Nepal

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Background

The Decentralized Local Governance Support Programme (DLGSP) succeeds and builds on the lessons learnt from the PDDP(Participatory District Development Programme) and LGP (Local Governance Programme) including the LGP/PDDP Bridging Phase, as well as other local governance programmes. It aims to enhance the capacity of the local bodies, women, dalits, janajatis and disadvantaged groups through social mobilization. Specifically, the programme aims at (a) providing support at the central level for the improvement of decentralisation-related policies (b) building the capacity of all the 75 District Development Committees(DDCs) for efficient and effective service delivery and (c) empowering the community people through the implementation of Village Development Programme in 880 Village Development Committees (VDCs).

Decentralized Local Governance Support Programme (DLGSP) promotes decentralized governance through support to central agencies and local bodies in formulating policies, by-laws and guidelines. The project works to build the capacity of the local bodies to plan, programme, and manage local development within the framework of the Local Self-Governance Act (LSGA) 1999.

Programme Objective

The overall objective of the project is to empower  grass roots communities to enable them to participate in planning and decision making processes as well as access socio-economic services as envisaged in the 10th Plan/Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper(PRSP).

Programme Approach

At the community level, the programme strongly focuses on empowering the people including the ultra poor, women and ethnic minorities through organization, savings and skill development. The project adopts a pro poor and positive discriminatory approach to address the issues of social exclusion.

Programme Activities

Village Development Programme: Village Development Programme (VDP)-based on social mobilization is one of the important components of DLGSP. The community organisations are made up of 51% men and 49% women. The Community Organisations(COs) have their regular savings and they invest the savings in the form of loan to the needy members at a low rate of interest. The Local Development Fund (LDF) provides trainings on skills, technology, and grants for productive infrastructures as prioritized by the community people. Communities are provided seed grants to build infrastructures such as trails, rural electrification (peltric sets), bridges, irrigation schemes, drinking water and community halls. The contribution from the local community in terms of labour and local materials is almost 25% of the total project cost. It also provides some credit support to the community people for income generating activities. In an effort to ensure sustainability, DLGSP has introduced Community Development Fund ( Guidelines endorsed by the Government of Nepal) to handover the management of the community organizations to the community themselves.

Capacity Building of Local Bodies: In order to build the capacity of the local bodies, the project has helped the District Development Committees (DDCs) to conduct an assessment for finding the capacity gaps at various levels. 35 districts have completed the assessment focusing on existing gaps at management level, organization structure and culture, working process, human resources, accounting and financial management, and information system at the district level.

Computerized Accounting Package and Planning Software: Computerized Accounting Package has been installed in Fifty Five districts and Planning Software in 25 districts. The installation of computerized accounting system has not only helped the tracking of income and expenditure of the DDCs but also helped in preparing financial report on time and maintain transparency. The information system set up with the support of DLGSP will link the district based financial information to the Ministry of Local Development and the Office of the Comptroller General. Similarly, the planning software has helped the DDCs prepare plans and programs efficiently to address the needs of the people.

Information System Updated: The District Information and Documentation Center has been established in all 66 districts which has enabled the DDCs to produce their own resource maps helpful in planning and monitoring of development programs. DIDC has been the one-step information hub for the district.

Mainstreaming Gender and HIV/AIDS: Thirty-three districts have allocated budget for gender in their annual plan which ranges from Rs. 30,000- Rs. 1200,000. Similarly, 21 districts have allocated budget for HIV/AIDS and it ranges from NRs. 10,000-Rs. 500,000.

Other Trainings and Orientations: The project has also been organizing trainings on gender and HIV/AIDS for district and village level staff. The DDCs in most of the districts were supported and are now capable to produce resource maps (Geographical Information System).

Public Hearing: DLGSP has introduced public hearing in the districts. Through public hearing, people are made aware of their rights to services and the need to raise voice to get the services accomplished. The DDC officials are now attracted towards participating in the public hearing and institutionalizing it. DLGSP has completed such public hearings in 20 districts in the first phase. For the purpose, it introduced the exit polls and report card system to bring the voice of the people about the delivery of services. Similarly, the Association of DDCs (ADDCN), the federation of local bodies, was supported for organizing series of public debates on the role of local bodies in the interim constitution and restructuring of state.

Support to Macro Policy: Guidelines have been drafted to help the Government of Nepal in its devolution process. As soon as the government decides on the districts to be piloted for full devolution, the guidelines will be used for the implementation of devolution process. DLGSP supports the Ministry of Local Development (MLD), National Planning Commission (NPC) and District Development Committees (DDCs) to upgrade their Geographical Information System (GIS) facility and use GIS for better planning and programming. A computerized accounting system has been established which will help the MLD to better track and monitor the expenditures.

Achievements:

Public hearings were carried out in 20 districts and 5 municipalities, gender budget audits in 10 districts, and disadvantaged group mapping in 53 districts.

Supported the Ministry of Local Development for the preparation and approval of operational guidelines on Community Development Funds in 439 Village Development Committees to facilitate a smooth flow of development resources at the local level in the absence of elected bodies.

4,372 additional Community Organisations (COs) were set up in more than 880 VDCs.

1,457 community infrastructure projects (drinking water, irrigation, roads, bridges, public toilets, electricity) were completed with seed grant support benefiting 71,129 community members.

Enhanced the efficiency of model pilot courts to provide expeditious justice through professional staff development and material support.

Supported the institutionalization of mediation as a practice for delivering speedy justice and reducing the number of backlogged cases. As a result, more than 3,300 cases have been settled.

 

Start/Completion Dates:
Location:	66 districts and 880 VDCs in all five-development regions Eastern Region: Dhankuta, Jhapa, Khotang, Morang, Okhaldhunga, Sankhuwasabha, Saptari, Siraha, Solukhumbu, Sunsari, Terathum, Udaypur, Bhojpur Central Region: Bara, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Dhading, Dhanusha, Dolakha, Kavre, Lalitpur, Mahottari, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Parsa, Ramechhap, Rasuwa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sindhuli, Sindhupalchowk Western Region: Baglung, Gorkha, Kapilvastu, Kaski, Lamjung, Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, Nawalparasi, Palpa, Parbat, Rupandehi, Syangja, Tanahu, Gulmi and Argakhanchi Mid-Western Region: Banke, Bardiya, Dailekh, Dang, Jajarkot, Pyuthan, Rukum, Rolpa, Salyan, Kalikot, Mugu Far-Western Region: Accham, Baitadi, Bajhang, Bajura, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Kailali, Kanchanpur
ACC Sector:*	Governance Development
ACC Sub-sector:	Strategies and Policies
Executing Agent:	Ministry of Local Development
Implementing Agent:	District Development Committies, Local Development Funds, Community Development Funds
UNDP Contribution:
Government Cost-Sharing:	(in kind)
Third-party Cost-sharing:	Norway U.S. $6.5 Mil

Contact

UNDP Focal Point

Project

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