Nepal’s transition to a federal structure has marked a significant shift in governance, creating a three-tier system that brings local governments closer to the people. This restructuring has opened new avenues for development, empowering local leaders to play a crucial role in community progress. In this context, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) training has emerged as a transformative tool, helping elected representatives develop new perspectives and enhance their leadership capabilities.
2. The Federal Structure and Local Governance
2.1 Overview of the Federal System
Nepal’s federal restructuring introduced a three-tier governance system: the federal government, provincial governments, and local governments. This structure aims to decentralize power and resources, enabling more localized decision-making and development efforts. Local governments, which include municipalities and rural municipalities, are now at the forefront of implementing development initiatives and addressing community needs.
2.2 Role of Local Governments
Local governments have become the closest government entities to the public, directly influencing local development activities and community welfare. They are responsible for various functions, including infrastructure development, education, health services, and local economic development. The effectiveness of these responsibilities heavily depends on the attitude, thinking, behavior, and leadership capacities of local leaders.
2.3 Challenges Faced by Local Leaders
With the introduction of the new federal structure and limited resources, local leaders initially faced challenges in navigating their roles. The transition created uncertainties and dilemmas regarding how to best utilize available resources and drive effective local development. To address these challenges and empower local leaders, Appreciative Inquiry training was introduced.
3. Appreciative Inquiry Training: An Overview
3.1 What is Appreciative Inquiry?
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a strengths-based approach to organizational and community development. It focuses on discovering and building upon what works well, rather than concentrating on problems and deficiencies. AI involves:
- Discovery: Identifying the strengths and successes within a community or organization.
- Dream: Envisioning a future based on these strengths.
- Design: Creating strategies and plans to achieve the envisioned future.
- Destiny: Implementing the plans and fostering a culture of positive change.
3.2 Theoretical Foundation
AI is grounded in the belief that the questions we ask and the focus we choose can shape the outcomes we achieve. As Peter Drucker, a renowned management consultant, stated, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” This aligns with AI’s principle of envisioning and actively working towards a positive future based on existing strengths.
3.3 AI in the Context of Local Governance
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is instrumental in promoting local leadership by providing a framework that encourages leaders to reframe challenges as opportunities and build on existing successes. For local leaders, especially in the rapidly evolving landscape of federal governance, AI offers a transformative approach that shifts the focus from problems to possibilities. This shift in perspective is crucial for local leaders who must navigate new roles and responsibilities with limited resources and often face significant uncertainties. By emphasizing strengths and positive potential, AI empowers leaders to identify what is working well within their communities and leverage these strengths to address challenges effectively. This strengths-based approach fosters a culture of optimism and proactive problem-solving, enabling leaders to envision a more promising future for their municipalities.
Moreover, AI helps local leaders to engage more deeply with their communities, fostering greater collaboration and participation. Through the AI process, leaders learn to involve various stakeholders in identifying community strengths and co-creating a shared vision for the future. This inclusive approach not only enhances community engagement but also builds trust and collective ownership of development initiatives. By aligning the strengths of the community, AI makes weaknesses less relevant, as emphasized by Peter Drucker. Leaders can focus on strategic visioning and implementing plans that capitalize on their community’s unique assets, thereby driving sustainable development and positive societal transformation. AI training thus equips local leaders with the skills and mindset necessary to lead effectively in a dynamic governance environment, promoting resilient and empowered communities.
4. Implementation of AI Training in Local Level
The Eastern Research Institute of Positive Science (ERIPS) initiated the implementation of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) training at the local level to empower elected representatives and enhance their leadership capacities in the newly restructured federal governance system of Nepal. Recognizing the pivotal role local leaders play in community development, ERIPS designed AI training programs to help these leaders identify and leverage their strengths, reframe challenges as opportunities, and build collaborative visions for their municipalities. By facilitating interactive and participatory sessions, ERIPS has equipped local government officials, including mayors and deputy mayors, with the tools to foster positive change, engage stakeholders, and create strategic development plans rooted in the strengths of their communities. This initiative has been instrumental in building confident, proactive, and visionary local leadership capable of navigating the complexities of their roles and driving sustainable development.
4.1 ERIPS’s Initiative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKWRLDo8uCQ
In 2018, Dr. RC Lamichhane conducted Appreciative Inquiry training for elected deputy mayors in 25 selected municipalities. This initiative aimed to:
- Enhance Leadership Skills: Equip local leaders with tools to discover and leverage their strengths.
- Build Confidence: Help leaders navigate the complexities of their new roles with increased self-assurance.
- Promote Positive Change: Foster a culture of constructive and collaborative development within municipalities.
4.2 Training Content and Methodology
The training sessions were designed to be interactive and participatory, involving:
- Strength Discovery: Participants explored their personal and professional strengths and those of their municipalities.
- Visioning: Leaders were guided to envision a positive future for their communities.
- Strategic Planning: Participants developed actionable plans to achieve their envisioned future.
- Implementation and Evaluation: Strategies for implementing the plans and assessing their impact were discussed.
4.3 Subsequent AI Training Initiatives
Following the success of the initial training, other provincial and local bodies organized additional AI sessions:
- Bagmati Province Center for Good Governance and Karnali Province Training Academy also hired Dr. Lamichhane to conduct AI training for positive societal transformation. These sessions further expanded the reach of AI in local governance.
- Dharan Sub Metro (2018), Pokhara Metropolitan City (2020), Janakpur Sub Metro (2021), Khairahani Municipality Chitwan (2022), and Rupa Rural Municipalities (2018, 2022), Gauri Shankar Municipaliteis (2017), Belaka Municipality (2018), Bheem Dutta Municipality (2018), Vimad Municipality (2018 and 2022) also organized AI training, contributing to a broader adoption of the approach.
4.4 Outcomes and Impact
4.4.1 Enhanced Leadership and Confidence
AI training has significantly enhanced the leadership capabilities and confidence of local leaders. By focusing on strengths and positive potential, leaders have become more effective in their roles and better equipped to address local challenges.
4.4.2 Improved Community Engagement
AI training has fostered greater community engagement and collaboration. Leaders are now better at involving stakeholders, understanding community needs, and working towards shared goals.
4.4.3 Positive Organizational Culture
The implementation of AI has led to the development of a positive organizational culture within municipalities. Leaders have adopted a more collaborative and proactive approach, contributing to more effective governance and community development.
5. AI for Leadership Development
Peter Drucker’s leadership philosophy emphasizes creating a future through proactive and strategic action. His statement, “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” resonates strongly with the principles of Appreciative Inquiry. AI encourages leaders to envision a positive future based on existing strengths and to take deliberate actions to realize that vision.
According to him, “The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths so that weaknesses are irrelevant,” perfectly encapsulates the essence of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) training provided to mayors and deputy mayors. AI training focuses on discovering and leveraging the existing strengths of individuals and communities. By guiding leaders to identify and align these strengths, AI fosters an environment where inherent weaknesses become negligible. Through the AI process, mayors and deputy mayors learn to envision a future based on the collective strengths of their municipalities, crafting strategic plans that harness these strengths for sustainable development and positive change.
This strengths-based approach not only empowers leaders to focus on what works well but also builds their confidence in managing challenges. By creating a culture of appreciation and collaboration, AI helps local leaders align their resources and capabilities, effectively rendering weaknesses inconsequential. The training thus equips mayors and deputy mayors with the skills to lead their communities toward a prosperous and harmonious future, making Drucker’s vision of strength alignment a practical reality in the context of local governance.
5.1 Proactive Leadership
AI training empowers local leaders to adopt a proactive approach to governance. By focusing on strengths and opportunities, leaders can drive positive change and create a more vibrant and dynamic local environment.
5.2 Strategic Visioning
The AI process aligns with Drucker’s emphasis on strategic visioning. Leaders are guided to envision a compelling future for their communities and to develop strategic plans that align with this vision.
5.3 Creating Positive Futures
Both AI and Drucker’s philosophy advocate for creating positive futures through intentional and collaborative efforts. AI’s strengths-based approach and Drucker’s focus on proactive leadership both contribute to building effective and forward-thinking local governments.
6. Conclusion
The application of Appreciative Inquiry training has proven to be a transformative approach for local government leaders in Nepal. By focusing on strengths, visioning a positive future, and developing strategic plans, AI has enhanced the capabilities and confidence of local leaders, leading to more effective governance and community development.
ERIPS’s role in facilitating AI training, alongside the support of RECOFTC Nepal, Bagmati Province Center for Good Governance, Karnali Province Training Academy, and various municipalities, has significantly contributed to the positive evolution of local governance. As local leaders continue to navigate the complexities of their roles in the federal structure, the principles of Appreciative Inquiry will remain a valuable tool for fostering positive change and building resilient communities.
The successful integration of AI into municipal planning reflects a commitment to creating a brighter future for Nepal’s local governance, aligning with Peter Drucker’s vision of leadership and strategic action. As the federal structure continues to evolve, the lessons learned from AI training will provide a foundation for ongoing development and transformation at the local level.
