Locations
Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme
Summary
The Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP) is a national flagship programme of the Government of Nepal (GoN) aimed at building institutional, organizational and individual capacity at all levels of government, with particular focus on the provincial and local levels. Originally implemented from July 2019 to July 2024, PLGSP has been reprogrammed for July 2024 to July 2029 following an extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation process, resulting in a revised programme designed to be more effective, efficient, and responsive to the needs of provincial and local governments. PLGSP aims to attain functional, sustainable, inclusive, and accountable provincial and local governance in an effort toward the final impact where all people receive quality services at provincial and local level and enjoy better local infrastructure and economic prosperity.
The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) and supported by GoN and development partners: EU, FCDO, Norway, SDC, UNDP/UN Agencies. The funding is ensured through a Joint Financing Arrangement (JFA) between the Government of Nepal and PLGSP Development Partners. PLGSP is a ‘on budget on treasury’ Programme. UNDP is the Technical Assistance (TA) service provider of the Programme. Technical Assistance is implemented as ‘on budget and off treasury’.
The UNDP is implementing the TA under a “portfolio approach”, with MoFAGA, provincial governments, UNDP and other stakeholders, with their respective work plans. This portfolio approach includes a strong focus on continuous learning throughout implementation and adaptative management.
Background
Nepal adopted a new Constitution in September 2015, with the objective of transforming the then unitary and centralized system of governance into a federal and decentralized one as a vehicle to ensure equality, equity, and social justice. The Constitution stipulates that the three levels shall be the main structures of the Federal, Democratic and Republican Nepal and all levels shall exercise the power of state of Nepal pursuant to the constitution and law.
PLGSP’s goal is to establish a functional, effective and democratic system of governance at provincial and local levels in the spirit of the Constitution. As the umbrella framework, the programme will provide an overarching framework to all province and local governance programmes in Nepal. It will provide a common framework for binding together governance programmes at the provincial and local levels and accommodating donor-funded programme within a JFA, thus providing coherence to a common approach to Provincial and Local Governments (PLG) under a federal system. Furthermore, PLGSP is the sole GoN national programme to implement governance reforms at sub-national levels. The programme will support the implementation of governance reform strategy at Provincial and local levels as envisaged in Nepal’s periodic plan. The Programme works toward contributing to the delivery of quality services at provincial and local levels, promoting local development, and enhancing economic prosperity.
Programme Outcome
Final Impact: All people receive quality services at provincial and local level and enjoy better local infrastructure and economic prosperity
Goal: Attain functional, sustainable, inclusive, and accountable provincial and local governance.
The Programme intends to achieve the overarching goal through three outcome areas:
- Outcome 1: Government institutions and Inter Governmental mechanisms at all levels are fully functioning in support of federal governance as per the constitution.
- Outcome 2: Provincial Governments have efficient, effective, inclusive, and accountable institutions and organisations.
- Outcome 3: Local Governments have capacity for Good Governance and for delivering inclusive basic services to all people.
In addition, as part of the programme implementation and TA strategy, four vertical ‘Thematic
Streams’ have been developed, which vertically interlink Outputs across the three levels of
governance (Federal, Provincial and LG).
- Thematic Stream 1: Inclusive Federalism Acts, Regulations, Policies and Strategies.
- Thematic Stream 2: Collaboration within and across federal institutions and governments, and Civic Engagement.
- Thematic Stream 3: Supportive Systems and Tools for PLG Inclusive Federalism capacity.
- Thematic Stream 4: Capacity Development and Inclusive Transformation.
GESI
PLGSP aims to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is effectively integrated into all aspects of governance, promoting equitable development and inclusive service delivery. It ensures that women, marginalized groups, people with disabilities and other disadvantaged communities are active participants in the governance process and benefit from inclusive service delivery. The Programme adopts a transformative approach to GESI, aiming to change structures, policies, norms, and behaviors that perpetuate discrimination and inequalities.
Programme Details:
| Project Status | Active |
| Project Period | July 2024- July 2029 |
| Geographic Coverage | 7 Provinces, 77 District Coordination Committees, 6 Metropolitan Cities, 11 Sub Metropolitan Cities, 276 Municipalities and 460 Rural Municipalities |
| Focus Area | Strengthening Federal Governance Architecture, Capacity Strengthening at Provincial and Local Levels, Governance and Programme Implementation Reform and Accountability, Inclusive and Equitable Service Delivery, Fiscal Federalism and Public Financial Management, Empowered Elected Representatives and Civic Engagement, Technical Assistance and Institutional Support |
| Implementing Agencies | The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) is the executive agency of the Programme. The implementing agencies include Rural Municipalities, Municipalities, Sub Metropolitan Cities and Metropolitan Cities at the Local Government level, Provincial Governments and Provincial Research and Training Academy at the Provincial level, and Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at the Federal level. |
| Source of Funding | GoN and development partners: EU, FCDO, Norway, SDC, UNDP/UN Agencies |
| Budget | 79.23 Million USD |
CONTACT DETAILS
| UNDP Focal Point | Project Focal Point |
| Tek Tamata Portfolio Manager United Nations Development Programme UN House, Pulchowk, Lalitpur GPO Box 107, Kathmandu, Nepal Email: tek.tamata@undp.org Tel: 9851047095 | Bikash Ranjan Dash Federal Governance Specialist Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP) District Coordination Committee, Babar Mahal Email: bikashranjan.dash@undp.org Tel: +977 9702693936 |
