Result Area 3
Enabling conditions and governance for sustainable, gender equal, inclusive and integrated natural resource management in provinces and local levels with the following outputs:
Output 3.1 Effective, gender equal, and inclusive provincial and municipality governance systems promoting the federal structure and holistic planning
Output 3.2 Efficient knowledge sharing and linkage building with relevant actors (private sector, CSOs, rights-holders organisations, academia) for strengthened capacity and enabling conditions for all
The challenge
Nepal’s federal restructuring has shifted significant responsibilities and authorities to local governments through Local Government Operation Act, 2074 to sustainable use of natural resources, yet these institutions are often critically understaffed and lack technical expertise in sectors like disaster risk management, forestry and water resource management. Governance is further hampered by siloed planning, where land use, water, and climate adaptation plans are developed in isolation. Traditional decision-making structures often marginalize the voices of women, Dalits, Janajati and persons with disabilities. Additionally, many local governments lack the systematic data-based planning, budgeting, implementation and monitoring and Public Financing Management (PFM), making it difficult to ensure that resources are allocated equitably and projects are protected against climate risks.
Our Work
LACC strengthens the long-term institutional capacity of provincial and local governments. The project provides Technical Assistance (TA) that is embedded within municipal structures, guiding staff through the official 7-step local planning process. A key innovation is the promotion of the catchment approach, which moves planning from administrative boundaries to natural hydrological units, facilitating integrated management of water, land, and forests. We support the formulation of project intervention-related acts, regulations, and other sectoral plans to institutionalise environmental standards. To ensure inclusive governance, LACC integrates Gender Equality Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) throughout the project cycle, supporting public financing management including Gender Responsive Budgeting, Climate Responsive Budgeting and providing leadership training for female decision-makers. We establish strategic partnerships with academia and research institutes to introduce modern tools, such as DGPS-based surveying and cloud-based MIS, ensuring local governance is informed by scientific evidence. Additionally, to foster inclusive and enabling conditions for all, LACC combines targeted capacity building, behavior change communication (BCC), and strategic advocacy to drive efficient knowledge sharing and forge collaborative linkages across the private sector, civil society, rights-holder organizations, and academia.
The Change We Aim to See
A transformed governance landscape where 41 municipalities in Karnali and Sudurpashchim confidently lead their own sustainable development. We envision local systems where every voice, especially those of women, Dalits, Janajati and persons with disabilities, is heard and reflected in local policy.
Examples of Our Activities
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Technical Governance
Training municipal engineers on DGPS-based survey design and web-based cost estimation software.
Inclusive Policy Support
Facilitating the formulation or updated the sectoral plans like Local Disaster and Climate Resilient Frameworks, N WASH Plans and sectortal plans.
Public Financing Management
Refreshers on SuTRA, Gender Responsive Budget and Climate Responsive Budget in line with the LGPAS.
Strategic Partnerships
Collaborating with local CSOs, alliances, networks and other development partners and stakeholders to address and meet the target areas.
Rights-Based Advocacy
Mobilizing youth,community leaders, social activists and social media influencers to challenge existing social taboos and bad practices.
Knowledge sharing and communications
To maximize our impact and measure real change, we pair continuous knowledge sharing with high-visibility communication campaigns that actively track and highlight our progress.
