The Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA) has been working as a non-partisan think-tank since 2014, studying the ever-evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics of the Himalayan region. Based in Kathmandu, Nepal, it produces focused research and promotes dialogues on matters of geopolitics, foreign policy, aspects of global and domestic security, economics, trade and energy. The institution as an independent platform allows for a diverse set of individuals, from policy makers to independent experts, to engage and deliberate on issues relevant to the interests of the regional and global actors. It has also been actively facilitating debates and discussions amongst the interested youth to ensure their participation when analyzing the policy frameworks, ensuring their involvement in the decision-making processes within the relevant sectors.
Origin: The Thought Behind AIDIA
Over the span of a few decades, Nepal went through several significant transitions that impacted its internal dynamics and external positioning in the region and beyond. As the state transitioned from a monarchy to a multi-party political system and eventually to a federal government structure, numerous challenges arose, highlighting the need for an independent platform that carried an aim to critically analyze the evolving trends, contextualize the identified changes in terms of the state's developing interests, and deliver timely policy recommendations. In response, AIDIA was established in 2014 to serve as a dynamic forum where policymakers, academics, and industry leaders could convene in order to engage in policy debates and discussions, while sharing their insights on pressing geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.
What we are today
AIDIA, over the past 10 years of its establishment, has endeavored to create an environment conducive for productive and engaging interdisciplinary dialogues, while working towards shaping the understanding of Nepal's foreign policy, in the context of its sub-regional, regional and global associations. By primarily focusing on Track II diplomacy, promoting people-to-people engagements, and producing reports as well as analytical research papers, today AIDIA plays a pivotal role in issuing policy recommendations and facilitating interactions amongst policy experts on the global stage. AIDIA till date had established partnerships with prominent global think-tanks, actively collaborating with them on thematic issues.