NPC, federal govt. to guide local bodies in planning

Kathmandu, Sept. 19

The local bodies across the country are being guided in formulating plans and programmes for their respective governments.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) is partnering with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) and planning commissions of the states to run programmes to build and enhance the capacity of the local governments in formulating plans and development programmes.

“We have started the programme but since we can’t directly intervene in the matters of the subnational governments, we are motivating them and coordinating with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, state governments and planning commissions, and organisations at the local level,” said Prof. Dr. Pushpa Raj Kandel, Vice-Chairman of the NPC.

He said that the aim was to support those local bodies that hadn’t prepared the periodic plans yet.

The federal planning body has included the activity in its programmes for the current fiscal year 2020/21.

The NPC will coordinate with the stakeholders in identifying the need of the respective local body and devise the capacity development or skill development programme to enhance their capacity.

“Once we set the track for the local bodies’ planning, the governments there will be conscious about the proper utilisation of the budget and implementing development work more effectively,” said Prof. Kandel.

Some projects that cover more than one local body fall between the state and local governments but there are less efforts to forge collaboration in such projects.

According to Prof. Kandel, the federal government should play a role of a guardian in guiding the local governments and enhancing their capacity in terms of planning, budgeting and development.

“But the local bodies must be focused on increasing their capacity and must work inside the system set by the constitution,” he said.

The NPC and the VC Prof. Kandel himself are in continuous interaction with the local bodies to implement the programme at the earliest after the COVID-19 comes under control.

Donors also have shown interest in the programme. The NPC, National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC) and Ministry of Finance have been supporting the MoFAGA till now in extending support for capacity building of the local governments.

The Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme under the MoFAGA is dedicated to support the provincial and local governments as per their need and spirit of the federal transition and devolution.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 20 September 2020.