Background
The Northern belt of Kathmandu valley, though close to the capital city, has been a rural community with rural local government across 7 VDCs. Recently it has been promoted to the status of Municipality with 11 wards as the area has been experiencing rapid urbanization.
buildNepal has been engaging with Tarakeshwar residents and various groups through North Kathmandu Development Initiative which emerged as an apolitical and integrating agency to promote social harmony, community collaboration, and good governance. During last five years of its community engagement, NK has been successful in introducing some foundational ideas among Tarakeshwar residents, groups, leaders, and office bearers for a sustainable and smart community. The need for transparency in local governance felt by the inhabitants of Tarakeshwar encouraged buildNepal towards the development of a mobile app which provides public access regarding Municipality’s decisions and transactions for free.
Eventually, buildNepal acknowledged the time prior to the local elections as the opportune moment for introducing and strengthening good governance practices. Hence, it commenced a social movement entitled ‘vote for Tarakeshwar’ to promote right candidacy and responsible voting. Then, realizing that people are aware and decently motivated towards public issues and concerns, buildNepal engaged in a participatory action research that incorporated community engagement for accountable governance to promote gender responsive public services in an urban context of Tarakeshwar Municipality. Now, with an extended understanding of the grass root level, in the midst of decentralization process, buildNepal aims to facilitate communities in building decision-making capabilities which can ultimately contribute towards the practice of effective Subnational governance.