Nepalese consultants in ADB projects on rise

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Oct. 23: In its Foreign Aid Policy 2002, Nepal has emphasised on the use of domestic consultants. This has propelled donors and financial institutions to encourage domestic consultants in their respective projects.

A two-day meet on the Development of Domestic Consulting Services began here today with an objective of improving the quality of technical proposals submitted to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and its borrowers.

Jointly organised by the ADB and the Society of Consulting Architectural and Engineering Firms of Nepal (SCAEF), the seminar aims at improving the opportunity of participation of wide range of consultants and to enhance the quality of project implementation and consultants' performance by providing a clear explanation of the requirements of the ADB and its borrower.

Speaking at the function, ADB Country Director Richard Vokes said that there had been a substantial increase in the use of domestic consultants in Nepal in both ADB-financed loan and technical assistance (TA) projects since the 80s.

"Consulting services are needed by the ADB and its borrowers to ensure maximum efficiency and economy in the preparation, construction, and operation of projects and in the undertaking of related activities," added Vokes.

He said that the meet intended for management and staff of consulting firms concerned with planning, preparation and production of technical proposals of ADB-financed loan and technical assistance (TA) projects. "The ADB encourages the use of consultants from its developing partner countries and to promote the development of domestic consulting industry."

The ADB, one of the important development partners of Nepal, began providing technical assistance and loan for projects from 1968. It has so far approved 103 loans amounting to about $2 billion in various sectors (covering both the public and private ones) and 224 TA projects amounting to about $103 million. The total net loan amount of the currently active ADB-supported projects in Nepal is about $652 million.