A Systematic Review on Evidence Based Policy Making and effectiveness in the Perspectives of Environmental Pollution in Nepal

Abstract

It is high time to analyze and find the policy gaps and adequacies focusing on environmental pollution and the functionality of policy instruments as the issue of environmental pollution are growing day by day in Nepal and throughout the world. In this context, the question arises why policies are generally not transformed into action in Nepal. The systematic review method was adopted for the relevant literature review and PRISMA reporting tool for the article writing. It is observed that there are many barriers to evidence use such as reliability, replicability of the study time required to develop evidence, lack of evidence use culture and coordination between research organizations and policy making institutions, and vested interests, etc. Amidst the mentioned barriers there are some prospects as well, the tool like evidence to decision has been developed and the system of co-production of evidence among researchers and policy makers has been found more effective in the UK. The governments in the international arena particularly the developed countries are becoming evidence friendly for their policy formulation for example: the USA, UK, Australia, etc. In addition, there are now robust, transparent and reliable methods for conducting comprehensive evidence syntheses, for example systematic reviews including others. But, creating policies based on evidence is a complex and challenging process. As a result, institutionalizing evidence based policy making remains a significant challenge in many developing countries, including Nepal.  environmental pollution policies need to be supported by appropriate policy instruments with economic incentives for their effective implementation. Policy effectiveness or successful implementation of the policy depends on appropriate institutional arrangements with adequate human and financial resources. The concerned evidence-based knowledge on Nepal scenario in this aspect is found very few. It may be due to lack of research on the pertinent subject. So, a vast knowledge gap on environmental pollution policy formulation process and their effectiveness persists in Nepal.