South and South-East Asia - Nepal
This project focused on strengthening the financial management, urban infrastructure planning and geographic information systems (GIS) mapping capabilities of four Nepali municipalities: Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Biratnagar, Birjunj and Butwal. Cowater’s team of nine local and four international experts worked closely with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works (MPPW), the MPPW’s Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, and the Ministry of Local Development, as well as with participating local governments in carrying out project activities. In 18 months, the project completed its three main components. By delivering targeted technical assistance, it strengthened the municipalities’ capacity on urban infrastructure planning and urban service planning and delivery in the sectors of urban transport, solid waste management and water supply and sanitation systems. Cowater also developed and operationalized a GIS municipal information management system (GMIS) to support effective planning and service provision at the local level. Developed based on the results of a comprehensive GIS-based mapping assessment, the user-friendly GMIS allows municipal staff to analyze and update topographic, boundary, cadastral/land parcel, socio-economic and infrastructure data at the building level while also providing them with the ability to link land registry data to taxation systems in the future. Finally, Cowater’s team improved the municipal financial management systems and revenue collection capabilities of these four municipalities by conducting an assessment of their financial management systems (including their accounting, audit and revenue management systems), developing adequate financial management improvement plans for each municipality, and preparing realistic annual revenue projections.
