2026 marks two major milestones in Nepal: 30 years since the start of the armed conflict and 20 years since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. These events paved the path for peacebuilding and power devolution, officially cemented by the 2015 Constitution and the 2017 elections. This transition aimed to provide meaningful inclusion for historically marginalized groups, including the Madhesi, Tharu, Janajati, and Dalit communities.
International Alert and the Mershon Center for International Security Studies conducted a peace audit of Nepal’s progress in implementing the 2015 Constitution’s commitments to political and social inclusion. This three-part research report critically examines how federalism in Nepal has been contested, adapted, and evolved since 2015.
It finds that Nepal’s federalism remains deeply rooted in its peace process; however, after a decade of implementation, it has struggled to bridge the gap between constitutional theory and lived reality. The system has yet to fully manifest the inclusive governance, diverse identities, and bold aspirations demanded by its citizens, most notably the emerging Gen Z demographic.
A core research team of International Alert’s Asia Director Rabina Shrestha and Programme and Learning Manager Ashim Pandey and Mershon Center’s Associate Director Teri Murphy conducted interviews and focus groups in western provinces and the Kathmandu Valley with government officials, academics, journalists, human rights advocates, NGO practitioners, and community leaders. These consultations helped shape a broader two-year research agenda carried out by a team of 14 Nepali researchers.
The peace audit research assesses the impact of federalism on inclusion, participation, governance equity, and collective (in)security, particularly among historically marginalized groups. The report also identifies the implications of these impacts on building a more peaceful and sustainable Nepal.
Drawing on qualitative fieldwork conducted in Kathmandu and in Koshi, Madhesh, Lumbini, and Sudurpaschim provinces, this assessment evaluates how federal reforms are experienced on the ground across caste, ethnicity, gender, and geography.
It’s recommendations include:
- Strengthening inclusion through enforceable representation mechanisms
- Advancing substantive gender representation and influence
- Combating corruption
- Supporting provincial autonomy and public participation
- Reforming political party structures and incentives
- Including conflict sensitivity into policy design across all sectors
This research is presented at a critical time for Nepal, with the growing frustration over entrenched corruption and persistent inequality reaching a breaking point in late 2025, when Gen Z-led protests showed that the traditional political groups no longer enjoyed the support of the people. This ultimately led to the new Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) winning a historic majority in the March 2026 elections.
Read the full reports:
