Nepalese citizens have been invited to self-nominate for the position of an ambassador. A notification was issued by Nepal’s ministry for foreign affairs regarding the same recently, with a seven-page terms of reference (ToR) document outlining the requirements. “The person applying for the position needs to be at least a graduate, should have no criminal record and know a foreign language,” informs a source. “The candidate also has to write an application, saying what makes them competent for the position and also what they would do if approved”. Applicants with post-graduate education will be given preference. Streams of preference include international relations, political science, law, economics and public administration. Academic publications, research work or significant scholarly contributions in areas relevant to Nepal’s foreign policy will be given credence. Trade, diplomacy and culture are the favoured areas that are expected to be advocated in the pitch note.
This move is being widely appreciated within Nepal, which recently saw its youth icon – a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, Balen Shah, elected as prime minister. “The objective is to make the process transparent and merit-based,” the source adds. “There is clarity on the countries that the shortlisted candidates would be considered for; and it’s been viewed as a big opportunity for people who aren’t officially in the diplomatic corps”.
According to the ToR, the ambassadorial position is equivalent to gazetted special class, with a tenure of four years. As of now, 17 diplomatic positions are vacant across Nepalese missions in different countries and seven more will be added to the list by August, bringing the total vacancies to 24 by September.
Some missions may be consolidated, and some new ones may be added. Missions that are likely to be closed include embassies in Brazil, South Africa, Denmark and Myanmar, as well as consulates general in the US and China, though this is speculation and will be announced in due course. Traditionally, ambassadorial appointments have been split evenly between political nominees and career diplomats from the foreign service.
The positions for open competition include postings in India, China, the US, the UK, Australia, Israel, South Korea, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Oman and Saudi Arabia, among others, as well as international organisations.
Meanwhile, the candidates who are applying will be at an advantage if they are occupying leadership positions within senior government, diplomatic, corporate, non-governmental organisations or public service organisations at the national or international level.
Desirable qualities Negotiation skills will be an advantage. The ToR indicated that a prior posting or assignment in the proposed host country or region will be considered an advantage. Experience in trade promotion, investment facilitation or economic diplomacy, as well as familiarity with UN systems, international financial institutions or regional bodies (SAARC, BIMSTEC, etc.), will also be desirable, according to the notice.
Applicants must be Nepali citizens aged at least 35 years; must not have been dismissed from government service or declared ineligible for future government employment; must not be holding permanent or temporary residency or immigration benefits of any foreign country and must not have been convicted of any offence involving corruption or moral turpitude.
Also, applicants must have a good command of English (knowledge of the host country’s official language will be an added advantage); must not have any conflict of interest or vested interest in the country of proposed posting; must not be employed by an NGO funded by international or foreign assistance; and must be of high moral character.
India generally reserves its ambassador and high commissioner appointments for career Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officers. However, the government does occasionally appoint non-diplomats too. Recently, India appointed senior politician Dinesh Trivedi as the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh.