Privacy and Cookies Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to cedepnepal.com.np (“Website”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy and Cookies Policy is designed to inform you about how we collect, use, disclose, and store your personal information and cookies when you visit and interact with our Website.

Your privacy is of utmost importance to us, and we take great care to safeguard the information you provide to us. We want you to be fully aware of how your data is used and to make informed decisions when using our services. By using our Website, you acknowledge and consent to the practices described in this policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1. Personal Information

We may collect personal information through various methods and from different sources, including but not limited to:

User-Provided Information: When you interact with our Website, you may voluntarily provide us with personal information. This information may include, but is not limited to:

Your name
Email address
Contact details
Any other information you choose to provide when using our services or contacting us

Communication: We may collect and store information from your communications with us. This may include emails, messages, or any other forms of communication you engage in with our team. We do this to respond to your inquiries and provide you with better customer support.

Registration: If our Website offers registration or account creation, we may collect information such as your username and password. This data is used to manage your account and provide access to certain features and services.

Surveys and Feedback: Periodically, we may request your participation in surveys, feedback forms, or questionnaires. The information you provide in response to these requests is collected to improve our services and tailor them to your preferences.

2.2. Automated Information Collection

In addition to the information you provide voluntarily, we also collect information through automated methods, including cookies and similar technologies (for detailed information on cookies, please refer to our Cookies section below).

Log Files: Like many websites, we collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit our Website. This may include your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, pages visited, the time and date of your visit, and other similar data. This information is used for analytics, security, and to improve your user experience.

Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access our Website, such as your device type, operating system, and unique device identifiers. This data helps us optimize the performance of our Website across different devices and platforms.

Analytics: We use analytics tools to collect data about your use of our Website, such as the pages you visit and the actions you take. This information is aggregated and anonymized, but it helps us understand trends, user preferences, and how to enhance our services.

Location Information: In some cases, we may collect information about your approximate location, such as your country or city, based on your IP address. This data helps us provide localized content and services.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect, including personal information and automated data, for various purposes, which are outlined below:

3.1. Provide Services

We use the information you provide to deliver, maintain, and enhance the services offered on our Website. This includes:

Managing user accounts and profiles.
Processing transactions or orders if applicable.
Providing access to specific features or content.

3.2. Communication

We use your contact information to communicate with you, including:

Responding to your inquiries, requests, or feedback.
Sending you updates, notifications, and important service-related information.
Providing customer support and assistance as needed.

3.3. Analytics and Improvement

We collect data about your interactions with our Website to analyze and improve our services. This includes:

Understanding user preferences, behaviors, and trends.
Enhancing the user experience by tailoring content and features.
Identifying and resolving issues related to website functionality.

3.4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

We may use your information to comply with legal obligations and regulations, including:

Complying with applicable laws and responding to lawful requests from authorities.
Investigating and addressing security breaches and violations of our terms of service.
Protecting our rights, privacy, safety, and property, and those of our users and the public.

3.5. Marketing and Personalization (if applicable)

If you have provided consent or where permitted by law, we may use your information for marketing and personalization purposes, which may include:

Sending you promotional offers, newsletters, or other marketing communications.
Customizing content and advertising based on your interests and preferences.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We take your privacy seriously and strive to minimize the disclosure of your personal information to third parties. However, there are certain circumstances under which we may share your information, as outlined below:

4.1. Consent

We will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your explicit consent. If you choose to participate in a specific program, service, or promotion that involves sharing your information with third parties, we will obtain your consent before doing so.

4.2. Service Providers

We may engage trusted third-party service providers to assist us in operating our Website and delivering services. These service providers may have access to your personal information as necessary to perform their functions but are obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your data. These providers may include, but are not limited to:

Hosting and server providers
Payment processors
Customer support and communication tools
Analytics and tracking services
Marketing and advertising partners (if applicable)

4.3. Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required to do so by law or to protect our rights, privacy, safety, and property, as well as those of our users and the public. This may include responding to lawful requests from authorities, such as law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies, or to enforce our terms of service and other agreements.

4.4. Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your personal information may be transferred or disclosed as part of the transaction. We will notify you and provide you with choices regarding the handling of your data in such circumstances.

4.5. Aggregated and Anonymized Data

We may share aggregated and anonymized information with third parties for various purposes, including analytics, research, and reporting. This data does not personally identify you and cannot be used to trace back to you.

4.6. International Data Transfers

If you access our Website from a location outside of Nepal, your information may be transferred to, processed, and stored in locations where our service providers or servers are located. By using our Website, you consent to such international data transfers.

We make every effort to ensure that third parties with whom we share your information are bound by obligations to protect the privacy and security of your data. We remain committed to safeguarding your personal information to the best of our abilities.

5. Cookies

5.1. Types of Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, smartphone, or tablet) when you visit our Website. We use various types of cookies, each serving a specific purpose:

Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the functioning of our Website and cannot be disabled. They enable you to navigate our site, access secure areas, and use its basic features.

Analytical and Performance Cookies: These cookies help us gather information about how visitors use our Website. We use this data to analyze user behavior, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the user experience. These cookies do not contain personal information.

Functional Cookies: Functional cookies enable our Website to remember choices you make (such as your language or region) and provide enhanced features and personalized content. These cookies may be set by us or third-party service providers.

Advertising and Targeting Cookies (if applicable): These cookies may be used to deliver advertisements that are more relevant to your interests. They are often placed by third-party advertising networks with our permission. You can manage your preferences related to these cookies, as explained below.

5.2. Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

Enhancing User Experience: Cookies help us provide you with a smoother, more personalized experience when you visit our Website.

Website Optimization: Cookies enable us to understand how users interact with our Website, allowing us to make improvements and optimizations.

Remembering Your Preferences: Functional cookies help us remember your preferences, such as language settings, so you don’t have to reconfigure them each time you visit.

Targeted Advertising (if applicable): If you have provided consent, we may use cookies to deliver targeted advertising that aligns with your interests.

Third-Party Services: Some cookies may be set by third-party service providers who help us with analytics, advertising, or other functionalities.

5.3. Your Choices

You have control over how cookies are used on our Website. You can adjust your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most web browsers allow you to manage and control cookies, including blocking or deleting them. Please note that by disabling cookies, some features of our Website may not function properly, and you may not be able to access certain content.

Additionally, for advertising and targeting cookies, you can often manage your preferences through the cookie consent banner or settings provided on our Website. You can choose to opt out of receiving targeted advertisements based on your browsing behavior.

6. Your Rights

We respect your rights concerning your personal information and are committed to providing you with the means to exercise those rights. As a user of our Website, you have the following rights:

6.1. Right to Access

You have the right to access the personal information we hold about you. If you wish to request access to your data, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

6.2. Right to Correct Your Data

If you believe that any of the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request corrections or updates. To do so, please contact us with the corrected information.

6.3. Right to Deletion

You may request the deletion of your personal information from our records under certain circumstances, as allowed by applicable data protection laws. Please note that we may need to retain certain information for legal or legitimate business purposes.

6.4. Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data for specific purposes or in certain situations. We will comply with your request, as applicable under relevant data protection laws.

6.5. Right to Data Portability

If applicable under data protection laws, you have the right to receive a copy of your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format and to transmit it to another data controller.

6.6. Right to Object

You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information, including for direct marketing purposes. If you wish to exercise this right, please contact us.

6.7. Withdrawal of Consent

If we process your personal information based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. The withdrawal of consent will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on your consent before its withdrawal.

6.8. Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you believe that your data protection rights have been violated, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in your country.

6.9. Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of the rights outlined above or to seek more information about your rights, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below. We will respond to your request promptly and in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

Please note that we may require you to provide additional information to confirm your identity before we can process your request.

7. Data Security

We take data security seriously and have implemented various measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Our commitment to safeguarding your data includes the following:

7.1. Secure Data Storage

Your personal information is stored on secure servers with access limited to authorized personnel only. We use industry-standard encryption and access controls to protect your data from unauthorized access.

7.2. Confidentiality

We maintain strict confidentiality practices to ensure that your personal information is only accessible by authorized individuals who require access to perform specific tasks related to our services. These individuals are bound by confidentiality obligations.

7.3. Regular Security Assessments

We regularly assess our security measures and systems to identify vulnerabilities and ensure the ongoing protection of your data. This includes penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and security audits.

7.4. User Authentication

If our Website offers user accounts, we employ robust user authentication methods to ensure that only authorized users can access and manage their accounts. We encourage users to create strong, unique passwords and may offer additional security features such as two-factor authentication.

7.5. Monitoring and Intrusion Detection

We use monitoring and intrusion detection systems to identify and respond to potential security threats promptly. This allows us to take immediate action to protect your data and privacy.

7.6. Security Awareness Training

Our staff is trained in data security best practices to ensure they are aware of the importance of protecting your personal information. They are well-informed about potential security threats and how to mitigate them.

7.7. Data Retention

We only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by applicable laws. When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized to ensure your continued privacy.

7.8. Third-Party Security

When we engage third-party service providers or partners, we assess their security practices to ensure they meet our data security standards. We require that they maintain appropriate security measures for the data they access.

7.9. Incident Response

In the event of a data breach or security incident, we have established protocols and procedures to respond promptly, mitigate the impact, and notify the appropriate authorities and affected individuals, as required by applicable laws.

7.10. User Responsibility

While we take significant measures to protect your data, it’s also important that you take steps to safeguard your information. We recommend that you use strong, unique passwords for your accounts, avoid sharing login credentials, and be cautious when sharing personal information online.

8. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy and Cookies Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technological advancements, or to comply with new legal requirements. We are committed to keeping you informed about how your personal information is used and protected. Here’s how we handle changes to this policy:

8.1. Notification of Changes

When we make significant changes to this policy, we will post a notice on our Website to inform you of the updates. These notices may include the effective date of the revised policy.

8.2. Reviewing the Updated Policy

We encourage you to review the updated policy carefully to understand any modifications that may affect your privacy rights and how your data is handled.

8.3. Continuing to Use Our Website

By continuing to use our Website after any changes to this policy, you indicate your acceptance of the revised policy. If you do not agree with the changes, please refrain from using our Website or contact us with your concerns.

8.4. Retaining Previous Versions

We keep previous versions of this policy archived for your reference. If you would like to review a prior version of the policy, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy and Cookies Policy, please contact us at:

Nepal Centre for Development & Policy Studies Pvt. Ltd. (CEDEP Nepal)

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +977 1 4220255

Address: NAME Building, Ramshah Path, Putalisadak, KTM, Nepal

10. Consent

By using our Website, you provide your informed and voluntary consent to the practices described in this Privacy and Cookies Policy. We respect your right to make choices about your personal information, including how it is collected, used, and disclosed. Your consent is essential to the functioning of our Website and the services we provide.

If you have concerns or objections to any aspect of this policy, we encourage you to reach out to us using the contact information provided in the “Contact Us” section. Your feedback is valuable to us, and we are committed to addressing your questions and concerns regarding your data privacy.

Thank you for visiting cedepnepal.com.np. We value your trust and are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy and Cookies Policy is designed to provide you with clear and comprehensive information about how we handle your data, your rights, and the steps we take to ensure its security.

We are dedicated to maintaining transparency, complying with applicable data protection laws, and continuously improving our data security and privacy practices. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to your privacy, this policy, or your personal information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Your feedback and inquiries are always welcome.

Your privacy is important to us, and we appreciate your trust in cedepnepal.com.np. We will continue to work diligently to protect your data and ensure your online experience with us is safe and secure.

This Privacy and Cookies Policy was last updated on 22nd October 2023 and will be reviewed periodically to reflect any changes in our practices or legal requirements. We encourage you to revisit this policy to stay informed about any updates.

Thank you for choosing www.cedepnepal.com.np for your online experience.