Kathmandu University, being the recipient of Policy Honor and Cash Prize worth NPR. 50,000 for the year 2021 awarded annually to the organizations/individuals contributing to policy research of the country, has attempted to establish and institutionalize the PEF through KU’s Executive Council, an apex body of KU (647th KU Executive Council Meeting dated on January 13, 2022). During the award receiving ceremony, KU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr. Bhola Thapa announced to convert the prize money into Policy Endowment Fund (PEF) which would be equivalent to NPR 50,00,000 in the days to come.
The main objective is to contribute to public policymaking and governance through policy research, policy influencing, and publications for evidence-based policymaking and advocacy in the public policy mainstream through mobilizing and utilizing the PEF. Specifically, the contributions would be made through: i) the research fund, provided to public policy students, ii) support to faculty on policy research, and outdoor/policy outreach activities in the policy mainstream, iii) support to PhD, MPhil students who are trying to contribute to the policy domain, and iv) capstone research grants.