This chapter presents the evaluation’s conclusions on UNDP’s performance and contributions to development results in Nepal, recommendations and the management response.
3.1 Conclusions Conclusion 1. UNDP reinforced its position as a trusted development partner of the Government of Nepal through close alignment of its programme with government priorities and the important role it has played in supporting federalization, promoting SDG localization and mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion. UNDP has established long-term and positive working relations with the Government of Nepal and is recognized as a trusted development partner for the country. UNDP has closely aligned its country programme with priority areas identified in the 14th and 15th Plans and exercised convening power to address prevailing and emerging challenges in the country. UNDP’s support to law-making and institutional capacity development of federal and subnational governments responded to the priority needs of federalization. UNDP’s active engagement in the government’s flagship PLGSP programme provides it an optimal platform for federalization support. UNDP's role in capacity-building at the federal, provincial and local levels is well received by the stakeholders. The establishment of field offices in four provincial capitals is strategic, but their capacity remains limited to fully execute their strategic and operational functions at the subnational levels. UNDP has played a major role in promoting the integration of the SDGs in the country's 15th Plan and in the planning and budgeting at the subnational level. UNDP support contributed to increased capacity of the Ministry of Finance in monitoring development finances, assisted the National Planning Commission in producing Nepal's SDG reports (including financing requirements for meeting the SDGs) and facilitated the SDG baseline studies of all seven provinces. Overall, more support is needed at the subnational level for SDG monitoring and reporting. UNDP’s capacity in promoting GESI mainstreaming is a well-recognized strength of its programming. UNDP provided important technical inputs to promote GESI in national strategy and planning and among the national counterparts in most of its working areas, including but not limited to microenterprise development, SDG localization, provincial and local government support, human rights and justice. Gender equality and social inclusion have been well integrated into most of UNDP’s interventions, but there is room to improve GESI considerations in the resilience, disaster risk reduction and climate change portfolio. Conclusion 2. In this programme cycle, UNDP navigated the dynamic context well and has demonstrated adaptability in assisting the government with emerging demands from post-disaster recovery and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, crisis response diluted UNDP’s efforts toward long-term development impact for resilience and livelihood. UNDP provided relevant and timely support to Nepal in post-earthquake reconstruction and in the COVID-19 response. UNDP’s efforts strengthened the health system and helped with subnational governments’ crisis management. UNDP led the rapid socio-economic assessment and its contribution to UNCT’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan and initiatives was appraised by the UN and other partners. UNDP has created some synergies between the inclusive growth and resilience portfolio in livelihoods and recovery interventions but has not yet linked them to the governance portfolio interventions.
CHAPTER 3. CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSE
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