TY - JOUR
T1 - Can Evidence and Voice Influence Policy? A Critical Assessment of Nepal's Forestry Sector Strategy, 2014
AU - Ojha, Hemant R.
AU - Khatri, Dil B.
AU - Shrestha, Krishna K.
AU - Bhattarai, Basundhara
AU - Baral, Jagadish C.
AU - Basnett, Bimbika Sijapati
AU - Goutam, Keshab
AU - Sunam, Ramesh
AU - Banjade, Mani R.
AU - Jana, Sudeep
AU - Bushley, Bryan
AU - Dhungana, Sindhu Prasad
AU - Paudel, Dinesh
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2016/3/3
Y1 - 2016/3/3
N2 - This article examines Nepal's recently prepared Forestry Sector Strategy (FSS) (as of 2014) in terms of the use of scientific evidence and the quality of stakeholder participation. By reviewing the content and analyzing the context of its development during 2012–2014, we found that the transitional politics and overt influence of international development agencies dominated the process and content of the FSS. Although the FSS was developed through a significant stakeholder engagement, there was limited use of the available scientific evidence. The FSS was narrowly conceived as a deliverable of supporting aid programs, with limited demand for a politically meaningful policy processes. While civil society groups were consulted, they largely failed to present an independent voice due to their dependence on funding agencies. Our assessment calls for rethinking policy development in a way that facilitates assertive and independent participation by a range of actors and make better use of the available research.
AB - This article examines Nepal's recently prepared Forestry Sector Strategy (FSS) (as of 2014) in terms of the use of scientific evidence and the quality of stakeholder participation. By reviewing the content and analyzing the context of its development during 2012–2014, we found that the transitional politics and overt influence of international development agencies dominated the process and content of the FSS. Although the FSS was developed through a significant stakeholder engagement, there was limited use of the available scientific evidence. The FSS was narrowly conceived as a deliverable of supporting aid programs, with limited demand for a politically meaningful policy processes. While civil society groups were consulted, they largely failed to present an independent voice due to their dependence on funding agencies. Our assessment calls for rethinking policy development in a way that facilitates assertive and independent participation by a range of actors and make better use of the available research.
KW - community forestry
KW - development
KW - evidence-based policy
KW - foreign aid
KW - policy process
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U2 - 10.1080/08941920.2015.1122851
DO - 10.1080/08941920.2015.1122851
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84955723927
SN - 0894-1920
VL - 29
SP - 357
EP - 373
JO - Society and Natural Resources
JF - Society and Natural Resources
IS - 3
ER -