Kathmandu, June 15

The first board of directors meeting of Millennium Challenge Account Nepal Development Board (MCA-Nepal) was held today.

The board meeting acknowledged and endorsed the selection of Prateek Pradhan and his alternate Surendra Kumar Mahato as board members representing the civil society. Likewise, Kumar Pandey and his alternate Gyanendra Lal Pradhan were also endorsed as board members representing the private sector, as per a media release.

The meeting was attended by Rajan Khanal, chairperson (secretary at the Ministry of Finance); Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, joint secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation; Keshab Prasad Sharma, joint secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport; Kul Man Ghising, managing director at Nepal Electricity Authority; Prateek Pradhan and Kumar Pandey.

Shree Krishna Nepal, joint secretary at MoF, and Troy Kofroth, resident country director at Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), attended the meeting as invitees. Others present in the meeting were Tulasi Sitaula, national coordinator for Office of the Millennium Challenge Nepal; Udaya Raj Sapkota, joint secretary at MoF; Sanjay Poudyal, deputy resident country director at Millennium Challenge Corporation; and Legal Adviser of the Office of the Millennium Challenge Nepal Semanta Dahal.

Pending the appointment of executive director, the board decided to authorise Dahal to perform the roles required for the call and conduct of the board meetings of MCA-Nepal, as per the release. In relation to selection of the executive director, the board passed the qualification criteria and position description. The board also decided to initiate the process for the selection of the executive director and has formed a sub-committee of the board of directors to recommend names for the position of executive director.

Another board sub-committee chaired by Prateek Pradhan and comprising of Udaya Raj Sapkota and Semanta Dahal has also been constituted to review and prepare the internal conduct and employment bylaws of MCA-Nepal.

A procurement plan for the period until December 30 was also adopted, the release adds.