Background
The Government of Nepal has recognized that sound population policy formulation in the area of population and development, and the effective and efficient implementation of population policy depend on competent professional advice, research and analysis. The Government of Nepal has, therefore, worked with Tribhuvan University (TU) to establish a high quality research and training institution to serve the country's population and development programme. The Central Department of Population Studies (CDPS) was established in 1988 by T.U. Council. Since 1990, CDPS has been modestly funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It has grown and developed during the last twenty years and has made significant contributions to the nation's population dynamics sector. It is envisaged that CDPS will continue to grow, in line with the evolving needs for research and training in the country; and that it will emerge in due course as a major research and training centre in South Asia. The Government of Nepal awarded CDPS with the prestigious National Population Award on July 11, 1999 on the auspicious occasion of the World Population Day for remarkable contribution to the management of various population programmes in Nepal. The leadership of CDPS also received this prestigious award in 2003.
CDPS has a Research Cell as Centre for Population Research and Training (CPRT) established by the Executive Council of Tribhuvan University in 2003. It has been authorized to conduct training programmes and research studies independently for national and international organizations within and outside Nepal. Most faculty members of CDPS are permanent employees of Tribhuvan University and research undertaking is an integral part of their career growth and advancement at CDPS. CDPS has its own building constructed by UNFPA with adequate computer and logistic supports. CDPS has so far produced more than 850 MAs in Population Studies and all of them are partially or fully employed. Some of them are pursuing higher education in foreign countries, and some are working within the country with the government, Universities, UN, Private Colleges, NGOs, and INGOs.
Source of funding
In addition to having regular support from Tribhuvan University, CDPS received UNFPA assistance from 1990 to 2007 including the physical infrastructure. CDPS also received technical assistance from Development Fund for International Development (DFID) to support institutional linkages with the Centre for Population Studies (CPS), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank have been recurrent sources of funding for small and medium scale research and curriculum development.
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