The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and The Republic of Yemen Cosponsored by The United Nations Development Programme and The Government of Japan In Partnership with the Governments of: The Netherlands The United Kingdom The United States And the: Canadian International Development Agency Friedrich Ebert Stiftung International Labour Organization Irish Aid National Endowment for Democracy United States Agency for International Development Westminster Foundation for Democracy World Bank		Nepal Country Summary english - french - spanish Nepal is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. After nearly forty years of rule by a monarch, the current King legalized political parties in 1990, after several years of intense political pressure and civic unrest. An interim government then promulgated a new constitution and multiparty parliamentary elections were held in 1991. The democratic transition in Nepal has led to a marked increase of political participation by formerly disenfranchised groups, particularly women and the poor. During the 1997 local elections, 20% of the council seats were reserved for women, creating an opportunity for women to become more active in the political decision-making process. Economic and Social Indicators Population: GNP: Per Capita GNP: Growth Rate: Illiteracy Rate: : Life Expectancy: 23 million $4.8 billion $210 0% 59%-males 86%-females 57-males 57-females The World Bank. World Development Report. Oxford Union Press,1999 Since 1991 there have been seven prime ministers. These frequent changes in government have been attributed to internal party conflicts, tensions within coalitions and between parties, increased economic hardship and the need to increase public confidence in the governing process. Nepal is attempting to meet these challenges through a number of mechanisms and bodies within parliament designed to strengthen internal accountability and management. Nepal has simultaneously been moving forward with economic reforms since 1991, particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements to simplify investment procedures. Although changes of governments have hampered the process of forging the political consensus necessary to implement key economic reforms, Nepal has attempted to cut government expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and reducing the number of civil servants. [ Introduction ] [ Declaration ] [ Conference Transcripts ] [ Discussion Board ] [ Forum Home ] [ NDI Home ]