Jan 16, 2017

Meeting was held in Kathmandu on 30 April 2013. Finance Minister chaired the meeting.

The Local Donors' Meeting was held in Kathmandu on April 30, 2013. The meeting was chaired by Hon. Finance Minister Mr. Shanker Prasad Koirala. The Development Partners (DPs) residing in Nepal together with high level GoN officials attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Hon. Finance Minister informed all the DPs that the priorities of the present Government are to hold Constituent Assembly election in a free and fair manner at the earliest, accelerate the economic development and growth agenda, and enhance good governance. He assured DPs that in the coming fiscal year, the Government will present full budget in time, i.e. before the 15th July. He further reiterated that the GoN is concerned to minimize fiduciary risks, and enhance accountability. He urged all the development partners to align their strategies with the upcoming plan of GoN. He requested all the DPs to give due consideration on the findings of Development Cooperation Report while formulating strategies and mobilizing foreign aid in Nepal. He further assured the development partners that the vacant positions at NPC will be fulfilled soon and there will be no plan holiday as such.

Mr. Leela Mani Paudyal, Chief Secretary, Government of Nepal delivering his remarks clarified that the Government of Nepal has been well aware of the concerns of development partners, though all the concerns were not relevant all the time. He expressed that the Government is attempting to effectively mobilize aid money despite adverse situation. He urged the DPs to review the draft foreign aid policy and come up with tangible suggestions. He further expressed the need of decreasing parallel implementing units for effective aid mobilization in the country.

Finance Secretary Mr. Shanta Raj Subedi made a presentation on current macro economic situation and budget implementation. The NRB Deputy Governor Mr. Mahashram Adhikari informed the DPs about Nepal's monitory policy and present financial situation. Officiating Secretary from National Planning Commission Mr Purushottam Ghimire shared the status of upcoming Three Year Plan of Nepal.

Mr. Madhu Kumar Marasini, Joint Secretary, IECCD, made a presentation on the draft Foreign Aid Policy.
Speaking on behalf of all the DPs, Tahseen Sayed, Country Manager for Nepal, the World Bank, assured that DPs are committed to enhance aid effectiveness, mutual accountability, and transparency with a focus on results. She said that slow progress in some of these areas restricts greater use of country systems. She expressed the belief of DPs in enhancing the transparency and accountability of the public expenditure program with the positive political development recently. Her suggestions were concentrated on Budget and Portfolio Management, Economic Planning and Programming, Accountability and Governance, and Foreign Aid Policy and Aid Effectiveness. She also appreciated the recent publication and findings of Development Cooperation Report 2011-12 by the Ministry of Finance.

In the meantime, other development partners also provided various suggestions for the overall aid effectiveness in Nepal.