ABOUT CSDR

Nested within Abiral Foundation Nepal, the Centre for Sustainable Development Research (CSDR) is a consortium of development experts, thoughts leaders, and change-makers to propel the sustainable development efforts in Nepal. The CSDR was founded after realizing a need for cutting-edge research in the policy sector and the integration of evidence-based approaches in Nepal’s development sector. Focused on various socio-economic issues, thousands of development organizations exist in Nepal, making them key players in the development sector. A large proportion of them lack the required expertise and are unaware of the paramountcy of the evidence-based approach. The CSDR collaborates and trains development organizations to optimize their impact. Intending to influence the national policies and guide development programs, CSDR also researches various topics that are crucial to human capital, economy, and the environment- thematic areas carefully chosen using the systems thinking approach.

Why a multidisciplinary approach?

Healthy and economically productive people are our ultimate goal. Our experience in health program implementation and research has illuminated the fact that leaving socio-economic and environmental issues out of the picture makes public health elusive. Therefore, our strategy is a multidisciplinary approach that addresses proximal and distal determinants of health.

CSDR’s genesis and approach are also rooted in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges. Health, social, economic, and environmental repercussions are just unfolding, and the pandemic’s real impact could be more devastating than what has been documented thus far. Experts have estimated that the human capital gains made in the last two decades may have been regressed due to the pandemic. With a challenging road to recovery ahead, a multidisciplinary development approach like ours is more crucial than ever.

The CSDR works in the following thematic areas:

• Human Capital Development: health, education, safety net programs, and sustainable livelihood, advocacy
• Economic Development: international financing, agricultural development, revenue management.
• Environmental Conservation: renewal energy, sustainable housing, ecotourism, waste management.