The Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP) aims to build on the successes and lessons learned from its initial phase, striving to enhance governance practices and foster inclusive socio-economic development across federal, provincial and local level governments of Nepal. The key objectives of the PLGSP focus on improving service delivery, promoting inclusive economic development, and ensuring that governance frameworks remain adaptable to changing circumstances and evolving needs (Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration [MoFAGA, 2024, PLGSP Project Document).1 The PLGSP 2024 programme document (ProDoc) requires further detailing to include processes, necessary documents, and templates to guide the implementing agencies for smooth execution.

This document presents the Programme Implementation Guideline for the Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP), designed to serve as a comprehensive and systematic reference for all aspects of the programme's operations. The Guideline provides clear, step-by-step procedures and protocols to enhance efficiency, consistency, and clarity. It includes essential information on the programme's governance structure, decision-making processes, and issue resolution mechanisms, ensuring that every aspect of the programme is managed effectively.

The primary objective of this strategic document is to empower managers, team members, and key stakeholders by offering the necessary tools and information to navigate the PLGSP lifecycle seamlessly and successfully. By adhering to these guidelines, the programme aims to foster best practices, achieve desired outcomes, and maintain a high standard of execution.

Moreover, the Guideline is designed to be a dynamic resource, regularly updated to reflect any changes in requirements, strategies, or external factors. This ensures that the document remains relevant, up-to-date, and continues to serve as an invaluable tool for the ongoing success of the PLGSP programme.

This guideline will elaborate on key concepts of PLGSP and provide step-by-step implementation procedures, clearly defining the necessary steps, relevant documents. responsible parties, and timelines. Additionally, the required templates and formats are suggested.

The implementation guidelines help provincial and local governments institutions operate efficiently, inclusively, and accountably, fostering better coordination between federal and local governments. Consequently, local governments are empowered to deliver high-quality services efficiently and effectively, promoting inclusive socio-economic development. The proposed implementation guidelines' procedural steps and required documents/templates will provide standard procedures to achieve these results and those outlined in the PLGSP 2024-29 results chain.