To many observers, the Center's closure marks a new chapter in the ongoing transition that saw active engagement of a number of international actors to assist Nepal's fragile peace process, most notably Unmin, the United Nations political mission.

However, the Carter Center, headquarered in Atlanta, US, will continue to closely monitor Nepal's peace process, a Center official said.

"The Carter Center left Nepal at the end of February. In our meetings with political party leaders, the Prime Minister, and the Election Commission Nepal, we informed them that we were leaving shortly, although we were certainly going to remain engaged," Deborah Hakes, assistant director, Office of Public Information, Peace Program at the Center, said in her email response to the Post.

During its time in Nepal, the Center held several rounds of conflict resolution training for political party representatives and civil society leaders, held bridge-building sessions with the Maoists, and worked in broad cooperation and coordination with international organisations engaged in Nepal.

The founder of the Center, President Jimmy Carter, had visited Nepal a number of times during the transition, including as an observer in the two Constituent Assembly elections in 2008 and 2013.

In an opinion article published in the Post on Sunday, former US President Carter revealed: "It is with this in mind that I have come to the conclusion that The Carter Center's direct presence in Nepal is not necessary at this time."

Carter further mentioned that he was proud that "the Center has been present to witness the notable progress made over the past nine years" and believed that the Center's impartial observation and reporting has contributed to the efforts of Nepalis to build a more democratic, socially inclusive and economically equitable country.

Those who worked and interacted with President Carter both during his visits to Nepal and on other occasions, hailed efforts made by him and his Nepal office in bringing out Nepal from protracted political transition through various initiatives and encouraged for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections.

"The Center and Carter himself helped restore democracy, agendas for change during the transition which we found very fair and independent in keeping with its international reputation," said former Prime Minister and senior UCPN (Maoist) leader Baburam Bhattarai.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel, who was at the helm in 2008 CA elections, praised the role played by President Carter and his Nepal office to bring all parties on board the elections at a time when they were reluctant to take part in the elections.

He added that reports that the Center used to provide to EC was really helpful to analyse the situation at ground level and help build an environment for the polls.

"His presence itself was a milestone for Nepal. He always wanted to see the early safe landing of the peace process here," Pokhrel said.

In 2008 Elected Day, President Carter courted controversy after he became the first high-profile international observer to validate the election which saw the CPN (Maoist) come out as the surprise winner.

"But it was a quite planned strategic statement which really set the tone of the elections," Pokhrel noted. "If he had questioned the credibility of the polls, the entire election process would have been spoiled, leaving the country in a deeper political crisis."