IMF sets stage for major anti-corruption reform plan in Nepal

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) technical assistance mission, led by Jonathan Pampolina, successfully concluded its scoping visit to Kathmandu yesterday (January 21).
The 10-day mission, which began on January 12, was conducted at the request of the Nepali authorities to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive Governance and Corruption Diagnostic (GCD).
The diagnostic is designed to identify governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities that are critical to Nepal’s macroeconomic stability. The final goal is to create a prioritized and sequenced action plan to strengthen the country's state functions and integrity.
What are the focus areas of the diagnostic?
The mission utilized the IMF 2018 Enhanced Governance Framework to target core state functions, specifically focusing on Fiscal Governance, Financial Sector Oversight, Rule of Law, strengthening anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism and Anti-Corruption Framework.
The IMF team held extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of state institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the Supreme Court, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA). To ensure a holistic perspective, the mission also met with business associations, civil society organizations, and international development partners.
The IMF staff praised the Nepali government's commitment to the diagnostic process. A full GCD mission is scheduled for the coming months to finalize reform recommendations. The process will culminate in a comprehensive report analyzing the severity of corruption and providing a roadmap for reforms intended to boost Nepal’s economic outcomes and institutional resilience.