Submissions

Author Guidelines

Nepal Public Policy Review

Connecting research to public policy

 Author Guidelines (January 2025)

Language

Manuscripts for the Nepal Public Policy Review (NPPR) may be prepared in either English or Nepali. However, the Title Page (including the Title, Author list, and Affiliations) and the Abstract must be presented in both languages. Should authors require assistance, the NPPR journal office can arrange translation services.

 Types of Papers

The Nepal Public Policy Review (NPPR) is a bilingual, multidisciplinary journal dedicated to public policy. It publishes high-quality articles that significantly contribute policy-applicable knowledge.

The journal accepts the following three article types:

Research Articles: Present primary data collected by the author(s) and/or offer an original analysis of publicly available secondary data.

Review Articles: Provide a comprehensive summary and critical evaluation of existing research on a specific policy-relevant topic.

Policy Commentaries: Feature expert opinion from the author(s), supported by relevant primary or secondary data.

All submissions must explicitly connect their scholarly contributions to policy implications. The typical article length is approximately 20,000 words. Authors may inquire regarding the permissible length for specific papers.

For further details on article types and the journal's focus, please consult our Aims and Scope: [https://nppr.org.np/index.php/journal/aims-and-scope]

Manuscript Structure

Manuscripts must adhere to the following structure. The Title Page and Abstract are not numbered sections.

Title
Must be concise and indicative of the paper's primary findings.

Author List
Full names of all authors. Use superscript numerals to indicate institutional affiliations for each author in multi-author papers.

Affiliation
The names and addresses of the institutions with which each author is affiliated.

Abstract
A succinct summary (200-250 words) of the research context, objectives, and key findings.

Note: The Title, Author list, Affiliations, and Abstract must be provided in both English and Nepali.

Body of the Paper

The main text should comprise the following numbered sections: 

1. Introduction
   1.1. Subtitle
   1.2. Subtitle
   1.2.1. Third-level subtitle
   1.2.2. Third-level subtitle

(The numbering for all subsequent sections and subsections should follow this hierarchical format.) 

2. Knowledge Gaps and/or Policy Gaps
   This section should articulate the scholarly and/or policy rationale for the study. A knowledge gapdenotes a deficiency in current research or data relevant to the issue. A policy gaprefers to inadequate, absent, or poorly implemented policies.

Research Articles and Policy Commentaries must identify both knowledge and policy gaps, as they are supposed to generate new knowledge to address these deficiencies. Review Articles, which critically synthesize existing research, must identify policy gaps but are not required to identify new knowledge gaps. 

3. Research Methodology
   As policy research synthesizes data from diverse sources, this section must describe the methods and tools for collecting and analyzing data from all applicable sources, such as:

Primary data from a target population

Primary data from expert interviews

Analysis of international practices

Secondary data (academic and grey literature*)

Policy document review

Media review*

*Caution: The use of grey literature and media sources requires careful selection based on reliability. Establishing explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria for source selection is strongly recommended.

The methodology must be described with sufficient specificity, precision, and detail to ensure transparency and reproducibility, thereby enhancing the research's credibility. 

4. Results
   This section presents the findings from data analysis, organized into logical subsections. Each subsection should conclude with a brief summary of the specific result. The subsequent Discussion section should then interpret these results within a broader context. 

5. Discussion
   Here, authors should interpret the results, explaining their significance by relating them to existing knowledge and the gaps identified earlier. The Discussion should synthesize the Results to form a knowledge base for the study's conclusions. 

6. Conclusions
   This section provides a structured synthesis of the conclusions drawn from individual result subsections and elaborated in the Discussion. It should also note any knowledge gaps that remain unresolved. The conclusions form the evidence base for the subsequent Policy Recommendations. 

7. Policy Recommendation
   Recommendations must be judicious and derived entirely from the evidence presented in the Conclusions. Authors may suggest policy alternatives where appropriate. Recommendations must not introduce new substantive points not discussed in previous sections. 

8. Suggested Course of Action
   This section offers practical implementation guidance for the policy recommendations, identifying specific actions and requirements, responsible authorities, and other relevant details. The Suggested Course of Action should be developed through collaboration with or validation by relevant policy actors and experts. While flexible in form, it must remain consistent with the Policy Recommendations. 

Statements and References

(The following sections are not numbered)

Author Contribution Statement
A precise and verifiable statement detailing the contributions of each author. Please consult the NPPR Authorship Policy for guidance.

Conflict of Interest Statement
A declaration of any existing or potential conflicts of interest. Please consult the NPPR Conflict of Interest Policy for details.

Acknowledgment
Acknowledge sources of funding, major support, and minor contributions from individuals who do not meet authorship criteria. Note: Granting authorship for minor contributions constitutes gift authorship, which is a violation of research ethics. Please see the NPPR Authorship Policy.

Authors' Biographies
Example:
[Author's name] is currently a [Position] at [Organization]. He/She/They received a [Degree] in [Subject] from [University] in [Year] and has [Number] years of experience in the field of [Field], having held roles such as [Major Positions].

References
Include all citations from the text. For English-language manuscripts, follow the APA 7th Edition style. For Nepali-language manuscripts, follow the Policy Research Institute Style Guide 2nd Edition, 2081. Provide URLs for DOIs or online documents where available.

Appendix
Place excessively large or detailed tables, lists, equations, and other supplementary information in an Appendix.

Supplementary Data
Non-essential data that are part of the research may be organized as Supplementary Data and deposited on the author's institutional website for open access. Such data are not peer-reviewed.

Format and Style

All submissions (initial and revised) must be sent via the specified email address.

Manuscripts must be prepared using common word processing software. Submit all files in both Microsoft Word (.docx) and PDF (.pdf) formats.

Embed all images (graphs, drawings, etc.) and tables within the manuscript text, with clear captions and in-text references. Supplementary material may be placed in an appendix.

All images must be original. They should be included in the main document and also submitted as separate, high-resolution files with descriptive captions. All charts must be embedded in Microsoft Word Chart format, not pasted as static images.

Tables should be included in the main document and may be submitted in a separate file with a caption above each table. All tables must be in editable Microsoft Word table format, not as images.

Set page margins to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides.

The manuscript text must be double-spaced, in 11-point Times New Roman font. References and notes are included in this formatting.

Referencing: English-language papers must use APA 7th Edition. Nepali-language papers must use the Policy Research Institute Style Guide 2081. Authors are encouraged to use reference management software (e.g., Mendeley, EndNote, Zotero, or the MS Word Reference tool).

Authors must include a cover letter declaring that the manuscript is original, has not been previously published, and is not under consideration elsewhere.

Special Issues
Calls for Papers for Special Issues will be announced separately with specific deadlines. All submissions for Special Issues undergo the same rigorous peer-review process as regular submissions.

Submit your manuscript to:

Managing Editor

NPPR Secretariat

Nepal Public Policy Review

Email: nppr@pri.gov.np