GOVERNANCE:

ISSUES AND
CHALLENGES
Trilochan Pokharel, trilochan.pokharel@nasc.org.np
 Session objectives

Analyze the functions and

dimensions of governance
Identify the actors, issues and
challenges of governance

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 Presentation outline
 Reframing governance
 Governance models
 Government and governance
 Governance actors
 Governance status in Nepal
 Issues and challenges
 Reimagining governance

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 Inside-out
 What comes in mind when you discuss
the term governance?
 Quality?

 Society?

 People?

 Government?
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 Inside-out

Authority?
Management?

Political environment?

International environment?

Bureaucracy?

Non-government actors?
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What else?


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 Defining Governance
State
Political parities and
environment
Integrity
Governance Bureaucratic systems
Leadership System and culture
Strategic
orientation International context
Culture and social
values
Citizens

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 Working Definition
As a system or process for exercise of
authority, by state authorities and
delegated entities, which is founded on
common values and operates through
democratic infrastructure and delivers
public services to strengthen the state
and people relationship.
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Case: Local Governance

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 Governance Factors

Political Economic Social

Governance in
Nepal

Environ Technol
Legal
mental ogical

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See page 85 from Public Management and Governance (Tony Bovaird and Elke Loffler)
 Group Work
60 mins (10 mins reading, 20 mins group work, 5
mins sharing each, 5 min debrief)

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What democratic value is here?

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 Governance…

Turke (2008)
Structure- systems,
processes, institutions…
Actor- policy makers,
public service providers
and government…
Synthesis- combination of
both
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 Evolution of Governance
‘Pre-modern’ Hierarchy/burea Market, 3rd generation,
ucracy managerial ‘post-modern’
Control Through Rules, supervision Prices, contracts, Co-
family and management ordination/netwo
connections controls rk/Facilitation

Accountability Internal to Upwards To owners, through For results

family contracts to
purchasers
Performance Acceptability Compliance with Specified in Compliance with
rules contracts planned targets
Employment Patrimonial Mostly Subject to In networks
generalists, commercial success
permanent Performance-based
employment
Financial To maintain Budgets, voted In exchange for Performance-
flows connections allocation delivery
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budgets
 Interactions- base for governance

Political Economic Social

Does this interaction

Do these factors Governance in have different
interact? Nepal impact on
At what levels do they governance?
interact?
Environ Technol
Legal
mental ogical

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 Government and Governance

Power holding vs facilitating

Power - by nature undemocratic,
upholding and restrictive
Democratic institutions and systems
induce democratic exercise of
power
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 Governance beyond Government

 Changing role of government

 Multiple actors

 Hierarchical to network

 State is not sole entity to deliver services

 It is more about managing relationship

among actors.
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 Actors of Democratic Governance

Change in
governance
Global Actors
philosophy- State
governance
beyond Civil
Market
Society
government

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 Actors of Democratic Governance
Change in governance Creating favourable
philosophy- political, legal and
governance beyond economic environment
Global Actors
government State

Civil
Mobilizing people’s Market
Society
participation, promoting Creating
constructive engagement opportunities for
people

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 Governance…

 However, inherent characteristics of

governance actors does not
embrace democratic values
 Serious gap between demand and
supply
 Emergence of intermediary
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 Actors…

State People

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 Actors…..

State Intermediary People

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Governance Institutions/Actors in Nepal

Political institutions

Executive
and Governance Market and
Bureaucracy, other non-
as government
other public interaction actors
entities

Global institutions

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 Changing governance platform
Where do these Is there collusion/
institutions operate? Political institutions conflict of interests?

Executive
and Governance Market and
Bureaucracy, other non-
as government
other public interaction actors
entities

How do these Global institutions

Do they provide
institutions interact? space for public
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constestation?
 Interactions among actors

 Interferences (self-governance)
 Interplays (co-governance)

 Interventions (hierarchical-
governance)

However, intention matters!

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 ‘Building democratic
institutions’ – G. Shabbir
Cheema

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 Issues and Challenges

 Delivering promises- making federalism

deliver
 Institutionalization of change

 Performance orientation

 Accountability- justice, finance and

performance
 Credibility of public institutions
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http://www.prosperity.com/globe/nepal NASC 2018
 Governance status of Nepal
0.00

-0.50

-1.00

-1.50

-2.00

-2.50
Voice and Accountability
Government Effectiveness
Rule of Law
Source: World Bank, 2016.
Political Stability and Absence of Violence
Regulatory Quality
Control of Corruption
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 Changes in Government Roles
Classical Public New Governance
Administration
Program/Agency Tools
Hierarchy Network
Public vs private Public & private
Command and control Negotiation and
persuasion
Management skills Enablement skills
Source: Salamon, L. M. (2000). The New Governance and the
NASC, Tools of Public Action: An
2018
Introduction. Fordham Urban Law Journal. 25(5): 1611-1674.
 Positioning role of Public Service
• What functions does government
Function do?
• How does government function?
Strength
ened
• What impact does change in
state-
Impact government functions have on you
and your organization? people
relations
Compe • What level of knowledge, skills and hip
behaviors do you have to perform?
tency
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Self Assessment Exercise
(Time: 20 min.)

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 New Constitution-New Context

In order to fulfill the aspirations for

perpetual peace, good governance,
development and prosperity through
the medium of federal democratic
republican system of governance,
hereby promulgate this Constitution
through the Constituent Assembly.

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 Competency Required
 Building integrity
 Managing relationship

 Managing resources

 Leading with purpose

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Thank you

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