Short-listing, interviews underway in open ambassador appointment process

Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated an unprecedented open competition for ambassadorial appointments, a move designed to enhance transparency and meritocracy in the selection process. Approximately 3,000 individuals have applied for 13 ambassadorial and permanent representative positions, marking a significant departure from traditional appointment methods.

In parallel, the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), under the ministry's purview, has opened applications for its "MoFA Nepal Summer Internship–2026." This eight-week voluntary policy research internship has garnered substantial interest, with 1,280 graduates from around the world applying for 10 available posts. The internship program, running from mid-June to mid-August, will focus on critical research themes including strategic affairs, public international law, development, finance, emerging technologies, clean energy, and the Nepali Diaspora.

This internship initiative represents a first for the IFA, which previously hired a limited number of interns and research fellows pursuing higher studies. Indra Adhikari, former deputy executive director of the IFA, highlighted the program's value in helping students pursue careers in international relations and diplomacy, sharpen their knowledge, and improve their prospects for future employment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently screening applications for both ambassadorial roles and internships. Teams are reviewing resumes and research proposals, with undersecretaries involved in selecting research fellows for the IFA. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal emphasized the government's commitment to democratic processes in appointments, acknowledging and aiming to rectify past malpractices that had previously discredited the selection system.

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We are quite aware of the malpractices seen in ambassadorial appointments, which totally discredited the entire section process in the past.