Kathmandu, June 16

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has developed the model 'Standard Operating Procedure of Local Level Monitoring and Supervision Committee' for effective implementation of development projects and programmes operated by municipalities and rural municipalities across the country.

This SOP will come into effect after publication in the Local Gazette.

It encompasses monitoring and supervision to ensure proper flow of resources and funds to development projects and programmes and attainment of expected outcomes. As per the SOP released by the MoFAGA yesterday, there will be a five-member monitoring and supervision committee headed by chief or deputy chief of the local level.

The functions, duties and powers of the committee are to prepare an annual calendar for monitoring and supervision of projects and programmes operated in local units, carry out surprise monitoring as per necessity, engage experts to make monitoring activities more effective, submit a report to the meeting of the Executive within seven days of monitoring for discussion, give instructions to technicians concerned and user committees for correction of defects seen during the monitoring and make recommendation to the Executive for legal action against the guilty if there is financial embezzlement and substandard work.

The SOP also contains the methods of monitoring and supervision of development projects and programmes.

The committee may adopt any one or all of the methods prescribed by the SOP. These methods include receipt of report from the group or agency involved in the implementation of project and programme on a regular basis, carry out on-site inspection, conduct discussion with beneficiary groups and stakeholders, mobilise civil society organisations and media, conduct public audit and public hearing, carry out technical audit of projects and beneficiary satisfaction survey.

The SOP also envisages provision of a three-member ward-level monitoring committee led by the ward chair. It works under the main committee. It requires the Executive to allocate budget for monitoring and supervision. The local level is not allowed to release the final instalment of the amount to the contractor or group before receipt of monitoring and supervision report.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 17, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.