Introduction
In 2000, five municipal learning centers in five municipalities (Dharan, Hetauda, Butwal, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi) of five development regions of the country was introduced with an objective to develop and sustain the municipal management capacity of 58 municipalities of Nepal. They are now known as Regional Learning Centers, in short RLCs.
Roles & Functions of RLC
Each RLC is developed to perform the following roles and functions- to conduct training programmes for the elected representatives and staffs of the municipalities concerning municipal management and good governance,
- to provide advisory services to the neighboring municipalities on municipal management,
- to facilitate get-together sessions, workshops and seminars and thereby provide a forum for discussion and exchange of view and ideas on municipal issues and good practices
- to develop a municipal information system and made accessible to all surrounding municipalities.
Coverage of each Regional Learning Center
Depending upon its location, number of municipalities associated with each RLC is different. There are 13 municipalities associated with Dharan RLC, 10 municipalities with Hetauda RLC, 12 municipalities with Butwal RLC, 7 municipalities with Nepalgunj RLC and 5 municipalities with Dhangadhi RLC. Remaining 10 municipalities in and adjacent to the valley are supported by udle until new arrangement is made.
Depending upon the nature of the activitiy, periphery municipalities of Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi are combined either in Nepalgunj or in Dhangadhi and similarly, municipalities in the periphery of Kahtmandu Valley are brought in to Hetauda RLC.
Name and number of municipalities associated with different RLCs are as follows:
| RLC-Dharan | RLC–Hetauda | RLC–Butwal | RLC–Nepalgunj | RLC–Dhangadhi |
| - Dharan - Mechinagar - Bhadrapur - Ilam - Khandbari - Damak - Itahari - Biratnagar - Dhankuta - Inaruwa - Rajbiraj - Lahan - Triyuga - Siraha | - Hetauda - Janakpur - Jaleshwor - Kamalamai - Kalaiya - Gaur - Birgunj - Malanguwa - Ratnanagar - Bharatpur | - Butwal - Byas - Prithiviranayan - Pokhara - Baglung - Putalibazar - Waling - Lekhnath - Tansen - Ramgram - Kapilbastu - Siddharthanagar | - Nepalganj - Birandranagar - Gularia - Tulshipur - Trivuwannagar - Narayan | - Dhangadi - Tikapur - Mahendranagar - Amargadhi - Dipayal-Silgadhi - Dashrathchand |
