Fiona Tan, LL.L/DVM 3rd year
Country of fieldwork: Nepal
Canadian NGO: Alternatives Canada
Local NGO: Nepal Development Initiative (NEDI)
Position: Programming and Development Officer
After two months of data collection, interviews, research, and writing, I have recently completed a comprehensive report on Business and Human Rights (BHR) in Nepal’s hydropower sector. This sector has been booming due to the country’s abundant river systems, which offer vast potential for energy production. However, with this growth comes increasing vulnerability to exploitation, particularly for workers and communities affected by hydropower projects. My work focused on analyzing the current state of human rights in the hydropower sector, with particular attention to workers on construction sites and the communities living in areas impacted by hydropower infrastructure.
Through my findings, I came to understand that BHR in Nepal is still in its early stages. The issue has only begun to gain attention in recent years, especially with the adoption of Nepal’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP BHR) in 2024, a process in which my supervisor at NEDI played a key role. While there has been increasing discourse around the importance of protecting the rights of stakeholders in infrastructure development, actual implementation has been limited. Many businesses continue to view BHR as a set of voluntary guidelines rather than enforceable obligations. As such, my report advocates for the mandatory integration of BHR standards and stronger accountability mechanisms for businesses operating in high-risk sectors like hydropower.
Looking ahead, the next phase of my project is to develop a Human Rights Due Diligence Toolkit tailored to Nepal’s context. This toolkit will support businesses in operationalizing their responsibility to respect human rights, as outlined in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and enhance their awareness of the human rights impacts of infrastructure development.
BHR was a topic of my own choosing. On my first day at work, my colleagues asked me about my areas of interest, and I shared that I was passionate about labor rights and international law. This made the experience all the more meaningful—not only was I able to research BHR in the Nepali context, but I also had the chance to witness and discuss these issues firsthand. It was my first time conducting field research in international development, and I found the experience both fascinating and deeply rewarding. At the beginning, I felt somewhat uncertain about what I was doing, especially since this was a solo project. There were many challenges along the way. For instance, the language barrier during interviews occasionally made it difficult to fully understand the responses, and translating some of the data posed significant roadblocks as well.
Nevertheless, I am proud of the work I completed during my time in Nepal and grateful to have contributed meaningful research to the field of international development. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity. Not only have I gained valuable professional and research skills, but I’ve also had an unforgettable experience that has helped shape my career aspirations and brought me clarity about what I hope to pursue after my studies. My research abilities have grown significantly, and I’m glad to have had the chance to put my writing skills into practice in a real-world setting.
I have only about three weeks left in my internship, and I’m already feeling sad about saying goodbye to Nepal and all the wonderful people I’ve met. These past three months have been truly transformative—personally, professionally, and in every way.
See you soon, Nepal!