Year 2 Annual Work Plan Addendum for Sajhedari-Support to Federalism

The project aims to support the Government of Nepal (GoN) in its transition to federalism. The project's overall goal is to strengthen the capacity of local governments to deliver services and improve the lives of citizens. The project's management approach emphasizes the importance of coordination and communication among team members, subcontractors, and partners. Abt is responsible for the overall management of the project, including financial, operational, and technical aspects. The project has three subcontractors: Urban Institute, Team Consult, and CECI, each with specific technical roles and responsibilities. CECI's technical scope focuses on improving citizen and civil society organizations' involvement in local decision-making and oversight. CECI will conduct activities such as mapping citizen groups, conducting needs assessments, and customizing citizen-state engagement tools. CECI will also oversee grant management for identified civil society organizations. Team Consult's scope is centered around governance strengthening, with a focus on public finance. They will provide technical support to partner municipalities, engage with local stakeholders, and identify priorities and challenges. Team Consult has extensive experience working with the GoN and international partners in various sectors, including poverty alleviation and capacity enhancement. Urban Institute's original role was limited to remote support, but Abt is proposing to give them a full-time strategic senior technical position on the project. This will enable UI to more actively lead the project's technical approach and facilitate better coordination and collaboration across objectives. To improve internal coordination and communication, Abt has developed a proactive communication and coordination strategy. This includes regular planned meetings and communication platforms to bring the team together, support stronger cross-objective coordination, and efficiently utilize the strengths of staff and partners. The project's objectives are to improve government coordination and collaboration, strengthen local governance, and enhance citizen engagement. The project's activities will be implemented in various municipalities across Nepal, with a focus on improving service delivery and citizen satisfaction. The project's management plan emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the project is on track to meet its objectives. The project will conduct regular assessments and evaluations to identify areas for improvement and make adjustments as needed. The project's geographic focus is on various municipalities across Nepal, with a focus on improving service delivery and citizen satisfaction. The project's timeframes are from May 13, 2019, to May 12, 2025, with a specific focus on Year 2 activities. The project's recommendations emphasize the importance of continued coordination and communication among team members, subcontractors, and partners. The project also recommends that the GoN continue to prioritize local governance and service delivery, and that civil society organizations continue to play an active role in advocating for citizen rights and interests.