Opportunities and challenges of E-governance in nepal ; (A case study of Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan city)

Abstract

This dissertation is embedded with the theme of Opportunities and Challenges ofE-Governance in Nepal (A case study of Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City. The study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of both the enablers and obstacles of e-governance in Dhangadi’s municipal governance. The major objectives of this study are to examine the opportunities offered by e-governance to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal administration and staff in Dhangadi, analyze municipal employees' perceptions of challenges in implementing e-governance services, identify key barriers to its successful adoption, and explore strategies for improving its implementation. Dhangadi was purposively selected as the study site for three reasons: it serves as the headquarters of the Far Western Province, functions as a migration hub for people from the upper hilly districts, and is the only sub-metropolitan city in the province. A quantitative-dominant descriptive research design (QUAN-qual) was employed to achieve the primary objectives of the study. Secondary data were also consulted, obtained from relevant published and unpublished sources, including books, articles, research reports, and materials accessed through internet searches and search engines. The nature of the data was predominantly quantitative, supplemented by qualitative insights. As a methodological cut-off point, this research considers empirical and policy developments from September 2015 (2072 B.S.), corresponding to the promulgation of Nepal’s new constitution establishing a federal system, up to December 2024 (2081 B.S.), the period of data collection. The study population comprised municipalities implementing e-governance services within Kailali District, with Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City purposively selected as the sample. According to the official database, there are 157 municipal staff members across all wards. From this, a substantial sample of 130 staff members (82.8%) was selected through a simple random sampling method, considered sufficient for the research purposes. A closed-ended, rapid questionnaire was the primary tool for data collection. To triangulate the findings through narrative inquiry, three key informant interviews (KIIs) were also conducted with senior authorities of Dhangadi Sub-metropolitan City. E-governance in Nepal is still in its early stages, making it difficult to fully assess its impact on the general public. Most organizations have only implemented e-governance initiatives as pilot projects or as supplementary services rather than fully integrated systems. Although past efforts were made to introduce e-government practices, they remained largely theoretical and were not successfully executed in practice. Despite ICT being a priority at the policy level, its implementation at the local government level, particularly in municipalities, remains inadequate. The primary e-government service portal the municipal website—mainly provides static information rather than interactive online services. The findings of this study suggest that e-government is still in its nascent stage in Nepal. At present, its broader impact on the general population remains limited, as most organizations are in the early phases of adopting e-government practices, often through pilot projects. Previous efforts toward e-government implementation were largely theoretical, with practical evaluations yielding limited success. Although ICT has been prioritized in national planning, its integration at the local government level—particularly within municipalities—has been insufficient. The primary platform for municipal e-government services, official websites, largely provide static information rather than interactive or transactional online services. Survey findings indicate that most respondents use computers for official work (mean value: 3.6). Additionally, respondents expressed moderate satisfaction with computer maintenance and support (mean: 3.4), backup systems (mean: 3.3), and server usage for applications, file storage, and printing (mean: 3.2). Overall, e-government initiatives in Nepalese municipalities are at a rudimentary stage and are limited to only a few organizations. However, recent steps, such as the e-government master plan aligned with IT Policy 2000, signal some progress. Despite this, change management practices remain below average, hindering effective implementation. Nevertheless, most respondents believe that e-governance can have a positive impact on Nepalese municipalities. Addressing the current challenges and expanding e-governance initiatives across all municipalities should be a top priority for the government. Key Words: Governance, E-governance, Federalism, ICT, Service Delivery, Nepal