USAID/Nepal Capacity Building: PSE Consultations

Between April 2-6, 2018, a series of meetings with technical teams and implementing partners was conducted to identify and address challenges in developing partnerships with the private sector. The meetings were jointly facilitated by Mission staff and Resonance consultants. Key findings from the meetings highlighted a general interest in PSE, with technical teams and implementing partners expressing enthusiasm for partnerships. However, there was a lack of awareness and skills among staff regarding the rationale and approaches to PSE. This was evident in the significant time spent addressing basic questions on PSE, which could have been avoided if staff were more familiar with the PSLAs conducted for their technical teams. The lack of action post-PSLAs was attributed to various reasons, including a lack of brokering skills, knowledge of the process options for PSE, and unclear roles and responsibilities for developing partnerships. Additionally, some technical teams did not act on PSLA recommendations due to a lack of time and competing priorities, as well as a common assumption that implementing partners would take the primary role in partnership development. The Mission valued the designated "PSE Week" to focus on key opportunities and move key opportunities forward at the project levels. However, Mission complexity and lack of coordination and communication in PSE efforts were identified as challenges. The Mission portfolio is complex, with many technical offices and projects addressing similar issues with similar beneficiaries without full coordination. The PSLA was recognized as a valuable tool for informing project design, providing an excellent sectoral analysis with a private sector lens. Several new programs are in implementation, drawing on the PSLA recommendations. The Program Office would benefit from working closely with the Front Office to identify structural, procedural, and organizational opportunities to infuse PSE into the Mission culture. The Consultant meetings with Mission technical teams identified partnership opportunities for each technical office, drawing from the PSLAs and other sources. Some opportunities were new, while others were works in progress. The Mission Director appreciated the work done during the week, recognizing the value of PSE integration across the Mission portfolio, especially where the intersection between the private sector and development is apparent. The Mission Director proposed working with the Program Office to strengthen capacity to engage the private sector, including fostering learning and integration to move the PSE agenda to a "modus operandi" approach. The Program Office would benefit from a designated position to coordinate PSE at the Mission level and provide direct assistance to technical teams in proactively engaging the private sector on partnership opportunities.