Nepal Government Introduces National Standards for Administrative Restructuring

Kathmandu. To make the federal governance system more organized, effective, and result-oriented, the government has issued the 'National Standards for Organizational Structure and Management of Federal, Provincial, and Local Levels, 2082'.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration issued a circular on Chait 27 to the offices of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of all seven provinces, all local levels, and relevant stakeholders to provide feedback on the standards, which were formulated to ensure uniformity in the creation, restructuring, and management of organizational structures of government bodies across all three tiers.

A Council of Ministers led by senior Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah was formed on Chait 13, 2082. The day after its formation, on Chait 14, the Cabinet meeting approved and made public a 100-point agenda for 'Governance Reform'.

Point number 14 of the agenda mentions the formulation and approval of national standards for organizational and management surveys of the federal, provincial, and local levels within 15 days. In accordance with that point, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has prepared the 'National Standards for Organizational and Management Surveys, 2082' and sent them to the provincial and local levels for feedback, the ministry stated. While the ministry requested feedback within 3 days, it is reported that the process of receiving suggestions is ongoing.

The ministry has also made arrangements for the general public, non-governmental organizations, and experts in relevant fields to provide feedback on the standards posted on the ministry's website.

The ministry stated that the standards were set to end structural imbalances, duplication, and ambiguity seen in the three tiers of bodies with the implementation of federalism, and to make service delivery more effective.

The standards state that henceforth, specific bases, criteria, and procedures must be mandatorily followed when preparing the organizational structure of any government body. The ministry expects this to make the creation of positions, staff management, and division of labor organized and scientific.

The standards also cover the scope of work, responsibilities, and coordination between the federal, provincial, and local levels. It is expected to help prevent duplication of work of the same nature among the three tiers and ensure the effective use of resources.

Controlling administrative expenses has been prioritized in the standards. The policy includes preventing the creation of unnecessary positions, managing manpower only as needed, and maximizing the use of available resources.

The goal is to prepare the final draft of the standards by incorporating the feedback received, and to bring it into implementation after approval by the Council of Ministers. The standards include a mandatory provision that government bodies must obtain prior approval from the Council of Ministers, and provincial government bodies must obtain prior approval from the provincial Council of Ministers before conducting surveys. Local levels must obtain prior approval from the respective executive before conducting surveys.

Here is the draft of the standards