Advancing the Integrated Data Management System for Enhanced Data Interoperability

Local governments across Nepal face a common challenge: their digital and data systems are fragmented, difficult to scale, and weakly integrated into institutional processes. While pilot projects show promise, moving from “working in a few places” to becoming essential governance infrastructure remains difficult.

This is exactly what we’re addressing in the next phase of the Integrated Data Management System (IDMS) project, supported by the Regional Civic Tech Innovation Challenge, launched by UNDP in partnership with the Open Government Partnership, Accountability Lab, and CurveUp. We’re moving beyond experimentation to focus on structure, replication, and institutional ownership.

Implementations from the Learnings of UNDP Regional Civic-Tech Challenge

Integrated Data Management System (IDMS) has been implemented across five local governments in Nepal to improve the above-mentioned problems. In May 2025, IDMS took part in the Regional Civic Tech Innovation Challenge, organized by UNDP in partnership with the Open Government Partnership, Accountability Lab, and CurveUp, and won it under the Governance Impact Track as recognition for the impact it has created.

Participating in the Regional Civic Tech Innovation Challenge provided mentorship, regional exposure, and strategic guidance at a pivotal moment. It helped us reflect on lessons from the first five deployments and refine the system for replication, policy alignment, and long-term institutional ownership.

The current phase, with the support of UNDP and the Biji-biji initiative, builds on that foundation. It focuses on transforming a working IDMS into a replication-ready governance infrastructure model and initiating a consultation to scale IDMS.

The Challenge

Local governments increasingly depend on digital systems for planning, reporting, and service delivery. Yet many digital initiatives struggle to move beyond their initial testing phase. The gap isn’t always technical; it’s about institutional readiness, policy alignment, and long-term sustainability.

Since 2021, IDMS has been tackling data silos and fragmented datasets in Nepal’s local governments. Through multiple implementation phases, we’ve learned an important lesson: technology alone doesn’t create lasting change. Digital systems become public infrastructure only when they are replicable, institutionalized, policy-aligned, and embedded in governance processes.

This new phase is dedicated to making that transition real.

What We’re Building

1. Replication-Ready Deployment Package: We’re creating a standardized package with technical documentation, configuration guidance, and step-by-step workflows. This enables local governments with basic technical capacity to install and operate IDMS without building from scratch.
2. Feature Enhancements for Better Governance: We’re introducing two key improvements: a Form Builder for structured data collection, reducing reliance on inconsistent spreadsheets, and an enhanced Data Explorer that lets users analyze data, prepare reports, and generate fact sheets through simple tables and visuals.
3. Applied Research and Documentation: We’re documenting the implementation process through a research paper examining local government data readiness, dataset prioritization, and institutional gaps. It will identify emerging needs in data governance and explore considerations for data exchange and interoperability.
4. Policy Recommendations: We’re developing a policy note that connects IDMS with broader digital public infrastructure efforts and outlines realistic pathways for government-led scaling.
5. National Consultation: We’ll organize a national consultation with federal stakeholders, development partners, and technical experts to discuss scaling pathways, data governance alignment, and institutional sustainability. Recommendations will be documented to inform future policy decisions.

Building Infrastructure, Not Just Software

Digital systems don’t become public infrastructure by default. They become infrastructure when they’re designed for replication, anchored in institutional ownership, aligned with policy frameworks, and embedded in governance processes.

This project represents a deliberate effort to move IDMS in that direction, creating conditions for sustainability where local governments can take ownership, systems can scale without massive additional investment, and data governance becomes part of routine administrative practice.

All activities are grounded in approved project timelines, budgets, and performance indicators, ensuring accountability and measurable impact.