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.

Swiss grant of Rs 2.1 billion for PLGSP

The Government of Switzerland has agreed to provide technical grant assistance of CHF 19.4 million (equivalent to approximately Rs 2.1 billion.) to Nepal to implement two programmes in the country. “Out of the amount, CHF 9.4 million will be spent for the implementation of Trail Bridge Sector Wide Approach Framework III, and CHF 10 million, to implement the Provincial and Local Governance Support Programme (PLGSP),” a press note from the Swiss Embassy in Kathmandu reads.
More than 8000 trail bridges have been built in Nepal through the Swiss technical supports and funding supports from the government As a result, over 18 million people have better access to services through safer river crossings. On average, more than 1.4 million people use trail bridges every day. In the areas that are close to trail bridges that were built, the school attendance increased by 16 per cent and visits to health centres increased by 26 per cent) on average.
It is estimated that Nepal still needs additional 2400 bridges to facilitate isolated rural people in Nepal to access services and to avoid a detour of more than 1 hour. The trail bridge programme will assist Nepal to implement the Sector Wide Approach Framework III to achieve this target. The programme also sets precedence in the implementation of the Federal Constitution of Nepal, whereby most of the implementation will be championed by the Palikas; longer span bridges by Provinces, and bridges in international boundaries, signature bridges and international procurement by the Federal Government.
The PLGSP – a national flagship programme – designed jointly by the government and Development Partners (DP) will enhance the capacity of provincial and local governments in delivering effective and efficient service to citizens. “The PLGSP will contribute towards strengthening provincial and local governance systems and procedures and intergovernmental relationships to maximise benefits of cooperative federalism for Nepali citizenry,” the press note reads.
Among others the programme will help clarify the roles and responsibilities of different spheres of government and strengthen local and provincial governments to function and fulfill those roles and responsibilities.
Agreements to this effect were signed and exchanged between ambassador of Switzerland to Nepal Elisabeth von Capeller and, finance secretary Rajan Khanal, on behalf of their respective governments today.
The government has expressed its sincere appreciation to Switzerland for the technical grant assistance to the rural transport infrastructure sector and watershed management, as well as its continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal.