Experts, activists and general public have gathered in Lalitpur to engage in two-days of debates on restructuring and federalism.

At a conference organised by the UNDP, people from all walks of life, political persuasions, and different parts of Nepal have come together to participate in a two-day conference, seen as an important opportunity to expand the current debate around federalism.

“Designing a successful federal system is a complex undertaking and there are many questions—which are yet to be explored—that go far beyond how the nation should be divided,” constitutional expert and head of UNDP’s Constitutional Advisory Support Unit, Professor Yash Ghai said in the lead-up to the conference.

According to UNDP, over the next two days participants will examine how federalism works, its practical implications, and they will also look at its limitations. “An appropriate system of federalism could make a valuable contribution towards empowering marginalised people in Nepal, but its success will depend on many other factors such as good governance, and a national culture of inclusion,” Professor Ghai said.

International experts will share experiences of federalism from other countries during the conference. From Canada Bob Rae, the former Premier of Ontario will participate, while M.P. Singh, editor of one of the foremost books on the Indian constitution, will provide insights, and Nicole Topperwien, an advisor to the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will also attend.

The conference is organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and is the second in a series aimed at broadening understanding of constitution-building.