ADB appoints new country director for Nepal

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Arnaud Cauchois as new country director for Nepal.

As country director, Cauchois will lead ADB operations in the country and policy dialogue with the government of Nepal and other development partners, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner. “He will oversee the implementation of ADB’s country partnership strategy for Nepal that focuses on the country’s long-term development needs through improved infrastructure for private sector-led growth, improved access to devolved services, and environmental sustainability and resilience, it reads further.

“ADB has been a long-term development partner of Nepal,” Cauchois said, adding, “I look forward to building on the strong partnership and working closely with the government, development partners, and other stakeholders in supporting Nepal’s development agenda and poverty reduction efforts.

“My immediate priority will be to support the Government of Nepal as it addresses both the immediate and longer-term health, economic, and social impacts of the Covid-19 crisis,” he adds.

In the medium term, Cauchois indicated the need to support the government with the development of integrated solutions by combining expertise across sectors and mixing public and private sector financing. Expansion of private sector operations, as well as green resilient and inclusive projects, will be pursued in close collaboration with the government and development partners.

Cauchois with almost three decades of professional experience, including over 15 years with ADB, is a French national, who joined ADB in 2005 as a Rural Development Specialist and has since held numerous leading positions. Prior to this appointment, he served as Principal Water Resources Specialist for India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and was outposted in ADB’s India Resident Mission. He was also assigned in ADB’s Nepal Resident Mission for 6 years and led the improvement of the water management systems in Nepal.

He has extensive experience of leading policy dialogue with governments on various aspects of development and has served the European Commission in Afghanistan as Rural Development Advisor prior to joining ADB.

“He holds a master of science degree in water resource management from the Superior School of Tropical Agronomy in Montpellier, France, the ADB press note adds.

Since its establishment in 1966, ADB has claimed to have provided over $7 billion in financial and technical assistance to Nepal. The assistance was provided in energy, transport, water supply and urban infrastructure services, agriculture and irrigation, and education.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members, 49 from the region.