Research Study Abstract

Title: Opinion Survey on Contemporary Issues of Local Governance-2064 BS (Views of Citizens on Municipal Election)
Document Reference: researchstudy4.pdf

Executive Summary & Findings

Research: Opinion Survey on Contemporary Issues of Local Governance-2064 BS (Views
of Citizens on Municipal Election)

Local bodies (DDCs, VDCs, Municipalities) have been run by local government staff for the last
eight years as elections, has not been possible due to conflict. The absence of elected mechanism
at the local bodies has affected the development and service delivery. At this backdrop, IGD
conducted survey to undertake overal assessment of local bodies on present situation and find out
opportunity to revitalize/ activate local bodies and to obtain information direct from the
stakeholders regarding the various services being provided to citizens by services providing
institutions.

The objectives of the Study were to assess whether citizens in municipalities were aware of
announcement of the Municipality polls, to find out on what the citizens think of the possibility
of the municipality election and to ascertain from the citizens’ perspectives about what should be
done to conduct polls peacefully

Methodology
The survey team developed three separate sets of questionnaires focusing to the respondents from
concerned government authority, former peoples' representatives and local citizens. The
methodology used in the survey was direct interview with the respondents based on the
questionnaire developed by the team. The study was limited only in the Kathmandu, Bhaktapur
and Lalitpur districts and random sample was used for selecting the primary respondents.

Altogether 5,170 samples (citizens: male/female) were included in the survey.
All the respondents came from the municipalities who cast their ballots during the previous
election.75% of the respondents were male whereas 25% were female respondents.

The Major Key findings
 It has been found that 72% out of total respondents know the recent announcement of the
Election Commission regarding the municipality election that is going to be conducted
during February 2005
 Majority of respondents (58%) did not believe that the election is possible because of
existing political conflict and lack of security
 More than 50% respondents pointed out that election can be conducted peacefully only
after the settlement of the existing political stalemate and conflict

Policy Implications

Findings from this empirical study were presented at national policy roundtables and distributed to relevant ministries, parliamentary committees, and development partners to guide evidence-based policy making in Nepal.