Civic Space Nepal - CSN

Reimagining education and civic space in Nepal through debate, leadership training, research, and capacity building.

About Civic Space Nepal

Civic Space Nepal (CSN) is a Nepal-based organization working in policy, training, and research to strengthen civic engagement, governance, and leadership capacity across institutions. Founded in April 2024, we work with schools, government bodies, development partners, and civil society organizations to build a more informed, capable, and participatory society.

Our work is organized across four areas: Tarkashala, our debate and communication education programme; the Nepal Election Debates initiative; Civic Engagement Programmes, including our partnership on RANGA; and Research, Consulting and Policy, supporting institutions with governance advisory and applied research.

We believe good policy works best when people understand it, institutions can implement it, and citizens feel able to engage with it — grounded in democratic values, everything we do is built around that belief.

Our Programs

Tarkashala Debate Programs

We run clubs, workshops, and tournaments across our Tarkashala program types — building debate, communication, and critical thinking skills in young people.

Nepal Election Debates

We connect citizens, youth, and political leaders through non-partisan, structured debates — as we work to institutionalize electoral debates in Nepal.

Civic Engagement Programmes

We deliver civic engagement projects with partners like Debate Network Nepal, including RANGA, an EU-funded initiative reaching youth across Nepal.

Research, Consulting and Policy

We provide evidence-based research and governance advisory, institutional strengthening, and professional development support for public, private, and CSOs.

About Tarkashala

Tarkashala is a reputed debate and leadership education brand in Nepal, originally launched as an intensive debate bootcamp under Debate Network Nepal (DNN), with over 600 alumni trained nationwide.

Today, Tarkashala operates as a dedicated vertical of Civic Space Nepal (CSN), focusing on structured debate education, professional development, and leadership training. The original Tarkashala bootcamps continue in collaboration with DNN, while broader academic and professional programs are designed and delivered under CSN.

Tarkashala currently works with over 12 partner schools across the Kathmandu Valley, delivering debate education, youth engagement, and leadership training programs.

Our Flagship Tarkashala Programs

Tarkashala Debate School

Our full-year, in-school programme building debate, public speaking, and critical thinking skills in students — also available as a shorter Intro version.

Tarkashala Championships

We organize three championships a year ourselves, and provide technical and adjudication support to schools and partners running their own tournaments.

Tarkashala Academy

Our weekend programme for individual students, with progressive training tracks from beginner to advanced.

Tarkashala After School

Parent-funded before/after-school debate clubs for students seeking deeper engagement and personalized coaching.

Tarkashala Summer/ Winter Camp

An intensive programme building debate and public speaking skills through immersive, high-energy sessions.

Tarkashala Bootcamp

A residential debate bootcamp, co-organized with Debate Network Nepal, for students ready to go further.

About Nepal Election Debates

The Nepal Election Debates Initiative (NEDI) is CSN's platform for issue-based electoral dialogue, conceived and implemented in partnership with Debate Network Nepal (DNN) as strategic knowledge partner. Nepal Election Debates (NED) is its flagship program, bringing political candidates, parties, media, and the public together through structured, non-partisan debate.

In February 2026, NED delivered the Electoral Debates Pilot ahead of the House of Representatives elections — a constituency-level candidate session and a National Leadership Debate featuring representatives of four major political parties, distributed through television, digital, and social media in partnership with Kasthamandap Gold TV, Jho Media, and Yatri Media.

Today, NEDI is working to institutionalize structured electoral debates as a lasting part of Nepal's democratic practice, scaling the NED model further ahead of the 2027 elections.

Our Work Under Nepal Election Debates

Pilot: 2082 Elections

Ahead of the 2082 House of Representatives elections, NED brought together four major political parties - NC, CPN-UML, CPN and RSP - in a National Leadership Debate, broadcast nationally. Watch the debate here.

Ongoing Work

We're currently disseminating pilot learnings, consulting stakeholders, and designing next steps — while building coalitions, developing toolkits, and planning trainings to institutionalize electoral debates in Nepal.

Future Programs

We aim to scale and localise election debates for the 2084 Local and Provincial Elections. We welcome partnerships — running some programs ourselves, and supporting others through trained partners.

About Civic Engagement Programmes

Through this area of work, CSN implements youth-focused civic engagement projects, often as an implementing partner within a wider consortium or programme structure.

One of our major civic engagement programmes is RANGA (Reclaiming Advocacy through Narratives, Debates, Grassroots Theatre and Arts), a 36-month initiative funded by the European Union and led by the consortium of Mandala Theatre Nepal, Debate Network Nepal and Campaign for Change (CfC). CSN is engaged as a third-party, managing the following four programme components across Bagmati, Karnali, Madhesh, and Sudurpaschim provinces.

CSN Managed Program Components Under RANGA

Fellowship Program

We recruit and train cohorts of Debate and Advocacy Fellows in facilitation, storytelling, and civic dialogue skills, building a pipeline of young leaders across four provinces.

Mentorship Program

We provide structured mentorship support to the students of community colleges, with the Fellows applying their skills and engaging beyond the fellowship itself.

Policy Dialogues

We organize provincial showcase debates and policy dialogues, connecting youth voices with local and provincial government through structured, public discussion.

Professional Development

We run blended workshops covering career readiness and workplace skills, equipping youth participants for opportunities beyond the programme.

About Research, Consulting and Policy Work

Through this area of work, CSN provides governance advisory, institutional strengthening, and professional development support to schools and other institutions, alongside applied research and policy-related work.

This includes ongoing advisory support to Gorkha Modern School, covering governance reform, financial policy development, academic management, and quality assurance. We are also building out our Research and Publication Wing, working towards research outputs, policy briefs, and learning resources on governance, education, and civic participation.

Our Service Areas

Governance Advisory

We support institutions with governance reform, financial policy development, and operational systems strengthening, drawing on our leadership team's experience in policy and institutional design.

Institutional Strengthening

We work with schools and organizations on academic management, quality assurance, and systems-building — helping institutions develop practices that outlast any single engagement.

Professional Development

We design and deliver applied training in leadership, communication, and negotiation for educators, professionals, and institutions across sectors.

Applied Research

We produce research outputs, policy briefs, and learning resources on governance, education, and civic participation, contributing evidence to Nepal's policy conversations.

My experience with the Debate Team has truly been enriching. Since the very first day the program was introduced, I have closely guided and observed my students, and the growth I’ve witnessed has been remarkable. They have not only built strong confidence but have also expanded their learning beyond textbooks. They are now more aware of current global affairs, have become fluent speakers, and continue to develop many valuable skills.

Being a part of their journey has been equally rewarding for me. Supporting and mentoring them has sparked a deeper interest in debate within myself, and I, too, have learned so much along the way. It fills me with immense pride to see these young minds taking debate culture to the next level. Hats off to “Tarkashala Debate School”!
Prasanna Rai Coordinator, Sampada School
“The "T" in Tarkashala, for me, stands for Transformative. Over the span of 3 months, it was not just my debating skills that leveled up but my understanding of the world also grew immensely. Tarkashala was a place where I was taught how I could think on my own, trust myself and actually apply what I knew to issues around the world.

Tarkashala made me comfortable with discomfort. It consistently challenged me the right amount. I saw myself grow and start to win debates with my own knowledge. This helped me trust myself. I could form opinions with weight and communicate what I thought in a way that made sense.

If you want your child to become curious learners who trust themselves and are able to communicate what they believe in a way that can help them become independent thinkers, Tarkashala is the place that can transform thoughts to expression.”
Nuwan Rai Participant
Special gratitude to the facilitator and all team members of the Tarkashala CSN.It's the outcome of your dedication, expertise and management.

I hope CSN will announce another cohort soon. I would like to suggest organizing an interschool debate tournament by CSN every three months.
Rambandhu Subedi Parent
I was part of Tarkashala boot camp II, some ten years ago, where I was introduced to structured argumentation and debating; both skills I have carried with me – and which have carried me – in my professional career. CSN's co-founders Pradeep and Dixit are both excellent trainers, and generally wonderful people, who make learning communication as easy and exciting as it could be.
Labisha Uprety Policy Researcher

Why Work With Us

Rich Experience

We have spent over a decade working on debate, civic education, and leadership programs — learning alongside the partners we work with.

Non-Partisan by Design

Our programs politically neutral and grounded in democratic values. The people we work with can trust the space we create.

Rooted in Local Context

We shape our programs around Nepal's social, educational, and institutional realities — not a one-size-fits-all template.

Interested in collaborating on education, leadership development, civic dialogue, or research initiatives?

Partner with us

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