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The overall coordination of ESAP rests with the Steering Committee (ESAP SC) which consists of representatives of the Government of Nepal, external development partners, the private sector, NGOs, academic institutions, users organizations, credit organizations and others.
The ESAP SC is responsible for the coordination and decision-making that ensures that the programme is implemented, outputs are achieved and funds are managed effectively, as laid out in the programme document, the Government Agreement, and other legal documents.
Although the ESAP SC can authorize deviations from the programme document if necessary, it does not have the power to alter the programme objectives.
Recommendations arising from joint programme reviews and reviews carried out by development partners, if any, must be endorsed by the ESAP SC before implementation. These endorsements are documented in the minutes of ESAP SC meetings.
The ESAP SC is mandated to approve annual work plans, programme update plans, and programme budgets based on progress reports. The SC holds informal meetings with funding partners to agree budgets prior to the official SC meeting. This is so that agencies and individuals can secure funding before formally committing to expenditure. The same type of informal meeting also decides on which services will be provided by short-term international consultants.
In order for the Government of Nepal to incorporate ESAP Phase 2 programme activities into its annual budget, the annual work plan has to be approved by the end of March in the preceding fiscal year. The SC also has the overall responsibility for monitoring programme activities and output delivery, technical assistance, auditing procedures, and the implementation of audit recommendations. The SC makes decisions on the appointment of auditors and any major implementation issues that are not already covered by the annual work plans.
Steering Committee Tasks and Responsibilities
- Endorsing and following up on Review Aide Memoirs and other Joint Review recommendations
- Approval of major planning documents
- Policy recommendations (including subsidy and delivery mechanism)
- Monitoring the overall progress / results of the programme with a special focus on delays, problems and bottlenecks
- Monitoring auditing procedures
- Monitoring how the programme affects sector development
- Decisions concerning deviations from the Programme Document
- Approval of revised job descriptions for advisers
- Major procurement / expenditure decisions
- Setting the timetable for sector and programme reviews (including any technical reviews)
- Arranging and coordinating regular donor meetings
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