Strengthening the e-Governance Landscape of Nepal

‘Electronic Governance’ or what is usually called e-Governance, uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as wide area networks, the internet, and mobile computing at various levels of government and the public sector to enhance governance. However, e-Governance and e-Government are terms that often cause confusion. “e-Government” is a system that uses ICT to enhance government operations and procedures with the goal of boosting civic engagement and effectiveness, whereas e-Governance refers to the functionality that uses ICT to enhance a range and quality of services delivered to the citizens.

The first e-Governance initiative was launched in Chile in 1972. Currently, there are 193 member states listed in the e-Government Development Index (EDGI) of the UN, which evaluates the national websites, and the effectiveness of the e-Government policies and strategies in the delivery of essential services of the member states. Nepal currently ranks 125 out of 193 member states with a score of only 0.5117 out of 1, which is still low compared to the leading countries (Figures 1 and 2).

Figure 1: EDGI rank of Nepal compared with leading countries

Source: United Nations

Figure 2: Year-wise EDGI value and Nepal’s Rank

Source: United Nations

The Government of Nepal has recognized the importance of the ICT sector and has made clear efforts to establish e-Governance in the country since the introduction of the IT Policy of 2000. Although the infrastructure in Nepal is underdeveloped or unevenly developed, various stakeholders have acknowledged the potential to enhance the country’s development through e-Governance.

Interruptions to better service delivery

While Nepal’s efforts and advancements in the sphere of e-Governance are a step in the right direction there are still areas that require more attention and improvement for better service delivery.

Government’s Approach to e-Governance

The Digital Nepal Framework (DNF), released in 2019, provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening the e-Governance landscape of Nepal. The framework recognizes that building a strong digital governance system requires leveraging existing initiatives such as the government Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), National Identity Card, and automation of vital registration and land registration processes. Although there has been some progress in the country, the E-Government masterplan is still in the draft phase and there are concerns about interoperability. Additionally, there is a need for regulatory measures to be put in place to establish a clear legal framework for e-Governance The country has made progress in developing its ICT policies, which indicates a degree of political commitment. However, political instability and a lack of leadership, commitment, and coordination are three major obstacles to e-Governance implementation in Nepal. There are also issues such as frequent transfers of officers and a lack of coordination between government agencies due to differing political interests.

The shortfall of qualified workforce

One of the significant challenges faced in strengthening the e-Governance landscape of Nepal is the shortage of skilled human labor. While not all literate Nepalis speak English, the absence of software in their local language poses a considerable problem. Furthermore, the low literacy rate, 71% as of 2021, in the country has led to a scarcity of skilled human resources in the field of ICT. However, skilled ICT labor is not entirely non-existent in Nepal. While a standalone ICT education plan was only published in 2013, four universities were already providing ICT education in Nepal as early as 2002. Despite this, there is an issue with the older generation lacking any ICT skills, and brain-drain is seeing IT students opt for foreign education and jobs, which further exacerbates the shortage of human resources in the field of ICT in Nepal. The public’s exposure to technology has increased their expectations from the local level, but there are still issues with local integration for e-Governance. Additionally, the lack of basic computer knowledge among nationally selected government personnel has resulted in reluctance towards using technology, which must be addressed to ensure the success of e-Governance initiatives in Nepal.

Constraints in delivering public services

The Government of Nepal has introduced e-Governance to improve the administration of government services and the relationship between public servants and the wider society. The government launched the Nagarik App to streamline service delivery, but it fell short of its target to integrate 60 services by 2021/22, as only 45 services have been integrated so far. Additionally, challenges such as lack of interest and commitment from all three tiers of the government, limited investment, insufficient resource mobilization, ineffective ICT policies, and inability to improve ICT capacity have made the process of receiving government services tedious for citizens. Despite the establishment of online registration systems for services like smart driving licenses, National IDs, and e-passports, consumers still have to wait in long lines and use middlemen to get their work done in offices smoothly. Additionally, citizens have to wait for over a year to get their smart licenses and National IDs made after applying.

Inequitable in the distribution of technology

Digital connectivity has been rising exponentially over the years with over 1.97 million households having internet subscriptions. However, lack of affordability, digital literacy, and access to a digital device still tends to put people at a disadvantage in terms of having access to these services. Additionally, those who are already disadvantaged tend to belong to groups in society with lower levels of access. Access to government information and services would be important for such groups. However, according to the World Bank Handbook on e-Government for developing countries, they may not benefit from enhancements to service quality and greater choice through online services. The existence of e-Government services may encourage people to access the internet. However, for most citizens, interacting with the government online is infrequent and not typically the primary reason for households to purchase a personal computer and internet connection.

Impediments to upholding data and cybersecurity

With the internet becoming increasingly prevalent and the rise of data-driven practices, the government has been amassing citizens’ data, including personal details and biometric information, for various purposes such as national identification, voter cards, and passports.­ Despite the government’s apparent investment in purchasing IT infrastructure, there seems to be a lack of priority from their side on capacity building, training, and hiring skilled data scientists. Nepal’s patchy cybersecurity record, and the recent Aadhar data breach in India, pose a question about the security of national ID card data. In fact, at the Tribhuvan International Airport, technical and system issues,  have frequently interrupted immigration services, causing inconvenience to passengers and impacting international flights.

Way forward

To attain a sustainable e-Governance structure, Nepal needs to focus on key areas such as improving its digital infrastructure and promoting digital literacy among its citizens. The government should prioritize education about e-Government services to increase awareness and usage of available services. The private sector can play a significant role in developing and implementing e-Government services. Therefore, private-public partnerships, other than the National Telecommunications Authority’s Rural Telecommunications Development Fund (RTDF), should be promoted to accelerate e-Government development. In particular, Nepal should focus on developing a National Single Window and e-Customs system to streamline trade and improve government service delivery. Additionally, partnering with South Korea for e-Governance can bring about substantial benefits for Nepal in terms of technology transfer and capacity building. However, any e-Governance initiative must be citizen-inclusive and employ a bottom-up approach to ensure that the services delivered cater to the needs of the people. This requires active engagement and participation of citizens in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of e-Government programs to ensure that their needs and preferences are taken into account.