Prajwal Man Pradhan

In order to understand demographic-urbanization interrelationship in the Nepalese context based on three sources of data (e.g., World Bank, UN and 2021 National Population and Housing Census), the article presented some demographic variables (e.g., crude birth rate, fertility rate, life expectancy at birth, infant mortality, and migration) and percentage of urban population residing in Nepal during 1960-2022. These demographics played vital role in the level of urbanization. The plausible reason is that crude birth rates, fertility rates, and infant mortality rate have been declining gradually whereas life expectancy at birth and migration rates have been rising since 1960-2022. The paper also reviewed definition of urbanization in Nepal, indicating there is problems of definition of urbanization in Nepal. The sister organization of Government of Nepal (GoN), e.g., National Statistics Office (NSO) has introduced 3-categrory of new classification (e.g. urban, per-urban and rural) based on wards of municipals. The paper suggests that such classifications are significant to carry out research in the future in addition to restructuring the existing urban-rural definitions.

Tourism may be an effective instrument for advancing sustainable development through generating employment and preserving cultural and natural resources. This article is based on the review using descriptive statistics method that includes scientific readings and publications about tourism and its revenue in the particular context of Nepal. The International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics 2008 provides the basic concepts and definitions concerning the different aspects of tourism such as international tourism revenue, which can be viewed through receipt (% of export) and expenditure (% of import). Before the COVID-19 pandemic spread, revenue from international tourism was recorded the lowest but started improving gradually. Aligning tourism revenue with development strategies, this study concludes that revenue generation serves as a crucial driver for tourism growth in developing countries like Nepal. Examining various quality-of-life measurement models allows for the identification of best practices, facilitating the adaptation of tourism development approaches to specific contexts.

This study aims to examine the administrative service delivery practices within the local government of Nepal and explore the intricate perceptions of the interplay between governance, service delivery, and citizens. The objectives include understanding the contextual elements that shape states, addressing concerns of developing nations, emphasizing service delivery, prioritizing citizen viewpoints, and tackling governance issues. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach grounded on post-positivism, the study employs purposeful sampling to select rural municipalities in Nepal. Data collection involves a quantitative institutional survey to assess the current state of public administrative services, with survey respondents comprising service providers and citizens. The respondents reported higher levels of satisfaction with the efficiency, timeliness, and resource availability of administrative services. However, the study also revealed gaps and disparities in the knowledge and perceptions of administrative practices and governance among different respondent groups and ecological regions. Emphasizing the significant advantages of collaboration, decentralization, people-centric development, and meaningful engagement, the study highlights the need for further research and policy interventions to enhance public service delivery and governance of local government in Nepal.

This paper assesses the impacts of social security allowances provided by the Government of Nepal to single women and the various associated aspects. This study was based on the socio[1]economic status of single women, the nature of tasks performed, and the perception of society and family towards them, which were observed and studied in Phedikhola Rural Municipality, Syangja, using descriptive research methods and related tools such as semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and observations. Similarly, accessible relevant published or unpublished materials, existing legal provisions, and information available via online means were also referred to as secondary sources. A higher percentage of single women took part in decision[1]making in household non-financial affairs, but involvement in financial affairs was relatively less. Most of them were occasionally invited to social functions and were relatively more trusted by society. The study concluded that the social security allowance can be an important step in uplifting the socio-economic condition of single women. However, the allowance amount needs to be increased to help single women be more independent, and it is also crucial to ensure that the allowances are received by single women and that the expenses are at her discretion.

Autonomous local governments are essential for maintaining stable economic and social development mechanisms and democratic regimes. The prime objective of the article is to examine the impact of pressure-capacity variables on local governance. Two sources of data, such as NPHC 2021 and LISA are used. Overall local government of Nepal has still weak performance as only 38 percent of total municipals have secured good ranking status. Based on PCP framework, total score of 10 composite indicators generated by LISA and some population management related characteristics (e.g., sex ratio, population density, literacy, household size, and two food coping strategy related variables) have been examined using multiple regression to understand interrelationship response and explanatory variables. The statistical analysis shows that there is a string relationship between pressure and capacity variables. Individually, three population related variables such as sex ratio, literacy and household size are positively correlated with total score of 10 indicators with low coefficient of determination. In addition to strengthening existing gender status, educational level and population growth, more socioeconomic and environment related variables as explanatory variables are necessary to link government capacity and its performance in Nepal.

The articulation of downward (social) accountability to the local government (LG) has been established by the new constitution of Nepal (2015) and further elaborated in the Local Government Operational Act (2017). LGs in Nepal have gained more autonomy, role, and responsibility for providing public services to local citizens following the state restructuring into federal Nepal. What does local governance practice look like today in terms of downward accountability? This paper examines the existing patterns of downward accountability, particularly in the same cases of local government in the Kailali district in the Sudurpaschim Province. Two separate field-based studies were conducted in different periods. Initially, the study assessed the compliance of social accountability tools in three local units (2019). The second attempt was a study focused on the practices of the monitoring mechanisms of four LG units (2021). The analysisused the observation check-list, key informant interview, and questionnaire schedule for data collection. The respondents to the study were the elected representatives, staff of LGs, and service-receiving citizens. This observation shows doubt about the practice of downward accountability at LG and its compliance, which appears to be ambiguous. LG elected representative's perception of downward accountability and the compliance mechanism must be clarified and specific. However, both elected representatives and the citizens have taken monitoring action in support of the downward accountability of LG. Effective service delivery has slowed due to a lack of a standardized downward accountability system.

The food crisis is a global and local issue since the expansion of COVID-19 and after that period. Most developing countries including Nepal has been facing food deficit before and after the pandemic because of the irregular supply-demand chain of food and increasing food dependency on foreign countries. According to WFP (2022), 345 million people in 85 countries have been facing food crises in the world in 2022 and most of them are from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. According to Pandey &Fusaro (2020), approximately 56% of women overall and 76% of Dalit women reported having food insecurity. Similarly, most of the districts of Karnali and some of the districts of Madhesh Pradesh and SudurPachhim Pradesh has been facing food deficit due to the low productivity and the bad policies of the government.

This paper renders role of local/community radio on rural development in general and rural community development process in particular. By applying library based research method, necessary informations are generated through literature review. This paper highliths that community radio has brought positive impacts particularly in seven thematic areas (i.e. suitability, agricultural transformation, promoting participatory democracy, voice of voiceless, information/ discussion forum on local issues, empowering unprivileged rural people and contribution on good governance). Thus, better to offer radio programs by the local level authorities in such thematic areas for strengthning rural development process in general and rural community development process in particular.