Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP) organized a high-level interaction program between provincial and local government stakeholders on June 27, 2025, to strengthen intergovernmental relations and collaboration through meaningful dialogue. The event was organized to support PLGSP’s effort to promote cooperative federalism, clarifying institutional roles, and building trust and credibility among all levels of government. The event promoted understanding of constitutional principles of cooperation, coexistence, and coordination, in line with the constitution.
The program brought together 65 participants including the Hon. Chief Minister and Ministers of Madhesh Province, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, chairs of Provincial assembly committees, Members of Provincial Assembly, Principal Secretary, Province Secretaries, senior officials from province governments, mayors, chairs and deputies from local governments, and representatives from Local Government Associations (MuAN, NARMIN, ADCC, DCC) as well as federalism experts, civil society, and media.
The event was chaired by the Principal Secretary and inaugurated by the Hon. Chief Minister. It featured a technical session by experts, covering theoretical and practical dimensions of intergovernmental relations (IGR). Key priorities identified during the discussions included the need to strengthen institutions focused on IGR such as the Provincial Coordination Council and enhance public awareness on IGR mechanisms; clarify roles and responsibilities through revisions of laws; institutionalize coordination in planning and budgeting processes to reduce duplication; improve fiscal federalism through timely and impartial fiscal transfers; build the capacity of elected officials and civil servants in administrative federalism; and promote research to inform policy reforms.
The event generated political consensus and expert recommendations to improve vertical and horizontal relationships between provincial and local governments. As a next step, the provincial government authorities committed to strengthening IGR institutions, improving coordination mechanisms, and pushing for necessary legal and policy reforms.
