The government is going to appoint ambassadors through open competition. This is the first time that ambassadors are going to be appointed through open competition.

Earlier in 2019, the then KP Sharma Oli-led government had set criteria for ambassadors to be appointed through political quotas. However, subsequent governments have repeatedly violated these criteria.

Ambassadors have been appointed through two processes in Nepal. First, from among the ‘career diplomats’ working in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and secondly from among the people selected by the ruling party. The ‘Guidelines on Appointment of Ambassadors, 2075’ stipulates that at least 50 percent of the total vacant ambassadorial posts will be appointed from the foreign service and the remaining 50 percent from political parties. However, officials at the ministry have demanded that more than 50 percent of appointments be made from ‘career diplomats’ this time.

Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal indicated in a meeting with senior officials at the ministry that advertisements will be called soon to fill the posts of ambassadors through open competition, officials said. However, they say it is not certain when the advertisement will be opened.

Khanal announced in a discussion with high-ranking officials of the ministry on Monday that some ambassadorial posts will be appointed through open competition. However, Minister Khanal did not reveal the detailed plan. According to ministry officials, Minister Khanal has already started homework on the initial list of potential candidates from among the joint secretaries to select ambassadors from the foreign service.

According to those officials, Minister Khanal has also taken the consent of Prime Minister Balendra Shah to appoint ambassadors through open competition. Similarly, Minister Khanal has also said in a discussion with high-ranking officials that experience working in Nepali missions in India and China will be a prerequisite for the post of Foreign Secretary.

Details such as age, experience and educational qualifications of the aspirants will be sought in the advertisement for open competition. In addition, book publications, articles and research papers will be considered as additional qualifications. According to foreign ministry officials, the advertisement will probably be open by next week.

According to three joint secretaries of the ministry contacted by Kathmandu Post (a co-publisher of Kantipur), Minister Khanal plans to first divide the ambassadorial posts into ‘career’ and political quotas and then appoint those selected through open competition to the ‘political’ category.

Khanal announced that some ambassadorial posts will be appointed through open competition in a discussion with high-ranking officials of the ministry on Monday.   Although the selection of ambassadors through open competition is a new step, a former diplomat says that it does not ‘guarantee’ that a qualified person will be appointed.

According to foreign affairs officials, the government wants to ensure transparency in the appointment of ambassadors through open competition. The ruling National Independent Party (NISP) had earlier called for an open advertisement for the ambassadorial ‘quota’ that fell to it when it was in power in a coalition government with the UML and the Maoist Center in June 2024.

Many countries give priority to 'career diplomats' in the appointment of ambassadors. Similarly, there is a practice of making political appointments. In such a way, when selecting ambassadors through political appointments, they get opportunities because they are trusted by the political leadership, reputable, have contacts and are proficient in languages.

The Shah-led government had decided to recall 6 ambassadors appointed by the then KP Oli-led government on April 7. With this, 17 missions, including India, China, the US and the UK, do not have ambassadors.

According to foreign affairs officials, the ambassadorial appointment is also related to the major restructuring of the ministry, the number of currently vacant ambassadors, the ongoing debate on reducing the number of embassies and the issue of opening new embassies.

Nepal has 44 missions, including 34 embassies and 10 consulates general. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has been pressuring to reduce the number of missions to reduce government expenditure. Therefore, the government is likely to reduce the number of embassies and consulates general.