Building Capacity for Federal Governance: Lessons from Four Years at the Provincial Research and Training Centre, Madhesh Province, Nepal

Nepal's 2015 Constitution established a three-level federal system comprising the federal, provincial, and local levels of government. The transition created significant capacity challenges, particularly at the provincial and local levels, where institutional capacity, human resources, and intergovernmental coordination remained limited. This paper examines capacity development at the Provincial Research and Training Centre, Janakpur, based on my experience as the Executive Director. It examines three linked cases: institutional self-assessment and technical competency development; leadership and inclusion among elected representatives; and behavioural capacity development among government employees. The cases show that capacity development requires more than training events. Institutional learning, political participation, and behavioural change require different approaches, timeframes, and forms of follow-up. The paper suggests that future capacity development should connect training with institutional learning, practical application, sustained engagement, and longer-term assessment of change.