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

Abstract Digital governance has emerged as a critical mechanism for improving administrative efficiency and public service delivery in developing countries. In Nepal, the federal governance structure has increased the responsibility of provincial governments to adopt digital systems for effective governance. This study assesses the digital governance capabilities of Gandaki Province using a socio-technical and institutional framework. The analysis is based on secondary data from policy documents, ICT initiatives, and governance practices. The findings indicate that Gandaki Province demonstrates moderate progress in digital governance, supported by relatively stable infrastructure and growing institutional awareness. However, challenges remain in system integration, digital literacy, and service accessibility, particularly in geographically dispersed areas. The study argues that digital governance in Gandaki is influenced by both infrastructural and geographic factors, along with institutional capacity limitations. The research contributes by providing a context-specific analysis and proposing a socio-technical model to understand digital governance in geographically diverse regions. Keywords: Digital Governance, ICT4D, Digital Divide, Public Service Delivery, Gandaki Province, Nepal