute | Training Programmes | Talk Programmes | Seminars/Conferences | International Link | IFA's Financial Sources | Organizational Structure | Governing Body | Member-Secretary | Supporting Staff | List of IFA Publications | Contact Address

Objectives

Generally, IFA works with its partner organizations in social, economic, political and other related areas, and executes all the activities and plans on an annual basis. The basic objectives of the Institute are as follows:

Providing suggestions and recommendations to the Government of Nepal on short and long-term foreign policy formulation.
Preparing concept papers, including strategic analysis on foreign affairs, and submit them to the Government of Nepal.
Organizing seminars, workshops, meetings and conferences to discuss and deliberate on foreign policy issues and come up with recommendations.
Undertake study and research programmes on more vital foreign policy related issues of the country.
Conducting briefing cum interaction programmes for Ambassadors designate.
Conducting training programmes for officials of MoFA and other ministries on foreign policy issues.
Updating and systematically compiling all historic documents and information on foreign policy issues and publishing them as required.
Establishing linkages with Foreign Governments, INGOs, NGOs, eminent personalities and stakeholders both at home and abroad to achieve common objectives and programmes.

Lectures, panel discussions, seminars/symposia and conferences.
Workshops, orientation, briefing cum interaction and training programmes.
Publication of research findings, seminar proceedings, reports on related issues, news bulletins, occasional papers, annual journals and
Action programmes.

Areas of Study

Foreign policy, planning and management
Foreign relations
Industrial relations and laws
WTO, globalisation, privatisation
Security-related issues
Conflict management and conflict resolution
Promotion of regional co-operation

Library

IFA has its own library with a good number of books and periodicals on international relations. These publications have been received from the embassies of India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, France, Sri Lanka, Finland, Pakistan, etc. The Asia Foundation has also made available various publications to IFA.

Apart from these, IFA boasts a huge collection of documents on issues related to foreign affairs.

Activities of the Institute

Since its inception, IFA has closely been working together with various national and international organizations in Nepal. It joins hands with different organizations in holding conferences, talk programme, seminars, training programmes and workshops. The Institute has conducted researches and studies on a wide range of issues of national interest and provided necessary inputs to MoFA. Moreover, IFA has remained effortful to establish close relationship with a number of foreign organisations, institutes, academies etc. The Institute joins hands with different organisations to organize interaction and discussion programmes with prominent politicians, members of parliament, private sectors, public sectors, foreign policy experts, academicians and eminent scholars.

Training Programmes

IFA organizes special orientation-cum-briefing programme for Nepalese ambassadors (designate), Consul Generals, Economic Counselors, Deputy Consul Generals, Cultural Counselors, First and Second Secretaries, newly appointed Section Officers and other MoFA officials deputed to different Nepalese diplomatic missions abroad.

Besides, IFA has organised financial management and computer training programmes for MoFA officials.

Talk Programmes

IFA organises talk programmes on a wide range of issues and it invites eminent scholars from foreign as well as national scholars to deliver talks on contemporary issues.

The following erudite individuals from various countries have visited the Institute and delivered talks on pertinent issues:

Deshmanya Vernon LB Mendis, Director General, Bandaranaike Diplomatic Institute, Colombo
Prof. Joseph Y. Cheng and Prof. Herbert Yee, Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr. Paramananda, a prominent Indian scholar
Ambassador Urachata Rodprasert, Executive Director, Thai Institute of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador A. Peter Burleigh, Former US envoy to Sri Lanka
Talk Programme on "The SAARC Process and Poverty Eradication in South Asia"
Talk Programme on "Nepal -Japan Relations", 2005
Talk Programme on "Nepal-Russia Relations", 2006
Talk Programme on "Economic Relations between Nepal and TAR of China"
Talk Programme on UN Reforms by Lt. Gen. (retd) Satish K. Nambiar
Talk Programme on "Nepal-China Contemporary Dialogue", by Li Shaoxian, Vice-President of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR),2007
Talk Programme on "Nepal-Egypt Relations", 2007
Talk Programme on "Civil-Military Relations in a Modernising Democracy" by Prof. Dr. Thomas Meyer, Chairman, Department of Political Science, Dortmund University, Germany, 2007
Talk Programme on " Russian-Chinese Relations and the Development of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation" by Dr. Alexander Lukin, Director of the Centre for East Asian and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Studies under the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, 2007
Prof. Mahendra P. Lama, Chairman of the School of International Studies, Jawaharalal Nehru University, New Delhi, have taken part in the seminars organized by IFA.

Seminars/Conferences

Nepal's Foreign Policy: Issue and Options, 1999
Security in South Asia, 2001
Nepal-India open border: Positive and Negative Aspects, 2002
Follow-up of the Eleventh SAARC Summit, 2003
Future of South Asia: A New Generational Perspective, 2004
Trade Facilitation: Nepal's Priorities, 2005
Nepal-China Relations, 2005
Nepal and the United Nations, 2005
New Life Within SAARC, 2005
Comprehensive Security in South Asia, 2006
Nepal as a Transit State: Emerging Possibilities, 2006
Nepal-Japan Relations, 2006
SAARC: A Vision for the Future and Nepalese Perspective, 2007
Different Dimensions of Bhutanese Refugee Problem: Its Implications and Lasting Solutions, 2007
Water Resource Management: Viable Means for Sustainable National Development, 2007
Nepal - China Contemporary Dialogue, 2007
"Civil Military Relations in Modernizing Democracy", 2007
Talk Programme on Nepal-Egypt Relations, 2007
Talk Programme on "Russian-Chinese Relations and the Development of Shanghai Cooperation Organization", 2007
"Orientation Cum Briefing Programme "for newly appointed Nepalese Ambassadors (designate), 2007
"Foreign Employment, Remittances and Foreign Policy", 2007
Seminar on Nepal German Relations, 2007
" Two Decades of SAARC: An Overview", 2007
Expansion of SAARC Challenges and Opportunities, 2008
"Foreign Policy of (new) Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities", 2008
To Mark the Golden Jubilee of Nepal's Contribution to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, 2009
An Interaction on "Constitution -Making: A Comparative Perspective" (ICAPP), 2009
Interaction on "Enhancement of Nepal-India Bilateral Trade, Commerce and other issues of national concern", 2009
"Briefing Cum Interaction" for newly appointed Nepalese Ambassadors (designate), 2009
"Nepal-Poland Relations", 2009
Debate on "Foreign Policy of Nepal: Issues, options and future Directions", 2009
Reception Programme Marvin A. Brustin, Honorary Consul Generl of America to Nepal, 2010
Seminar on "Challenges of Nepal's Foreign Policy", 2010
Seminar on "Sino-Nepal Relations: Harmonious friendship", 2010

International Link

One of the major objectives of the Institute is to establish organisational links with similar institutes of the friendly countries. IFA has already established its links with the Institute of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Russia, China, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, etc. The Presidents of the Japanese, Russian and Chinese Institutes of Foreign Affairs have visited IFA office. Similarly, probationers from the Indian Foreign Service and the Bangladesh Foreign Academy have visited the Institute. They have also held interactions with the MoFA officials and expressed their keen interest to promote relations between the Institutes. Similarly, IFA officials have visited the foreign affairs institutes of different friendly countries.

Moreover, several internationally renowned scholars such as Vice-President of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), Mr. Li Shaoxian, Prof. Dr. Thomas Meyer, the Chairman of the Department of Political Science, Dortmund University, Germany, Prof. Dr. Alexander Lukin, the Director of the Centre for East Asian and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Studies under the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, and Prof. Mahendra P. Lama, the Chairman of the School of International Studies, Jawaharalal Nehru University, New Delhi, have taken part in the seminars organized by IFA.

IFA's Financial Sources

Financial assistance from the Government of Nepal
Contributions from individuals and organisations;
Donations from International Organisations, Foreign Governments or Foreign Nationals;
Income from other sources

Organizational Structure

At the core of the institution is a Board of Director that governs and directs its activities. An Advisory Board guides the policy of the Institution. A Research panel of consultants with expertise in diverse disciplines assists the organisation in planning and executing projects.

Governing Body

The Governing Body includes the following officials and personalities as Members:

Hon'ble Ms. Sujata Koirala, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Foreign Affairs, MoFA	Chairman

Dr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai, Secretary, MoFA	Member

Mr. Khaga Nath Adhikari, Joint Secretary, MoFA	Member

Mr. Prakash A Raj, NCWA	Member

Mr. Dambar B. Thapa, President UN Association of Nepal	Member

Mr. Rakesh Hamal	Member

Mr. Mahesh Dahal	Member

Mr. Tika Jung Thapa, Executive Director, Institute of Foreign Affairs	Member Secretary

IFA Core Staff

Mr. Tika Jung Thapa Executive Director	Mrs. Anjan Shakya Deputy Executive Director

Mr. Binod Prasad Bista Advisior

Supporting Staff

Mr. Mahendra Prasad Joshi
Mr. Subhash Lohani
Ms. Binita Shrestha
Mr. Sanuraja Puri
Mr. Bimal Raut
Ms. Deepa Neupane
Mr. Rajendra Magar
Mr. Nish Magar
Ms. Meena Magar
Ms. Sanu Maiya Shrestha

List of IFA Publications

1993

Report on the National Seminar of Nepal's Foreign Policy

Report of the Seminar on The Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations and their Implications for the Nepalese Economy
Nepal's Participation in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations (Report of the Seminar organised in cooperation with UN Association of Nepal)

Nepal's Foreign Policy: Issues and Options (Report of the National Seminar organised in cooperation with FES)
The SAARC Process and Poverty Eradication in South Asia (Report of the talk programme organised in cooperation with SAPROS-Nepal)

Policy Study Series-I (Nepal-India, Nepal-China and UN, LDC and Nepal)

Policy Study Series-II (Security in South Asia)

Report of the Seminar on Indo-Nepal Open Border: Positive and Negative Aspects (for Nepal)

Report of the Seminar on Follow-up of the Eleventh SAARC Summit
Policy Study Series-III (Nepal's Relations with Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)

Future of South Asia: A New Generational Perspective
Policy study Series-IV (Nepal's Relations with United States of America)
Report on Nepal's Foreign Affairs (2002-2003)

Trade Facilitation: Nepal's Priorities
Policy Study Series-V: Labour Issues and Foreign Policy
Nepal-China Relations
Nepal and the United Nations in cooperation with NCWA and UNAN
New Life Within SAARC in cooperation with FES

Comprehensive Security in South Asia in cooperation with FES
Nepal as a Transit State: Emerging Possibilities
Nepal-Japan Relations

Issue Brief-IV, V and VI
Publication on Different Dimensions of Bhutanese Refugee Problem: Its Implications and Lasting Solutions
Publication on Water Resource Management: Viable Means for Sustainable National Development
Report on Special Orientation Programme for Nepalese Foreign Service Officials (Deputed) in different missions abroad, 2007.
Report on Briefing cum Interaction Programme for Nepalese Ambassadors (designate), 2007.

Nepal: A Generic Guideline for Development through Economic Diplomacy - 2008
Expansion of SAARC Challenges and Opportunities - 2008

News Bulletins (Issue Brief) on a regular feature basis Vol. 4,5,6,7,8,9 - 2009
Nepal-German Relations - 2009
Course Design for Ambassador Designate and Officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 2009
A Compilation of Joint communiqués and Press Statements Issues by Governments of Nepal and India during Prime Minister's Officials Visit (1990-2009) - 2009
Foreign Policy of Nepal: "Challenges and Opportunities" - 2009

Statements and Declarations of SAARC Summits of the Heads of State or Government (1985-2010 - 2010
Speeches of Heads of the Nepalese Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (1990-2009)

Contact Address

Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA)
Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal
P. O. Box: 23674
Tel.: 4266954, 4266955
Fax: 977-1-14266956
E-mail: ifa@mail.com.np
Website: www.ifa.org.np