Twenty Locally Initiated Project (LIP) Business Plans have been formally endorsed for implementation under the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)-supported Inclusive Rural Development Project in Bardiya District (IRDB).
The endorsement was made during the Joint 2nd Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings held in Bardiya on August 27. The decision marks a significant milestone for the project, moving 20 locally identified development initiatives from the planning stage toward implementation.
The IRDB is a five-year rural development initiative being implemented from 2024 to 2029 in partnership with the Government of Nepal and KOICA. The project seeks to promote inclusive and sustainable rural transformation by strengthening agricultural and eco-tourism value chains, enhancing the capacity of local governments and cooperatives, and supporting development interventions identified by local communities and governments themselves.
The joint meetings brought together senior representatives from the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, KOICA Nepal, the eight participating local governments of Bardiya District and the Project Management Consultant (PMC), including the Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS) and GEH Consulting.
The PIU meeting was conducted during the first session, followed by the PSC meeting. The PIU meeting was chaired by Hom Nath Kafle, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, and co-chaired by Yeo Sujin, Deputy Country Director of KOICA Nepal.
During the PIU meeting, all 20 LIP Business Plans were reviewed in detail. The review focused on their technical feasibility, proposed implementation mechanisms, resource requirements and consistency with the development priorities of the respective local governments.
The meeting also considered the roles and responsibilities of local governments and other stakeholders in implementing the projects. Following the technical review, discussions and feedback from participating stakeholders, the PIU recommended all 20 Business Plans to the PSC for final endorsement.
The PIU emphasized that strong ownership by local governments, effective coordination among stakeholders and clear fulfillment of agreed responsibilities would be essential for the successful implementation of the projects.
The second session was the PSC meeting, chaired by Dilaram Panthi, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration, and co-chaired by Kong Mooheon, Country Director of KOICA Nepal.
Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, KOICA Nepal, mayors and chairpersons of the eight participating local governments and the Project Management Consultant participated in the meeting.
At the PSC meeting, the PMC presented an overview of the progress achieved under the IRDB and explained the process used to develop and finalize the 20 Business Plans. According to the project, the plans were prepared through a participatory and consultative process involving technical assessments, field-level studies, consultations with local governments and cooperatives, and feedback from various stakeholders.
Representatives of all eight participating local governments then presented their respective LIP Business Plans to the meeting. The presentations highlighted the proposed development interventions, implementation arrangements and expected benefits for local communities.
The presentations also demonstrated the increasing ownership of local governments in identifying development priorities and designing interventions according to their own local needs, resources and economic opportunities.
After presentations and detailed discussions, the Project Steering Committee endorsed all 20 LIP Business Plans. The endorsement has paved the way for the projects to move into the implementation phase in coordination with local governments, cooperatives and other relevant stakeholders.
Speaking at the meeting, KOICA Nepal Country Director and PSC Co-chairperson Kong Mooheon described the endorsement of the 20 Business Plans as an important milestone achieved through the collective efforts of KOICA, the Government of Nepal, local governments, the PMC and other project stakeholders.
He said the endorsed plans provide a clear foundation for transitioning from planning to implementation. He stressed the importance of continued coordination, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, timely communication and effective implementation to ensure that the projects deliver sustainable benefits to local communities.
PSC Chairperson Dilaram Panthi appreciated KOICA’s continued support for rural transformation and local economic development in Bardiya. He said the endorsement should now enable local governments to convert locally identified priorities into concrete development outcomes.
Panthi emphasized the need for strong ownership from local governments, timely implementation and quality delivery of the planned interventions. He also highlighted Bardiya’s considerable potential in agriculture and eco-tourism and stressed that the Business Plans should contribute to creating tangible economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
The IRDB places particular emphasis on locally led development, with local governments and communities playing a central role in identifying and advancing development initiatives. Through the LIP component, the project aims to support interventions that respond directly to local priorities while strengthening the institutional capacity needed to sustain development outcomes.
The endorsement of the 20 LIP Business Plans is therefore expected to strengthen the implementation of locally identified development initiatives and contribute to inclusive, equitable and sustainable rural development across Bardiya District.
The next phase will focus on translating the approved plans into concrete activities through coordination among the participating local governments, cooperatives, communities, KOICA and other project stakeholders
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