USAID launches program to improve financial management in Madhesh (Audio Report)

March 31, Kathmandu: The US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean Thompson, and the USAID Nepal Mission Director, Sepideh Kevyanshad, on Friday, launched the USAID Public Financial Management Activity in Madhesh Province.

The five-year, $20 million program aims to strengthen public financial management at the federal, provincial, and local levels of government in the Madhesh and Lumbini provinces of Nepal.

The Activity, which was co-created with the Government of Nepal, will prioritize gender responsiveness in budgeting and work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

US Ambassador Thompson emphasized the importance of accountability in a democratic society, noting that “democracy flourishes when leaders are accountable to citizens, and when citizens understand the mission and boundaries of their respective leaders.” He also highlighted the significance of transparency in public financial management.

USAID/Nepal Mission Director, Sepideh Kevyanshad, emphasized the need for municipalities to prioritize women’s needs in their budgets.

The program also supports Nepal’s efforts towards fiscal federalism and builds upon the longstanding friendship between the United States and Nepal.

Deloitte and WSP, along with Georgia State University and the Niti Foundation, will implement the program. The launch event was attended by several ministers and secretaries from the Government of Madhesh province, as well as Mayors and Deputy Mayors from the local governments.