Completed Programmes

With support from The Asia Foundation, SAWTEE conducted a study in the last quarter of 2022 to identify the barriers faced by Nepali women entrepreneurs in international trade and recommend possible solutions, at the policy level and in practice to overcome those barriers. Desk study was combined with stakeholder consultations. The study was presented in various forums. A national report was prepared and the study’s findings were incorporated into a South Asian regional report released by the Foundation.

With support from The Asia Foundation under the US government’s South Asia Small Grants Programme, SAWTEE organized a series of webinars in the last quarter of 2022 as part of a Civil Society Forum and produced four issue briefs. The topic covered were climate change/clean energy transition/climate finance, BIMSTEC Master Plan on transport connectivity, and intraregional investment in South Asia.

The project, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, aims to provide an overview of the innovation policy environment in Nepal, and illustrate the innovation support programmes aimed at micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) characteristics.

SAWTEE implemented a project titled "Effective trade policy making and economic diplomacy in Nepal in the context of federalism" with the support of The Asia Foundation (February 2022-December 2022). The project was implemented with the overall goal of enhancing export competitiveness and improving the export performance of Nepal by forging synergy among policies of federal and subnational governments (with a focus on Province 1), and through effective economic diplomacy. It also identified institutional interventions needed to make economic diplomacy effective, with the aim of improving the export performance of Nepal. Two research reports and two policy briefs were prepared, besides organizing multipole workshops, conferences and capacity building events. 

SAWTEE entered into an agreement on 30 September 2021 with The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, South Asia Research Hub, British High Commission, ("FCDO") for implementing this project. 

SAWTEE implemented the project from December 2020. The project was funded by Asian Development Bank to the Government of Nepal to formulate a Logistics Policy, SAWTEE, as a consultant, provided research support and contributed to the drafting of the policy. It worked closely with Nepal’s Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MOICS). The scope of work included preparing a background paper on different components and facets of logistics, including trade-related infrastructure and related services, transport services, warehousing and SPS-TBT issues (e.g., ICD/ICP; Rail; Road; Inland waterways; Airways; Advanced Logistics System; Multi-modal services; Transit facilitation; Customs and trade facilitation; Freight forwarding; Warehousing). As part of the project, SAWTEE organized and/or participated in stakeholder consultations (with private sector and different government agencies), including those at major customs points.  

This project was supported by the Asian Development Bank. SAWTEE conducted a preliminary assessment of Nepal’s industrial policy. The context was the premature de-industrialization observed in the economy, the adoption of federalism, the country’s impending graduation from the least developed country category, and the opportunities and challenges presented by digitalization and the fourth industrial revolution. The project identified the broad key gaps in the current industrial policy regime meriting further detailed investigation. 

SAWTEE implemented the project from September 2020 to January 2021. The project was funded by Institute of Policy Studies. The lockdown introduced to contain the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of food systems in Nepal (a landlocked, net food importing country). 

SAWTEE implemented the project from September 2020 to June 2021. The project was funded by ’The Asia Foundation’. SAWTEE conducted research and produced a paper that is an exploratory assessment of the coherence of policies, strategies and laws that have a bearing on Nepal’s international trade, with a special focus on its export performance; and the mechanism and extent of coordination between government agencies and between government and private sector in matters of trade policy formulation and implementation. It provided some broad recommendations for ensuring policy coherence and inter-agency coordination for an effective trade policy in general and for developing the export sector in particular. 

SAWTEE implemented the project from 01 June 2020 to 31 December 2020. The project was funded by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development- ICIMOD. It involved an exploratory study of the export potential of Nepal’s Sudurpashchim Province, which lags behind the rest of the country is many socio-economic dimensions, and a part of which is in the Kailash Sacred Landscape covering areas of Nepal, India and China. It identified the constraints on unlocking the province’s export potential and presents suggestions, with a focus on nature-based product. 

SAWTEE implemented the project from September 2020 to January 2021. The project was funded by CUTS-Geneva. Nepal is presently not a co-sponsor of the JSI on Electronic Commerce. Given the potential standard-setting nature of this initiative however, as well as its probable important impact on market liberalization in goods and services domains, policy-makers, negotiators and stakeholders in Nepal will need to understand where they stand in areas where these negotiations may set new international standards or request them to open their respective markets. This will be necessary in order for them to: (i) know their national priorities and interests in these areas; (ii) factor these in their international trade negotiating positions, where relevant; and (iii) effectively craft their national policies and strategies for the future. 

SAWTEE implemented the project from July 2020 to November 2020. The project was funded by Third world Network Berhad. Nepal’s domestic pharmaceutical production capacity has grown over the years. However, this has been mostly in the production of off-patent generic medicines. In recent years, a few dominant firms have strengthened their capacities in producing generic versions of on-patent medicines utilizing the TRIPS flexibilities accorded to LDCs, which is encouraging. However, Nepal’s graduation from the LDC group might reverse this trend since domestic production of on-patent medicines will then not be possible without paying royalties to the innovator. Nepal’s pharmaceutical manufacturers are not prepared to compete with foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers in the production of patented medicines. 

SAWTEE implemented the Nepal component of the project Gender dimensions of Trade Facilitation Agreement: Evidence from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal since December 2018. The project was coordinated by CUTS International and funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), the United Kingdom.

SAWTEE implemented the project Initiating dialogue on post-disaster reconstruction with the financial support of The Asia Foundation, Nepal. The project was implemented in the aftermath of the devastating 2015 earthquake and the ensuing reconstruction process that called for discussions among various stakeholders on the economic impact of the earthquake. 

SAWTEE was a co-facilitator in the project Nepal Agricultural Market Development Programme (NAMDP) since February 2018. The project, branded as ‘Sahaj’, was a bilateral initiative between the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Nepal. It was being jointly implemented by Swisscontact Nepal and Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED). One of the main objectives of NAMDP was to improve the regulatory and policy environment for the participation of the private sector in agriculture. To achieve this objective, SAWTEE provided research-based inputs, followed a market systems development approach, for the design, implementation and assessment of interventions in relevant policy areas. The initial project ended on December 2019 and date was extended for additional activities up to 31 May 2020. 

Supportive policy and reregulation are important to create an enabling environment for innovation, transfer and adoption of agricultural technology. Realizing this, South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE) with support from Feed the Future Project, Winrock International undertook a project aiming to identify the policy and regulatory issues impeding the development, transfer, adaptation and adoption of appropriate technology in agriculture in Nepal, especially among smallholders, with a focus on vegetables and aquaculture.    

SAWTEE implemented the Nepal component of the project Linkages and impacts of cross-border informal trade in agricultural inputs in eastern South Asia from September 2016 to June 2017. The project was led and coordinated by CUTS International and financially supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Department for International Development (DFID), UK. CUTS International also implemented the project in India while the Bangladesh component was implemented by Unnayan Shamannay.  

SAWTEE implemented the Nepal component of the project Expanding tradable benefits of trans-boundary water: Promoting navigational usage of inland waterways in Ganga and Brahmaputra basins from September 2016 to September 2017. The project was led and coordinated by CUTS International and funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. The consortium of SAWTEE, CUTS International, Unnayan Shamannay and Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) implemented the project in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, respectively. 

The project was launched in March 2016 seeking to undertake in-depth research in the articulation of offensive and defensive interests of the LDCs in negotiations. SAWTEE was a knowledge partner of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, in the project from March 2016 to May 2018. The project was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. 

SAWTEE undertook the project Study on the export potential of fresh vegetables, funded by Adam Smith International. The objective of the project was to find out the demand and supply situation of fresh vegetables in Nepal and international markets, mainly India, through a survey of Nepal’s major regional vegetable markets and identify the export potential of fresh vegetables from Nepal.  

SAWTEE implemented the project Strengthening the role of SAARC in the sustainable intensification of agriculture in South Asia with the support of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The objective of the project was to strengthen the cooperation among SAARC member countries in support of sustainable intensification of agriculture with a particular focus on poor smallholder farmers. 

SAWTEE implemented the Nepal component of the project A survey on regional investments and value chains in South Asia from June 2016 to June 2017.

SAWTEE implemented the project Trade and transport facilitation audit in South Asia from Jun 2013 to Jun 2016. The project was designed against the poor state of trade and transport facilitation and associated high costs in South Asia.

The Economic Policy Incubator (EPI), launched in February 2016 with support from DFID, aimed to strengthen Nepal’s economic policies and policy processes through flexible approaches, instruments and entry points.

SAWTEE, in collaboration with CUTS-CITEE, implemented the Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio. It is a, Department of Foreign Aid and Trade (DeFAT) (Government of Australia)’s multi-year portfolio investment approach in South Asia. 

SAWTEE had launched a project titled “Trade promotion through Standardisation in the South and South East Asian Regions (SESA)” in 2013. The programme gave support to eight countries in South Asia (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan) and Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia) in order to strengthen the capacity of their National Standardization Organisations (NSBs).

SAWTEE, in co-operation with Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI), Norway, worked on a project titled “International Objectives for Adaptation, Access, and Benefit Sharing: Effects on the Management of Plant Genetic Resources in India and Nepal.” 

SAWTEE completed Phase III of Trade, Climate Change and Food Security Project. The main objectives of the study were  to assess the level of public investments in the agriculture sector, including the empowerment of small-scale women farmers, and suggest a way forward. 

A study to assess the impact of the earthquake was undertaken in Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu Districts of Kathmandu Valley. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of the earthquake on food security and livelihood in order to suggest ways to minimise the negative impact. 

SAWTEE is undertaking a country study on Nepalese products with regional trade potential and associated non-tariff barriers with special focus on women owned and led micro, small and medium enterprises (WMSMEs) since July 2014.

SAWTEE is implementing a project titled “A perception survey of Non-Tariff Measures experienced by firms in South Asia” in collaboration with World Bank South Asia and Indian Council for Research and International (ICRIER). 

SAFIT aimed to establish linkage between the civil society organizations and research institutions while conducting advocacy with the governments and intergovernmental organizations. 

CUTS Centre for Trade, Economics and Environment (CUTS-CITEE), Jaipur, India implemented this project along with SAWTEE. The four-year project was implemented in 16 countries across Asia, Africa and Europe. 

The project envisaged documenting good practices pertaining to non-state actors role in sovereign trade negotiations in Nepal, the Philippines and Thailand to help stakeholders in other countries in the region improve their participation in trade policy making process and trade negotiations. 

SAWTEE initiated a project titled “Research and Dialogue for Nepal’s Enhanced Trade (REDNET)” with the support of German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), as a part of the latter’s programme to build trade capacity in Nepal since September 2013. Particular focus of the Project is on three products identified by NTIS—namely medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS) and essential oils, silver jewellery and honey.

With support from Asia Foundation, SAWTEE is carrying out a detailed study on ginger value chain and exports of the product. The objective of the study is to identify the critical non-tariff barriers in export to destination market in general and to India in particular. 

The project, based on an assessment of Nepal accession to the WTO, aimed to evaluate to what extent the accession process, agreement and implementation in Nepal contributed and/or was likely to contribute to achieving the country public policy objectives. 

SAWTEE has initiated a programme to track public expenditure in the health sector. The proposed project will analyse government budget allocation in Nepal’s health sector. It will specifically focus on the analysis of public expenditure in the health sector from the perspectives of gender and social inclusion. The project is supported by the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI).

In 2011-2012, SAWTEE conducted three detailed studies on Nepal’s trade with India, China and South Asian countries. The studies were conducted based on secondary information/data as well as primary information/data collected from stakeholders in Kathmandu, Kolkata and major border towns. SAWTEE also conducted an assessment and prepared a report on the various analytical models applicable for Nepal. The major objectives of these studies were to identify the prospects and challenges of Nepal’s trade with the mentioned countries, and provide recommendations to the Government of Nepal.

Under the Nepal Economic, Agriculture and Trade (NEAT) Activity implemented by Chemonics International and supported by USAID, SAWTEE prepared a training manual on international trade, which was handed over to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies, Government of Nepal. Based on the manual, a training programme on international trade issues was organized for relevant government officials of different ministries and departments, the Central Bank, and researchers, mainly representing the private sector, working on trade issues.

In early 2012, SAWTEE conducted an in-depth assessment of the issues surrounding competition in Nepal to recommend appropriate enforcement regulation guidelines to the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), Government of Nepal to implement the Competition Promotion and Market Protection Act (CPMP). SAWTEE worked in close collaboration with the Department of Commerce to produce a report on the operational guidelines for implementation of the CPMP. 

In May-August 2012, SAWTEE and the Centre for the Study of Labour and Mobility (CESLAM) of the Social Science Baha (SSB) jointly prepared the Nepal case study to be included in the European Development Report (EDR) 2012-2013. The theme of the EDR is “Development in a Changing World: Elements for a Post-2015 Global Agenda,” and includes case studies from four low-income countries, including Nepal.

Realizing the urgency to tackle the problem of food insecurity in South Asia, and the need to institute proper legislation in order to effectively address food security-related concerns in South Asian countries, SAWTEE, in collaboration with Oxfam GB, launched a project in December 2012 to carry out a comprehensive study of existing legislation that are relevant to food security in five South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). The study aims to identify and analyze the features of food security-related legislation in these countries and highlight good practices as well as existing loopholes in the legislation

Under the Nepal Economic, Agriculture and Trade (NEAT) Activity implemented by Chemonics International with support of USAID, SAWTEE is conducting a diagnostic study of selected services sub-sectors to assess the potential for development/expansion of export markets and identify market access barriers in their exports. The study will aid in the identification of potential markets for the chosen services sectors, barriers to export in those markets, as well as required reforms at the domestic level. 

The overall goal of the project was to contribute to address Nepal’s human development challenges through promotion of external trade. The project comprised of various research and advocacy activities. The research included Human Development Impact Assessment in the Post ATC Period, Export Diversification and Value Addition, Creating a Conducive Trade and Industrial Policy Environment in Nepal and Capacity Enhancement of Trade Negotiators. 

In early 2012, SAWTEE conducted a project titled “Cost of Economic Non-cooperation to Consumers in South Asia (COENCOSA)” in Nepal. The project was implemented by SAWTEE’s member organization Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International in five South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) with support from the Asia Foundation. 

SAWTEE has partnered with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), United Kingdom, to carry-out research in Nepal as part of a research project entitled “Practical Approaches to Supporting Competitiveness of Low Income Countries (LICs)/Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) in a Carbon Constrained World” which began in January 2012. The research project aims to develop a “Low Carbon Development Diagnostic” tool through engagement in five LICs.

SAWTEE, in association with the German International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Ministry of Commerce and Supplies (MoCS), Government of Nepal, implemented the programme “Supporting Nepal’s WTO Accession” in April 2011. The major objectives of the programme were to build capacity of national WTO focal points in order to enable them to undertake specific actions as per Nepal’s commitments at the WTO; create awareness among stakeholders in general about the WTO, and in particular on SPS, TBT, IPR, trade facilitation, and other relevant issues; and identify bottlenecks to export expansion of two products, namely medicinal plants and essential oils and silver jewellery, identified by Nepal Trade Integration Strategy (NTIS) 2010. The programme is supported by GIZ.

SAWTEE, together with International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva, have successfully completed a programme to evaluate the effectiveness and development impact of Aid for Trade (AfT). SAWTEE was involved with the programme since the inception of the idea in early 2010. For the programme, SAWTEE prepared the methodology for conducting country case studies in six countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean. SAWTEE also implemented the Nepal component of the programme.

SAWTEE has implemented a three-year regional project titled “Research, Capacity Building and Advocacy on Trade (ReCAT)” so as to strengthen the capacities of concerned stakeholders to better understand the different trade and development issues concerning bilateral, regional and multilateral trade. The project envisioned to strengthen the capacity of different stakeholders in South Asia to help them use trade as a means to address their development concerns.

SAWTEE and LI-BIRD implemented a three-year national programme in Nepal on January 2008. The overall objective of the programme was to develop innovative mechanisms for implementing farmers’ rights to fair access to and benefit sharing from the use of genetic resources and associated knowledge. The programme aimed to assess the appropriateness of policy and legal instruments to implement farmers’ rights relevant to access and benefit sharing (ABS); strengthen multi-stakeholder arrangements for the effective implementation of farmers’ rights and an ABS regime; identify and strengthen institutional arrangements appropriate for farming communities to manage functions related to securing farmers’ rights and enforcing an ABS regime, and sustainable management of their genetic resources; and support innovative practices for implementing farmers’ rights and ABS mechanisms, and for promoting conservation of biodiversity for livelihood security. The programme was supported by International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.

In the context of the United Nations having declared the year 2002 as International Year of Mountains (IYM), SAWTEE, in cooperation with ICIMOD, conducted FRIYM. Under this programme, SAWTEE and its member institutions conducted various activities such as organization of two sub-national workshops on farmers' rights each in India and Nepal, a roundtable on Protecting Farmers’ Rights in the HKH Region in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic during the Bishkek Global Mountain Summit in October 2002, and a regional seminar on Evolving Sui Generis Options in the HKH Region on 24–26 March 2003 in Kathmandu. SAWTEE network also produced several publications under this programme.

Under the Gender and Trade programme, SAWTEE conducted research on Gender Implications of Nepal’s Accession to the WTO. The Research Team looked at gender implications on the two major sectors of the Nepalese economy, namely carpet and tourism. The outcomes of the research were fed into the process of Nepal accession to the WTO. This programme was supported by UNIFEM, South Asia Regional Office, New Delhi.

In its effort to sensitize stakeholders through the dissemination of correct information based on empirical evidence and to provide them a regular forum to express and exchange their ideas and opinions on globalization and WTO-related issues, SAWTEE, together with ActionAid Nepal, organized discussion forums and circulated e-newsletters on globalization and the WTO on a monthly basis from February 2003 to April 2004. The stakeholders of the programme included planners and policy makers, business chambers, NGOs, the academic community, the media and other interested individuals and organizations. Twelve monthly forums were organized on different issues related to globalization and the WTO.

ECOMP was launched in February 2005 and completed in January 2006. The programme aimed to increase the competitiveness of the Nepali private sector, particularly the small and medium enterprises to survive and prosper under the multilateral trading framework (WTO) through enhanced capacity to understand and respond to the requirements of the new regime. Advocacy, research, sensitization, capacity building, information dissemination, networking and alliance building were the major focus areas of the programme. This programme was supported by The Asia Foundation, Kathmandu.

RECAB was launched in September 2004 and completed in August 2007. The programme targeted to build the capacity of stakeholders, including the government, the private sector and the civil society on WTO-related issues. Advocacy, research, sensitization, capacity building, information dissemination, networking and alliance building were the major focus areas of the programme. The programme was implemented jointly with ActionAid Nepal. 

CAEP was implemented from February 2004 to February 2007. The programme not only envisaged to create an atmosphere for the formulation and enactment of competition-friendly policies and build a healthy competition culture at different levels in Nepal but also targeted to build the capacity of concerned stakeholders to act as a watchdog to prevent anti-competitive practices and call for effective competitive market environment in different economic sectors of the country. The programme was supported by the Nepal office of Department for International Development (DFID), UK.

MANED was implemented from April 2007 to December 2008. The programme was supported by ActionAid Nepal. The programme reviewed the situation of foreign debt in Nepal, assessed stakeholders' perception on the effectiveness of foreign debt and disseminated its findings among a wide range of stakeholders in Nepal. The programme sensitized Nepali stakeholders on various aspects of Nepal's foreign debt and made the concerned government authorities aware about the proactive measures they can and should undertake to ensure the effective use of foreign debt.

GRAPOL was implemented from November 2005 to December 2008. The project was designed to create a linkage between grassroots and policy level, particularly for enabling stakeholders at both levels to take proactive measures to minimise the risks and reap the benefits from Nepal\'s membership to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The goal of the project was to ensure that stakeholders at the grassroots level raise their voices on WTO issues and policymakers and planners take into consideration their concerns while formulating policy documents and legislation. Awareness Raising, Capacity Building, Networking and Media and Policy Advocacy were the major focus areas of the project. The project was supported by MS Nepal, Danish Association for International Cooperation, Kathmandu.

After the successful completion of the three-year programme titled “Securing Farmers' Rights to Livelihood in the Hindu-Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region”, SAWTEE, in collaboration with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, implemented the second phase of the project from July 2004 to June 2007. The major objective of FRP II was to protect and promote farmers' rights in the HKH region in the context of liberalization, globalization and WTO agreements. This programme was conducted in five South Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It was supported by the Ford Foundation, New Delhi and Novib, The Netherlands.

Following the successful implementation of the first and second phases of PROACT, the third phase of the programme was implemented from July 2004 to June 2007 with support from Novib, The Netherlands. PROACT–Phase III aimed at building the capacity of CSOs of the region, thereby contributing to create an atmosphere conducive to the formation of and commitment to a common position of SAARC countries during WTO negotiations by taking the "development dimension" into consideration. 

SAWTEE conducted this programme in collaboration with its India-based member institution CUTS-International, Jaipur. The overall objective of the programme was to increase the long-term capacity of CSOs; and improve consumers’ representation as a measure to enhance the effectiveness of regulatory regimes in the electricity sector in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. SAWTEE managed and implemented the Nepal component of the programme. RESA was supported by The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and its beneficiaries were consumers, CSOs, grassroots consumer groups, the media, policy makers, electricity regulatory agencies, representatives from distribution companies, etc.