Krishna Devkota provides a history of numerous attempts to reform Nepal’s civil service since the 1950s. All of them, including the most recent donor-instigated initiative, have either not been implemented, or only partially implemented. As a contracted consultant to international donors funding the most recent effort, Devkota describes both the aim and design of the reform effort and his opinion about why implementation of most of the reform efforts failed. He cites political and civil conflict and tensions in the country, a lack of political will or commitment to the reforms by top leaders, the short time horizons of donors, corruption that diverted donor funds from their intended use and resistance to change by civil servants because they did not sense any possibility for reward or promotion.
Krishna Devkota
Training Adviser, Revenue Administration Report Project
Danish International Development Agency
Focus Area(s):
Civil Service
Interviewers:
Andrew Schalkwyk
Country of Reform:
Nepal
Town/City:
Kathmandu
Country:
Nepal
Date of Interview:
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Abstract
Full Transcript
Full Interview:
71MB
Krishna Devkota Interview
Profile:
At the time of this interview, Krishna Devkota was training adviser to the Danish International Development Agency’s Revenue Administration Report Project. While he pursued his university training in the early 1970s, he worked at the Agricultural Project Services Center, a Nepali autonomous semi-government consulting organization. In 2000, he became a freelance consultant to international donor organizations in Nepal, including the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, the Asian Development Bank, the U.N.’s Food and Agricultural Organization and the U.N. Development Programme.
Language:
English
Nationality of Interviewee:
Nepali
No
Krishna Devkota
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Keywords
training
technical assistance
Reform sequencing
promotion
performance management
downsizing
decentralization
capacity building