Digital framework Nepal
The government released the Digital Nepal Framework on 5 Kartik 2076, which contains 80 activities in eight categories. The Framework is the driving force behind Nepal’s digital transformation. And, despite inspiring an explosion of ICT growth in recent years, notably following the craze for ‘digital,’ the government has yet to give a big and tangible commitment. It was approved by the government on October 22, 2019 and has been included in the 15th plan as a game changer project. With the approval, The Framework envisages materializing the incumbent government's national goal of prosperity through maximum utilization of technology has got headway for its implementation.
The Framework prioritizes 8 different domains and prioritized domains as connectivity, finance, agriculture, education, urban infrastructure, energy and health. The Framework had presented an action-plan to facilitate in the electronic good governance, education, health and physical infrastructure among others and is expected to expedite the laying optical fiber for building information highway. The Framework is also expected to contribute in achieving the SDGs besides supporting the government's aim for good-governance and need to leverage ICT for socio-economic transformation and good-governance.
The effective implementation of the Digital Nepal Framework and achievement of all 80 initiatives under the eight sectors, requires enhanced ICT infrastructure and qualified human resources. Human Capital Development has to be speeded up engaging all the stakeholders. The internet penetration in Nepal is recorded at 56 per cent so far.
The government aims to bring all 753 local units, community schools and health posts under the coverage of broadband access by 2020.
Status of the Digital Nepal Framework
National Identity Card was one of the first moves of the Digital Nepal campaign which allows the bearer avail all the state facilities through a single identity card. It contains information of the bearer.
Likewise, an agreement was held between the Department of Civil Personnel Records and Employees Provident Fund to render services to the service seekers through one-door with the use of information technology.
Digital Foundation
Digital Foundation:
Establish the Internet as an essential service 2) Improve spectrum availability, management and optimization 3) Take the lead in 5G networks deployment 4) National Optical Fiber Network 5) High-speed internet connectivity for efficient delivery of Public services 6) Special economic zones for ICT sector 7) Government of Nepal App 8) Use of Government Enterprise Architecture (GEA) 9) Paperless government to promote collaboration 10) Public Wi-Fi Hotspots 11) National Cyber Security Center 12) Provincial Data Center Establishment 13) National Language Computational Resource Pack 14) National Biometric ID Card 15) Digital Signature 16) Digital Innovation and Co-creation Hub 17) Digital Skill Development Initiative 18) Government eLearning Platform 19) ICT in Education
The Digital Foundation dimension of the Digital Nepal Framework focuses on three pillars: Digital Connectivity, Digital Skills, and Digital Governance. Digital Connectivity has seen an exponential rise as Mobile and Internet penetration in Nepal has increased dramatically in recent years. As per the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, the total broadband penetration in Nepal is 126.72% (97.42% mobile broadband and 29.30% fixed broadband) as of mid-February 2022. Over 1.97 million households in Nepal have internet subscriptions. The government is also moving forward with the testing of 5G technology. However, challenges such as affordability, digital divide, access, and digital illiteracy, still remain in many parts of Nepal. In regard to Digital Governance, the government has made some efforts to digitalize public services, such as the digitization of data of land revenue offices, the launch of the Nagarik App, launch of the Nepal National Single Window (NNSW) system, the National ID card, etc. to name a few. Nevertheless, inadequate capacity of installed technologies and incompetent handling of systems still create problems for service seekers.
Agriculture:
20) eHaat Bazaar 21) Precision Agriculture 22) Agriculture Tools Sharing 23) Digital Disbursement for MSP & Subsidies 24) Digitization of Land Records 25) Smart Irrigation Project 26) Smart Livestock and Wildlife Management 27) Televet Medical Center Establishment 28) Agriculture Input and Output Product Quality Tracking System 29) Education and training programs for farmers 30) State of the Art Knowledge Centers and Government Agriculture Centers H
Agriculture-related framework efforts include technological solutions targeted at increasing production while reducing agricultural input. These solutions are projected to increase farm productivity and sustainability in order to fulfill rising food demand, as well as farmers’ incomes. Concepts such as eHaat Bazaars, agriculture tools sharing, digital disbursement of subsidies, smart irrigation projects, smart livestock and wildlife management, Tele vet medical center, Agriculture Product Quality Tracking Systems and more have been planned. However, the initiatives have not been successfully implemented yet. Farmers are able to get agricultural information on the internet, and there have been a few mobile applications built that provide farmers with the information they require, but the reach of such information is limited since many who work in the agriculture sector are digitally illiterate and have poor access to the internet.
Health:
National Digital Healthcare Program 32) Next-Generation Digital Healthcare Facilities 33) Electronic Health Records 2.0 34) Mobile Health Units 35) e-Maternal Care 36) Drones for delivery of emergency medical supplies 37) Centralized Telemedicine Center
DNF’s health projects aim to help the government achieve its goal of delivering quality basic healthcare to all citizens. The government aims to use digital technologies such as videoconferencing, e-learning, and mobile health to solve concerns such as healthcare access, affordability, and quality for Nepali citizens. The COVID-19 pandemic did give digital health services a boost with numerous web-based online physical/mental health consultation services flourishing. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic gave the government the opportunity to scale up its digital health information management system. Nevertheless, there are still numerous avenues where Nepal’s health sector can undergo digital transformation.
Education:
38) Smart Classrooms 39) OLE Nepal 2.0 40) Online Learning Platform 41) Rent-a-Laptop Program 42) EMIS 2.0 43) Centralized Admission System 44) Biometric Attendance Systems and CCTV Cameras 45) Mobile learning centers in rural areas
DNF initiatives in education aim to prepare human capital to take advantage of new economic prospects, which comprises of incorporating digital technologies into classroom learning to assist teachers, enrich learning experience, and improve educational outcomes. The COVID-19 induced lockdowns gave the government and education stakeholders an opportunity to reconsider teaching and learning methods. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MOEST) announced a Guideline for Facilitating Student Learning by Alternative Means and launched Sikai Chautari, an online learning site for e-learning. However, studies carried out by various organizations showed that online education proved to be less effective as a large number of students were left out from a virtual learning due to their inability to access online learning materials and the internet.
Energy: In the energy industry, digital efforts strive to build a sustainable energy infrastructure that not only reduces costs but also strengthens energy networks. Customer-centric solutions, smart transmissions, and distribution networks are examples of smart solutions, with interconnection playing a key part. Currently, the Nepal Electricity Authority has been pushing the use of smart meters.
Tourism:
55) Welcome Nepal Website and Mobile App 2.0 56) Electronic Visas and Immigration Process Improvement 57) Multilingual Helpline 58) Augmented and Virtual Reality Tours 59) Electronic Tour Guides 60) Omnichannel Marketing 61) Tourist Security Infrastructure
Digital tourism efforts aim to promote Nepal internationally, attract visitors to the country, and provide job possibilities for Nepalis. It entails the use of omnichannel marketing solutions, e-commerce, and disruptive technologies like augmented reality to promote tourism, develop human capital skills in the tourism industry, and improve tourist experiences. While there have been efforts to digitize tourism services such as visa kiosk machines in the Tribhuvan International Airport, the inefficiency of such machines has created more problems for tourists entering Nepal as they have to wait hours in line to get their visas. Likewise, tourists are now required to carry USD 200 in cash to pay for their visas at the airport due to lack of POS machines, which shows that digitization in tourism has a long way to go in Nepal.
Finance:
National Payment Gateway 63) Credit Ratings (Individual/ Corporate Accounts) 64) Information Management System for Nepali Migrants 65) Mobile Wallet Services 66) Encourage digital payments in Nepal 67) Development of single window for business & industry promotion 68) Development and promotion of ecommerce and ITeS ecosystem 69) Digital Payments Campaign
By utilizing digital technologies and telecoms infrastructure, Digital Nepal efforts promoting the financial services sector aim to reach the country’s large unbanked population. The financial sector is currently one of the most digitalized sectors. Initiatives such as the National Payment Gateway, Credit Ratings, Mobile Wallet services, Digital Payments, development and promotion of e-commerce have successfully moved forward. As per Nepal Rastra Bank’s monthly statistics, an average of over 3 million transactions are being carried out through Connect IPS each month. Similarly, 13.5 million mobile banking transactions, 13.3 million mobile wallet transactions, and 1.7 million QR based payments are being carried out at an average each month.
Urban Infrastructure: The Digital Nepal Framework aims to use disruptive technologies to improve the quality of life in Nepal’s cities by enhancing key services including water management, solid waste management, public transportation, and traffic management. The efforts of the government to bring urban infrastructure services under the digital framework have so far been unsatisfactory. For instance, service seekers at the Department of Transport Management have been facing a lot of problems despite the implementation of online systems.
Moving Forward with the Digital Nepal Framework
The effective implementation of the Digital Nepal Framework and achievement of all 80 initiatives under the eight sectors, requires enhanced ICT infrastructure and qualified human resources. The government cannot possibly achieve this goal without the support of the private sector since the private sector have been leading the technological transformation in Nepal. The government can invest in developing the required infrastructures and improve cybersecurity through public-private partnerships. Similarly, it can facilitate the stakeholders involved by drafting policies that create an enabling environment for them to work on the digital Nepal initiatives. The government can also create skill development programs to develop a capable workforce.
The Digital Nepal Framework (DNF) has been seen as an ambitious approach by the government for raising digital literacy and supporting the advancement of ICT in Nepal. The framework has been developed as a roadmap for how digital efforts can contribute to economic growth. It also seeks to find new solutions to address important societal concerns efficiently and identify chances for Nepal to engage in the global economy. The DNF includes 80 activities divided into eight categories – digital foundation, agriculture, health, education, energy, tourism, finance and urban infrastructure.
Despite encouraging a surge in ICT growth in the recent years, particularly in the wake of the ‘digital’ frenzy, the government had yet to make a significant and concrete contribution. Nonetheless, three years after Nepal adopted the Digital Nepal Framework, the project seems to be finally getting some attention from the government as the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) recently announced an investment of NPR 22 billion in the project. The World Bank is set to invest NPR 17 billion and provide NPR 5 billion as business loans for the project. The ministry has so far prepared a draft of the scope for investment in the Digital Nepal Framework and is currently seeking suggestions from all stakeholders. As per MoCIT, a portion of the amount would be used for funding internet expansion in rural areas, and provide Internet Service Providers (ISPs) financial incentives to develop weather-resistant high-speed broadband connectivity. Similarly, the government plans to invest in e-governance, which would comprise of digital signatures, a cybersecurity regulatory framework, and an increased capacity of current data centers.
Dimensions of Digital Nepal Framework and Appropriate Roadmap
The aim of this paper is to the purposed a roadmap of digital Nepal and trying to explorer the various dimensions of the digital Nepal framework. The content analysis method was used for the study. The researcher claims that Digital Nepal is a broad conception of the Government of Nepal. The Government's big plan Digital Nepal is designed to facilitate Nepal to connect its driving socioeconomic growth of citizens which will help and support to achieve the sustainable development goal. The Digital Nepal Framework encompasses one nation, eight sectors, 80 digital initiatives. The study claims that there are eight dimensions of the Digital Nepal framework. They are the digital foundation, agriculture, health, education, energy, tourism; finance and urban. They will help to guide Nepal on its journey toward becoming a digital state in days to come. The Government of Nepal is successful in information and communication development in the nation. The possible roadmap of digital Nepal is clearly mentioned in two parts as infrastructure development and service and application. The way of digital Nepal is not so easy but the recent trends in the development of ICT in the country show that the true digital Nepal isn't as for as we think.
Government Investment
The Nepalese government has committed a 22 billion rupee investment in the Digital Nepal Framework initiative. The monies will be used to carry out some of the important initiatives that the popular ICT handbook anticipates for the country.
The Digital Nepal Framework (DNF) is an ambitious and well-known guideline that outlines a strategy for increasing digital literacy and promoting ICT progress.
After three years, the government has finally declared that 22 billion rupees will be channeled into the project. This sum is the result of a partnership between the MoCIT and the World Bank. The World Bank would spend 17 billion rupees, with 5 billion rupees in business loans, according to Gorkhapatra.
The ministry has created a draft for the scope of the Digital Nepal Framework investment and is openly soliciting ideas. The investment would benefit not just government entities, but also the business sector.
Poor digital literacy hinders growth in Nepal
Poor digital literacy is one of the challenges to achieve the goal of a digital Nepal, stakeholders said on Monday.
The government has initiated a digital education in coordination with the Ministry of Education which would start from a few schools in rural areas in the initial phase.
Nepal’s telecom regulator is drafting an integrated national Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) policy to improve access to information technology to all aspects of society and development and to avoid the widening of the digital gap.
The proposed draft envisions serving as an umbrella policy framework, encompassing telecommunications and broadband, ICTs and digital economy landscape to meet the development aspirations of the country.
There are strong linkages between digital adoption and GDP growth. According to a World Bank report, every 10 percent increase in internet penetration in a country results in incremental economic growth of 1.3 percent.
The Nepal government has announced the investment of 22 billion in the Digital Nepal Framework project. The funds will be implemented to execute some key projects the popular ICT guide envisions for the country.
Digital Nepal Framework (DNF) is an ambitious and popular guideline that projects a plan to elevate digital literacy and promote ICT growth. It was established in 2019 with the approval of the then Council of Ministers. The Framework carries the driving line of digital transformation in Nepal. And while it has inspired an explosion of ICT growth in recent years, particularly after the love for ‘digital’, the government has not offered a large and tangible investment till today.
After three years, the government has finally announced it is funneling the project with 22 billion rupees. This amount comes in collaboration between the MoCIT and the World Bank. Of the total, the World Bank will invest 17 billion rupees and 5 billion rupees will come in business loans, Gorkhapatra writes.
The ministry has prepared a draft for the scope of the Digital Nepal Framework investment and is seeking suggestions publicly.
The investment will not only help the government bodies, but also the private sector.
DNF investment for Rural Broadband Expansion
The investment comes under several headings. One of them is for the broadband expansion in rural areas which will get 13 billion rupees in funds.
The government will improvise its policies to run down its investment in network expansion. It will also offer subsidies for ISPs to provide weather-resistant high-speed broadband service. In addition, a portion of the investment will go to bring internet to women, students, disabled, and low-income families. The locals will get community-based digital education, the government has planned. Besides, the government will utilize the investment to buy international bandwidth wholesale.
For integrating the digital economy, the government will spend 61 crores on personal and business loans. The other initiatives include producing efficient human resources well acquainted with digital education and creating a base for their employment. The entrepreneurs will also get assistance from the government while there is also a plan for an IT park.
Digital Government
The government will prepare the base for the creation of digital government. It will supposedly invest 7.70 billion for this project.
This includes digital signature, cyber security regulation framework, and improving the efficiency of the government. There is also a plan for the improvement of the capacity of existing data centers. Besides, project management and coordination will have 12 crores in funding. Do read
What do you think of the government’s investment in the Digital Framework Nepal? Do suggest other areas that should come under the plan in the comments below.
Efforts at digitizing government services in current federal set-up