[DSRP Evidence](https://dsrpevidence.org/)

# Issues With Development Projects in Nepal

## Details

**Authors** Bista I

**Year** 2022

**Publisher** Journal of Systems Thinking 2(1):1-20

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Systems Science

**Secondary disciplines** Public Policy

**Reading level** intermediate

**Kind of engagement** scholarly

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.54120/jost.2025-0066IB) 
10.54120/jost.2025-0066IB

## In authors' words

### Abstract

In the past few years in Nepal, even though many development projects have been initiated; they have not fared as per the expectations. There are immense sets of challenges towards initiating and completing development projects. In reality, it is also not unusual for the Nepal government to initiate development projects without proper planning and accounting for the resources that it would require. In addition, even those projects which have been initiated with proper planning have faced tremendous challenges, and have been subjected to major delays. For the purpose of this report, we are looking at only those projects which are classified as the “National Pride Projects” in Nepal. The National Pride Projects are mostly infrastructure projects of the government of Nepal, based upon the proposal of the National Planning Commission, which have been initiated with the ambition of improving the social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of the general public. Most of these projects have not been able to meet their targeted completion date due to many factors. This paper discusses the issues that are present in these development projects using the Distinction-Systems-Relationships-Perspectives (DSRP) rule. With this, we try to understand the entire ecosystem under which these projects are implemented. Using the Agent-Based Analysis (ABA) approach which utilizes the Complex Adaptive System (CAS) perspective as a frame, we further delve deeper into understanding the system based upon the interactions made between different agents to make recommendations for improvements. This report looks at these systems, the role that different agents play in these systems (whether that is the government, the judiciary, the private sector or the community), and the relationship and interactions they have with each other to make recommendations on what could be done to improve the efficiency of the implementation of the development projects.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

A paper using DSRP and the Agent-Based Approach to examine why Nepal's "National Pride" infrastructure projects miss their targets.

### What they found (results)

Mapping the roles of government, judiciary, private sector, and community — and their interactions — yields recommendations for implementing development projects more efficiently.

## Commentary

### In short

Examines why Nepal's large "National Pride" development projects run into delays and fall short of expectations.

### Response

Uses DSRP and Cabrera's Agent-Based Approach to map why Nepal's National Pride infrastructure projects miss their targets, tracing the roles and interactions of government, judiciary, private sector and community.

**Patterns it shows** D, S, R, P

**How to cite this** Bista I (2022). Issues With Development Projects in Nepal. Journal of Systems Thinking 2(1):1-20.