KATHMANDU, AUGUST 15

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) showcased the significant achievements of its project, European Union Support to Inclusive Federalism (EUSIF), during a special event in Kathmandu yesterday.

The event was attended by representatives from all three tiers of government, donors, and development partners.

Opening the event, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Julien Chevillard stressed on the importance of sharing innovations for inclusive service delivery and discuss pathways to scale, as we gear up for new phase of the Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme (PLGSP), which was launched in 2019 to strengthen the federalization process.

Jose-Luis Vinuesa, Head of Cooperation, European Union in Nepal, expressed his hopes on utilizing the lessons learnt from the EUSIF project in Karnali to replicate the efforts in other provinces of Nepal to make federalism more inclusive and service oriented.

Also speaking on the occasion, Secretary at the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers in Karnali Province, Ananda Saru, said that the project has delivered good results, including support for the development and institutionalization of One-Stop Service Delivery (OSSD), Project Management Information System (PIMS), and the Policy Lab at Mid-Western University. 'Local governments and the provincial government have greatly benefited from these valuable initiatives,' Saru said.

The event included a gallery walk showcasing EUSIF's achievements through creative displays, including audio-visuals, to provide participants with a clear understanding of the project's impact in Karnali Province over the past two years.

Throughout the project, EUSIF worked closely with the Karnali Province government, notably the Karnali Province Training Academy (KPTA), as well as select local governments. One of the project's notable accomplishments is the establishment of OSSD centres in Chaurjahari, Dullu, and Panchapuri municipalities which have been instrumental in providing fast, accessible, and hassle-free services to over 3,000 residents within just four months of operation. The OSSD systems are further supported by office automation systems and grievance handling mechanisms, ensuring efficient service delivery, according to the statement issued by the UNDP.

'EUSIF also trained over 400 local government officials and members of community-based organizations on inclusive annual planning and budgeting processes through simulation modelling engaging more than 2,500 community members, including 47% women, in the planning exercises, promoting broader community involvement in governance.'

A major achievement of the project was the development of the GIS-based PIMS for the provincial government which provides comprehensive datasets on development projects carried out by both provincial and local governments, as well as international development partners in Karnali Province, it added.

In collaboration with KPTA, EUSIF contributed to the development of several key institutional frameworks, including a five-year strategy, a gender equality and social inclusion strategy, and a policy on Prevention from Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse.

EUSIF's efforts extended to empowering marginalized communities, specifically the Badi community in Karnali Province. The project engaged community members in a comprehensive socio-economic study and community profiling, providing essential evidence that enabled the provincial government to allocate resources more effectively for their welfare, the statemetn further added.