Digital solutions archive
Introduced with the support of UNDP in Nepal
As Nepal grapples with the challenges around governance, climate change, environmental resilience and more, several digital solutions have emerged to address these issues head-on. These endeavors span across diverse portfolios, from governance and rule of law to environmental resilience and cross-cutting initiatives, reflecting a holistic approach to addressing Nepal’s complex and interconnected issues.
These initiatives not only tackle corruption through digital innovation but also enhance governance structures, bolster environmental sustainability, and pioneer inclusive approaches. From Anti-corruption Innovation Initiatives (ACII) utilizing web and mobile applications to projects like Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response (SUPER) employing advanced mapping techniques, each project is evidence to Nepal’s commitment to a brighter, technologically driven future. Here’s a list of diverse digital solutions introduced with the support of UNDP in Nepal:
1. Anti-corruption Innovation Initiative (ACII) Project:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: Anti-corruption Innovation Initiative (ACII)
Date: October 2021 — December 2023
Description: The Anti-corruption Innovation Initiative (ACII) project is an initiative to help combat corruption through use of digital technology, such as mobile app, phone and website. This project introduces web and mobile applications tailored for grievance handling, SIP PBX installation, and comprehensive staff training. Successfully registering numerous grievances and empowering marginalized populations through training initiatives, ACII stands as an example in Nepal’s fight against corruption.
Organizations involved: Province Governments, Local Government, Civil Society Organizations
URL to further information:
Hello CM Web App, Karnali Province
Namaste Mayor Web App, Dhangadhi Sub-Metro
Namaste Mayor Android Mobile App
Hamra Kura Android Mobile App
Hamra Kura Karnali IOS Mobile App
2. Case Management and Reporting System (CMRS) Software Development:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: Case Management and Reporting System (CMRS) Software Development
Date: September — December 2023
Description: The Case Management and Reporting System (CMRS) Software Development project is a pioneering effort to revamp the existing CMRS software. This initiative focuses on developing a user-friendly, web-based application designed for efficient case management. With features such as role-based authentication and workflow optimization, this system will significantly contribute to the National Human Rights Commission’s efforts to safeguard and promote human rights.
URL to further information: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_file.cfm?doc_id=320241
3. Socio-Economic Vulnerability Information Management System (SEVIMS):
Portfolio: Cross-Cutting (Leave No One Behind — LNOB)
Project Name: Socio-Economic Vulnerability Information Management System (SEVIMS)
Date: August 2022 — July 2026
Description: The Socio-Economic Vulnerability Information Management System (SEVIMS) is an instrumental project to digitize the information management at local governments. Developed by UNDP in collaboration with private software developers, SEVIMS serves as a cutting-edge digital tool empowering municipalities to identify real-time vulnerability against socio-economic indicators. Currently operational in four municipalities, SEVIMS facilitates targeted resource allocation and evidence-based interventions.
URL to further information (requires login): https://undpnepal.exposure.co/2022-a-year-in-review
4. Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment:
Portfolio: Environment and Resilience
Project Name: Developing Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Vulnerable Watershed in Nepal (DCRL)
Dates: Dec 2021 — Oct 2023 Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (MHVR)
Description: The Developing Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Vulnerable Watershed in Nepal (DCRL) project focuses on MHVR (Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Risk) assessment. This initiative unfolds a comprehensive approach, utilizing drones, GIS-based tools, and a web-based Management Information System (MIS) for watershed condition inspection and planning. DCRL emerges as an example of climate resilience, propelling evidence-based watershed management plans to the forefront of Nepal’s environmental strategy.
URL to further information:
5. Computerized Accounting System, Pre-paid Energy Meter and Community Energy Toolkit
Portfolio: Environment and Resilience
Project Name: Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood (RERL)
Installation of Computerized Accounting System: In the ongoing journey towards environmental sustainability, the Renewable Energy for Rural Livelihood (RERL) project implements a robust strategy. The installation of a Computerized Accounting System emerges as a key intervention. Acknowledging the financial sustainability challenges faced by micro hydro developers, especially cooperatives, RERL steps in to address issues related to record-keeping and tariff collection. By supporting the installation of a computerized accounting system, complete with software, RERL ensures heightened transparency and accountability among community developers, minimizing conflicts and maximizing tariff collection.
Pre-paid Energy Meter: Another milestone intervention within the RERL project is the Installation of Pre-paid Energy Meters in Tara Khola Micro Hydro Plant, completed in 2020. Recognizing the necessity for timely and efficient tariff collection, RERL collaborates with community developers to introduce pre-paid energy meters in households. Functioning similarly to pre-paid mobile phones, these meters deduct funds based on energy usage from individually topped-up accounts. This innovative approach ensures seamless and hassle-free tariff collection, contributing significantly to the operational sustainability of the plant.
Community Energy Toolkit (COMET): Within the ongoing RERL project, the utilization of the Community Energy Toolkit (COMET) adds a layer of sophistication. The project recognizes the prevalent challenge of underutilization of generated power in micro hydro plants, averaging around 20%. To address this, RERL partners with Energy Action Partner (ENACT), Malaysia, leveraging the COMET app through UNDP’s DigitalX initiative. This initiative, supported by ENACT and executed in collaboration with Nepali professionals, assesses the demand for electric cooking in rural communities in Bajura district. Through customizable scenario simulations, the COMET app plays a crucial role in understanding the willingness of communities to adopt electric cooking, thereby promoting productive energy use.
The RERL project signifies a bold endeavor to enhance environmental sustainability and resilience in rural communities. At its core, the project revolves around micro hydro plants, addressing financial sustainability challenges and underutilization of generated power. Through strategic interventions like the installation of computerized accounting systems and pre-paid energy meters, RERL significantly contributes to the transparent operation of these plants. The use of the Community Energy Toolkit (COMET) takes the project a step further, focusing on the demand for electric cooking in rural communities of Bajura district. Through collaboration with ENACT, Malaysia, RERL utilizes the COMET app, featuring customizable scenario simulations to assess and understand community preferences, bridging the gap between energy generation and consumption.
Organizations involved: ENACT, Malaysia
URL to further information: https://www.cometapp.net/
6. Electronic Building Permit System (eBPS):
Portfolio: Environment and Resilience
Project Name: Electronic Building Permit System (eBPS)
Description: The Electronic Building Permit System (eBPS) initiative, ongoing since 2015, stands at the forefront of resilience endeavors. Implemented in 16 municipalities, eBPS brings a paradigm shift in e-governance, specifically enhancing the implementation of the National Building Code and building bye-laws. As part of its ongoing evolution, eBPS engages in collaborative efforts with government agencies to ensure continuous system upgrading and upscaling. With a focus on transparency, efficiency, and adherence to building regulations, eBPS remains a cornerstone in promoting responsible urban development.
URL to further information: https://www.lsmcebps.gov.np/
7. e-Governance Blueprint (Strategy) in Nepal:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: The Development of e-Governance Blueprint (Strategy) in Nepal
Dates: May 2023 — Ongoing
Description: The Development of e-Governance Blueprint (Strategy) in Nepal project is a collaborative effort by UNDP Nepal to support the creation of a comprehensive e-governance blueprint. With the aim of enhancing coordination and effectiveness in e-governance initiatives, the project encompasses various activities to capacitate the E-Governance Commission. As a visionary initiative, the development of this blueprint sets the stage for a more streamlined and efficient governance system in Nepal.
8. Chatbot for Better Government Service Delivery:
Portfolio: Cross-Cutting (Accelerator Lab)
Project Name: Prototyping Potential of Chatbot for Better Government Service Delivery
Dates: November 2022 — Ongoing
Description: The Prototyping Potential of Chatbot for Better Government Service Delivery, a Cross-Cutting initiative by UNDP Nepal was initiated since November 2022. In collaboration with NAAMII, a frontier AI research and development company in Nepal, UNDP has spearheaded the development and integration of AI-powered chatbots in two local governments — Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) and Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City (BSMC). Operational on official websites and Facebook pages, these chatbots respond in Nepali and support citizen engagement by providing information from their respective citizen charters. The ongoing project has made significant strides in digitalizing citizen charters, enabling widespread access to critical information.
For more information:
LMC Website
LMC Facebook Page
BSMC Website
BSMC Facebook Page
9. GIS-based Project Information Management System (PIMS) in Karnali:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: European Union Support to Inclusive Federalism (EUSIF)
Dates: September 2022 — August 2023
Description: The GIS-based Project Information Management System (PIMS) in Karnali, executed from September 2022 to August 2023, visualizes donor-funded projects operating in Karnali Province. This digital platform offers critical information about project geographic locations, thematic areas, implementation status, and budget sizes. Managed by the Karnali Provincial Planning Commission (KPCC), the system serves as a cornerstone for evidence-based planning, coordination, and policy reform.
Organizations involved: EU, NAXA
10. Aid Management Information System (AMIS)
Portfolio: Inclusive Economic Growth
Project Name: Effective Development Financing and Coordination II (EDFC)
Dates: 2010 — Present
Organizations involved: UNDP, UK-FCDO, DANIDA
Target: The primary targets of the AMIS are government agencies, development partners, and I/NGOs involved in development assistance-funded projects.
Description: The AMIS is a digital platform designed for the efficient management, monitoring, and coordination of development assistance-funded activities within Nepal.
The AMIS serves as a central hub for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information related to development assistance flows and the various development initiatives being implemented within the country.
The AMIS plays a key role in enhancing transparency and accountability in development assistance management by providing comprehensive data on the allocation and utilization of development assistance resources. It facilitates better planning, execution, and reporting of development projects, ensuring that development assistance is optimally utilized to benefit the people of Nepal.
Through the AMIS, government agencies, development partners, and I/NGOs gain access to valuable insights, helping them make informed decisions and streamline development assistance-related activities.
The AMIS contributes to Nepal’s efforts in achieving its development goals and the SDGs by ensuring that development assistance is aligned with Nepal’s national development priorities.
The next steps for the AMIS — with support from the UNDP and active collaboration with a local IT company, NAXA — involve upgrading the system to a Development Finance Management Information System (DFMIS), including integration with the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) and the Line Ministry Budget Information System (LMBIS).
This transition will also include a major overhaul of the user interface (UI) and technical infrastructure, reinforcing the system’s capacity to manage and monitor a wider range of development finance flows and development assistance projects.
URL: https://amis.mof.gov.np/
URL: https://erc.undp.org/evaluation/documents/download/15229
11. Waste Management Information System (HCW-MIS)
Portfolio: Environment and Resilience
Project Name: Leaving No One Behind in Nepal’s Green, Resilient, and Inclusive COVID-19 Recovery (Waste Management Project)
Dates: June 2023 (Launch date)
Description:
a) The Healthcare Waste Management Information System (HCW-MIS) is a web-based Management Information System to digitize the information on healthcare waste at government’s hospitals. The system generates comprehensive statistics for evidence-based interventions at hospitals in addition to digitizing the healthcare waste data.
URL to further information: http://hcwmis.org/
b. Waste Transportation Tracking Web-based GPS system allows households of the municipality to know when and where the collection vehicle will come to pick up the wastes from communities.
URL to further information: https://dhangadhimun.gov.np/, https://webapp.lunagps.com/login.php
12. SDG Resource Centre for Parliamentarians:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: Parliament Support Project
In response to the challenge faced by parliamentarians in obtaining integrated information for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNDP’s Parliament Support Project (PSP) collaborated with the Sustainable Development and Good Governance Committee (SDGGC) to establish the SDG Resource Centre. This comprehensive center, equipped with a touchscreen kiosk, serves as a centralized hub within the Committee’s premises. The Centre’s portal (www.digobikas.gov.np) facilitates easy access to government agency websites and offers diverse resources, including infographics, brochures, a fortnightly newsletter, and global literature on all 17 SDGs. The automated portal, interfaced with the National Planning Commission, features valuable data search tools like Additional Dataset and Data Provider tabs, making it a one-stop knowledge hub. The inclusion of a Dialogue Room for SDG meetings further enhances its utility, providing parliamentarians and stakeholders with a holistic solution for streamlined information retrieval and collaboration.
URL for more information: www.digobikas.gov.np
13. Video Conferencing Facility in Parliament (2019–2021):
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: Parliament Support Project
Addressing the limited outreach of parliamentary committees in the provinces, the UNDP implemented a Video Conferencing Facility (VCF) in 74 districts across seven provinces from 2019 to 2021. The VCF connects Provincial Assemblies with the public, fostering public consultation, on-site oversight, and constituency dialogues. With advanced camera and audio-visual capabilities, this virtual communication technology enables seamless dialogue between groups, overcoming geographical and weather-related constraints. The VCF has become an effective tool for enhancing parliamentary outreach, promoting openness, transparency, and accountability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it played a crucial role in crisis communication and parliamentary oversight. The technology’s impact is evident in its ability to engage the public in parliamentary affairs, build ownership, and address local grievances without the need for physical visits.
13. YouTube Live Broadcast from Parliament:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: Parliament Support Project
Recognizing the importance of public access to parliamentary proceedings, UNDP introduced YouTube live broadcast facilities in the House of Representatives (HoR) in 2017. This initiative, later extended to Sudurpaschim Province, enables live streaming of parliamentary sessions and meetings. By leveraging this technology, the HoR ensures immediate access to parliamentary activities, fostering openness and transparency. The public can directly engage with parliament proceedings, and parliamentarians can share live broadcasts on their social media platforms. This has streamlined media coverage, allowing journalists to capture footage with visual aesthetics conveniently. The YouTube live broadcast facility has significantly contributed to enhancing openness, transparency, and accountability in parliamentary operations.
14. E-Legislation to Ease Documentation:
Portfolio: Governance and Rule of Law
Project Name: Parliament Support Project
In a bid to modernize legislative processes, the Karnali Provincial Assembly adopted ‘e-legislation,’ a web-based automation software program, supported by UNDP’s Parliament Support Project. The software streamlines documentation, processing, and translation of legislative work, fostering collaborative work among secretariat staff. Integrated with the Assembly’s website, the software enhances accessibility for parliament leadership, MPs, and staff. This digital initiative not only saves time but also strengthens database management, contributing to increased efficiency and effectiveness. Following the success in Karnali, the Koshi Provincial Assembly has also embraced the e-legislation software in 2023. The initiative marks a significant step in the digitization efforts of provincial assemblies, empowering staff with essential digital skills and contributing to the overall modernization of parliamentary operations.
URL for more info: www.undp.org/nepal/psp
