KATHMANDU, MARCH 14

The government of Nepal and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are conducting a twoday country portfolio review meeting to assess the progress and proactively address issues of ADB-supported development projects in Nepal for timely delivery of development results.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma 'Prabhakar' and ADB Country Director for Nepal Arnaud Cauchois jointly chaired a session on sector and project performance, attended by secretaries of the government, senior officials, project directors, and staff from ADB's Nepal Resident Mission.

"We appreciate the leadership of the Ministry of Finance to identify and address risks and constraints to improving project implementation through regular country portfolio review meetings, with active participation of line ministries and relevant agencies,"

Cauchois has been quoted as saying in a media release issued here today.

ADB's operations in Nepal is growing and as of 2021-end, ADB's active portfolio to the country stands at around $3.4 billion with 30 investment projects. Last year, ADB committed $255 million - including $165 million for vaccine loan. ADB expects to commit more than $932 million in 2022 depending on readiness that can be achieved under the nine pipeline project/programmes being considered for signing this year.

"Higher lending needs to be matched with good project performance to ensure tangible development results on the ground. We fully understand the challenges faced by the project teams because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and appreciate their efforts in project implementation despite the challenges.

Moving forward, we hope the specific actions agreed during the review mission will ensure timely project completion," said Cauchois.

ADB disbursed $272.9 million in 2021, which is higher compared to the same period of the previous year. Of the net available funding amount of $3.4 billion for 30 investment projects, 66 per cent have been contracted out and 42 per cent have been disbursed as of December 31, 2021. The contract award achievement was $431.5 million, which showed improvement compared to the same period in 2020.

At a special ceremony held in conjunction with the meeting, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini presented awards to ADB-supported projects that showed excellent results in 2021. The Disaster Resilience of Schools Project, the Community Managed Irrigated Agriculture Sector - Additional Financing, and the Rural Connectivity Improvement Project won outstanding project management teams awards.

These project teams were recognised for their excellence in effective project management despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as for prioritising gender equality, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and social safeguards.

Since the start of its operations in Nepal in 1969, ADB has provided about $7.3 billion in financial and technical assistance to the country. The assistance focus on infrastructure, including water supply and urban infrastructure, energy, and transport; agriculture, natural resources and rural development; education, including earthquake reconstruction; finance; and support for COVID-19 vaccine procurement this year.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 15, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.