Ensuring Access to Social Security Allowances in Nepal: Guidance for Local Governments on Developing and Implementing a Standard Operating Procedure

Nepal’s six Social Security Allowances (SSAs) reached approximately 3.5 million people by November 2025. Yet many eligible individuals remain excluded due to limited awareness and missing documentation. While local governments play a critical role in supporting enrolment, the absence of practical guidance has often hindered effective implementation.

This guidance / standard operating procedure (SOP) addresses these challenges by clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of wards and municipal authorities and outlines practical steps to improve access to the SSAs. These include awareness-raising activities, household eligibility mapping, enrolment through individual support and community outreach camps, registration processes, and grievance redress mechanisms.

Designed for use by municipalities across Nepal, the guidance provides a practical and scalable approach to increasing uptake of social protection benefits and ensuring that eligible individuals can access the support to which they are entitled.