Nepal is advancing a critical national agenda to accelerate job creation and expand social protection through a National Consultation and Validation Workshop on the proposed National Roadmap for Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, held from 5–6 February 2026 in Kathmandu. The event was organized by the National Planning Commission (NPC) in partnership with UN agencies including ILO, UNICEF, UNDP, and UN Women under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, marking an important step in finalizing a roadmap that addresses Nepal’s evolving economic, labor market, and climate realities.
During the workshop, opening remarks were delivered by Honourable Member of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Sunity Shrestha Hada, who highlighted the urgency of job creation to reduce youth migration and address gender wage gaps. She emphasized the potential for employment across provincial and local levels, noting that the roadmap would provide clear guidance and actionable strategies to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The workshop also included expert presentations on analytical research supporting the roadmap. Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal, a macroeconomics expert, shared findings from the research underpinning the proposed strategies. Plenary sessions allowed participants to provide feedback, validate recommendations, and discuss strategic entry points to ensure the roadmap reflects practical policy pathways and implementation priorities.
The two-day consultation brought together senior government officials from various line ministries, social partners, development partners, academia, and subject-matter experts. This broad participation ensured that the roadmap aligns with national development priorities, institutional capacities, and fosters inter-ministerial coordination, national ownership, and consensus-building around policy reforms and implementation strategies.
Dr. Ram Kumar Phuyal, former Member of the National Planning Commission, presented a strategic review of Nepal’s social protection policies, highlighting lessons and best practices to guide the development of the roadmap. Developed through an extensive diagnostic and consultative process led by the NPC with technical support from UN partners and the World Bank, the roadmap positions Nepal as a pathfinder country under the UN Secretary-General’s Global Accelerator initiative.
Once validated and adopted, the National Roadmap for Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions will serve as a strategic instrument to translate Nepal’s just transition ambitions into concrete actions. It aims to accelerate economic recovery, deliver decent work, strengthen social protection systems, support structural transformation, and build a more resilient and inclusive economy, ensuring that no one is left behind in the country’s transition.
