Ratna Mani Nepal is a Lecturer and PhD Scholar in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tribhuvan University (TU), Kathmandu. While at UCSB he will be working with Professor Jan Nederveen Pieterse and the Political Economy research initiative. 

Ratna’s research focuses on perspectives and policy implications of inclusive development in a developing country—specifically, the structure and effectiveness of inclusive development policies in Nepal. This qualitative project reviews theories and paradigms of development and their alternative forms, with special focus on the inclusive development paradigm and emphasis given to the assessment of the political economy, actors and agencies, methodologies, and related aspects of development paradigms. Expert opinion and group discussion are also drawn upon. The project aim is to critically analyze the relative advantage, value, and limitations of the application of inclusive development policies in Nepal.