Nepal joined the ILO in 1966. During the earlier years, the ILO Office in Nepal did not have a formal country programme and was represented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In view of the increasing opportunities and scope of the enlarged portfolio of ILO programmes, the Office of the Senior ILO Adviser was established in January 1994 in Nepal. The Kathmandu Office transitioned to a Country Office in 2000 with a “Director” replacing the Senior ILO Adviser.
One of the most significant contributions of the ILO Office in Nepal from the beginning was in the sphere of employment generation through labour-based activities. The programme portfolios have expanded considerably since 1966, particularly after the establishment of the tripartite structure in the country during the 1990s. Since then the ILO Office in Nepal has made considerable efforts in promoting labour standards and capacity building of its social partners. Promotion of decent and productive employment opportunities for Nepalese men and women is always the primary goal of ILO’s country programme for Nepal.