Assessing Digital Governance Capabilities in Koshi Province, Nepal: A Socio-Technical and Institutional Analysis

Abstract Digital governance has become a central component of public sector transformation, particularly in developing countries where institutional and infrastructural constraints influence service delivery. In Nepal, the federal governance structure has increased the role of provincial governments in implementing digital systems for administrative efficiency and inclusive governance. This study assesses the digital governance capabilities of Koshi Province using a socio-technical and institutional framework. The analysis is based on secondary data from policy reports, ICT initiatives, and governance practices. The findings indicate that Koshi Province demonstrates relatively stronger infrastructure and institutional readiness compared to less developed provinces; however, challenges remain in system integration, digital literacy, and effective service utilization. The study argues that digital governance in Koshi is in a transitional phase, moving from digitization toward integration, but constrained by uneven capacity development. The research contributes by providing a province-specific assessment and proposing a socio-technical model to understand digital governance dynamics in Nepal. Keywords: Digital Governance, ICT4D, Digital Divide, Public Service Delivery, Koshi Province, Nepal