NPA National Conference Charts Course for Smart, Resilient Urban Future

Kathmandu, November 3, 2025 – The two-day National Conference on Policy, Practice, and Progress (3P), organized by the Nepal PhD Association (NPA), concluded today in Kathmandu, issuing a strong call for integrated governance, climate-resilience, and innovative financing to drive Nepal’s urban development.

Held under the theme 'Smart Urban Planning and Development – Policies to Practices,' the conference brought together approximately 200 participants, including policymakers, academics, development partners, and urban professionals, at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier in Budhanilkantha.

Focus on Policy and Practice

The event, which ran from November 2-3, 2025, served as a crucial national platform aimed at bridging the gap between urban policy formulation and practical, on-the-ground implementation.

The conference was a major collaborative effort, organized by the NPA in partnership with the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), Nepal Open University (NOU), the Policy Research Institute (PRI), and key development partners including UNDP Nepal, UN-Habitat, and WWF Nepal.

In his Keynote Address, Dr. Bindu Nath Lohani, Chancellor of the University of Nepal, emphasized the need for comprehensive and balanced attention to infrastructure, transportation, and environment to successfully build smart cities.

Key Resolutions Adopted

Through seven intensive thematic sessions, experts and stakeholders developed a consensus on a series of resolutions intended to guide future urban initiatives. The key outcomes include:

Integrated Urban Systems: A commitment to promoting a hierarchical National Urban System that ensures policy harmonization and systematic planning across federal, provincial, and local government levels.

Climate-Resilient Planning: A resolution to mainstream climate resilience by integrating Climate Vulnerability Assessments (CVAs) into master plans and adopting resilient building standards.

Data-Driven Governance: A push to establish a National Urban Knowledge Repository to enable evidence-based, data-driven decision-making and performance monitoring.

Innovative Financing: Mobilizing new funding mechanisms, such as municipal bonds and value-capture financing, coupled with the adoption of results-based funding models tied to performance indicators.

Green Infrastructure and WASH: Prioritizing Green-Blue Infrastructure (GBI) for resilience, supporting Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) for food security, and implementing decentralized WASH systems.

Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, President of the NPA, noted that with rapid urbanization, effective policy implementation is vital for creating inclusive and sustainable cities. He affirmed that the recommendations from the conference will serve as a practical roadmap for sustainable urban transformation.

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment from all stakeholders—academia, government, and the private sector—to utilize the 3P framework (Policy, Practice, and Progress) to achieve a smarter, more resilient urban future for Nepal. Dr. Divas Amatya ,  Secretary of NPA, delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the collaborative spirit that made the event a success.