Sarita Sapkota on the State of Nepal’s Public Finance Management System: Evaluating the Milestones and Missteps

#Ep.053 With the promulgation of the new constitution in 2015 and the transition into the Federal system in 2017 elections for 3-tiers of the government, there were high hopes from the citizens with regard to service delivery. However, the road to prosperity, as promised by the constitution, has been anything but smooth. The main actors responsible for effective service delivery have faced many challenges which has led many to question the federal system. One main area where the challenges and criticisms have been significant is Public Finance Management. In this episode, Aslesh and Sarita discuss Nepal’s public finance management in the Federal system and its shortcomings. They further delve into the major challenges faced by the various tiers of government and conclude by discussing possible reforms to make the PFM effective and transparent for the general public. Sarita works with different local and international organizations in Nepal on local governance, public finance management, and citizen engagement. She was a Public Finance Management Adviser for The British Embassy, Kathmandu, from 2020-2023. She has worked with several local and international organizations on similar themes. In the latest episode of PODS with former PEI colleague Aslesh Shrestha in conversation with Sarita Sapkota, find out about the how Public Finance Management works in the Federal system of Nepal, the progress that has been made, the challenges face, and necessary reforms.