Results Matter October 2007
MfDR Country Case: Nepal
By Paul J. Heytens, Country Director, Nepal Resident Mission
Participants from the Department of Water Supply & Sewerage, Government
of Nepal, receive a briefing at the organizational results chain workshop held
in July 2007The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is actively supporting the Government in adopting
MfDR and is taking a leading role in involving other development partners. This
will improve development effectiveness and will enhance the capacity to absorb
development assistance. Government ownership of MfDR is encouraged and supported
by ADB through extensive dialogue, joint working arrangements, and advisory
support including technical assistance. The process is helped by MfDR teams
at the Nepal Resident Mission that enhance the focus on operations and build
capacity.
Results-Based Country Partnership Strategy and its Implementation
The current country partnership strategy (CPS) (2005–2009) for Nepal approved
in September 2004 was ADB’s first results-based CPS. The CPS includes
a results framework as a management tool for focusing ADB assistance on delivering
development results. It also supported a conflict-sensitive approach whereby
every project will be reviewed to (i) assess the degree to which it can be effectively
implemented during conflict and (ii) examine options for designing assistance
to address the root causes of the conflict. MfDR teams with the support of the
responsible project staff are ensuring effective implementation of the result-based
CPS while working closely with the Government. They are involved in the periodic
monitoring of progress and in updating the results framework.
In order to strengthen linkage between the CSP results framework and country
operation, sector results plans (SRPs) have been prepared for the priority sectors
of Nepal, including (i) agriculture and rural development, (ii) energy, (iii)
education, (iv) finance and governance, (v) transport and communication, and
(vi) water supply, sanitation and urban development. The SRPs will be consolidated
into a country results profile (CRP) once they are finalized in consultation
with the Government. The CRP will provide a unified picture of ADB’s operations
in the country; the outcomes and outputs being targeted and progress achieved.
Strategic Focus and Alignment of the CPS
While incorporating the findings of the country assistance program evaluation
(CAPE), the strategy entails a well focused program that includes larger-scale
projects and emphasizes governance, Government ownership of the program, and
further alignment with the Government’s development priorities. The strategy
recognizes that the root causes of the conflict are poverty, regional disparities,
and social exclusion.
The CPS is fully aligned with the Government’s poverty reduction strategy
(PRS) and is built on four pillars: (i) broad-based and higher economic growth;
(ii) human development; (iii) targeted programs to foster social inclusion of
the ultra poor, vulnerable, and historically deprived groups; and (iv) good
governance. The importance of systematic monitoring and evaluating project performance
is also emphasized. With the completion of the PRS in July 2007 and in view
of the country’s political transition, the Government is preparing a 3-year
interim development plan (IDP) to address immediate needs. The IDP emphasizes
service delivery at the local level and continued focus on infrastructure and
education consistent with the CPS.
Use of Country Systems
Since 1998, ADB has been supporting the Central Bureau of Statistics. To support
harmonization in public procurement, a new procurement act prepared jointly
by the Government, ADB and World Bank was passed by Parliament on 19 December
2006 and became operational on 14 January 2007. Efforts are also being made
by the Government and ADB to reduce the number of project implementation units
where feasible.
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