Program
Improving Public Services Through Better Governance
To ensure Nepal’s federal system delivers for all citizens, we help public institutions clarify roles, improve coordination, increase public participation, and strengthen local dispute resolution.
Nepal is still putting federalism into practice, and local governments need clearer roles, stronger coordination, and better tools to deliver services people can trust.
Supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Subnational Governance Program helps federal, provincial, and local institutions clarify responsibilities, improve public decision-making, strengthen local dispute resolution, and make public services more responsive to citizens’ needs.
Impact
The program has reached nearly 200,000 stakeholders directly and more than 500,000 citizens indirectly across strategic partner municipalities.
It has supported more than 300 intergovernmental forums that have helped federal, provincial, and local officials clarify responsibilities, deliberate policies, and coordinate implementation.
Technical assistance has supported more than 100 subnational policies and procedures intended to improve how provincial and local governments plan, manage, and deliver services.
Program research and technical assistance have helped leaders prioritize and draft an intergovernmental relations law, with consultations that reflected provincial and local concerns.
The program has strengthened nearly 300 judicial committees, trained more than 2,000 community mediators, and entered more than 23,000 people into community mediation.
The program has supported more than 36,000 citizens through neighborhood-level organizations to shape local priorities, plans, and budgets.
approach
Implemented through a strategic partnership between the Australian Government and The Asia Foundation, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the program works across Nepal’s three tiers of government. Its distinctive approach combines long-term institutional relationships, practical technical assistance, evidence from local partners, and adaptive support across strategic partner municipalities in all seven provinces.