Nepal Portfolio Performance Review (NPPR) is including the private sector and civil society organisations – recognising their involvement in development activities – for the first time.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal (FCAN), civil society organizations, domestic non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) will be invited to join the next meeting of the exclusive club – where government officials and donors gather to review the performance of aid projects – meet slated for April 23 in Kathmandu.

Busan Meet on aid effectiveness had made a similar recommendation, according to under secretary at International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division at the Finance Ministry Kailash Raj Pokharel. “Contractors are important to decide whether a certain project is completed on time or not,” he said, adding that development projects are implemented through contractors.

Likewise, the Busan Declaration on Aid Effectiveness held in 2011 urged to include private sector in national development discourse recognising the role of the private sector in advancing innovation and creating wealth, income and jobs, mobilising domestic resources and in turn contributing to poverty reduction.

The declaration also pledged to allow civil society organisations to exercise their roles as independent development actors in recognition of their vital role in enabling people to shape development policies and partnership.

The Nepal Portfolio Performance Review meet will also discuss ‘development effectiveness’ instead of ‘aid effectiveness’

Likewise, Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) is also taking part in the Nepal Portfolio Performance Review for the first time, making it 12th donor to take part in the meeting.

During last year’s meet, some 11 donors including World Bank, ADB, USAID, Norway, JICA, IFAD, EU, DFID, DANIDA, AusAid and UN Country Team (Nepal) took part. These donors account for 80 per cent of the total foreign aid for Nepal.

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