November 16: Nepal has been ranked 7th in a study 'Mapping Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations (FCAS) in Asia and the Pacific – The ADB Experience' conducted by Asian Development Bank (ADB). The report published by the bank on November 15 reviewed the country performance assessments of 12 developing member countries affected by fragility and conflict.

The study conducted on FCAS hit countries of Asia and the Pacific has ranked Afghanistan at top position followed by Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. According to the report, all of these countries have achieved few gains on economic management, structural policies, social inclusion/equity and public sector management between 2006 and 2015.

The ADB report has characterized the FCAS countries by political instability, weak governance and institutional capacity, economic and social insecurity and greater vulnerability to the effects of climate change. They confront complex and multi-faceted issues, and prioritizing development interventions is often challenging.

The report notes that while in some FCAS countries, investments by governments and development partners in transportation, energy, education, health, private sector development and other areas may have reaped some benefits, much more must be done to ensure sustainability.

A new approach to FCAS countries, the study suggests, should focus on better knowledge and understanding of the political economy context of each sector when designing development programs and projects, including a careful analysis of governance, institutional, political and social issues.

Appreciating the role of development partners in these FCAS countries, the bank said that the development partners need to improve their approach to promote sustainable development in countries that have FCAS through critical analysis of economic, structural, social, political, and institutional issues in each country and by customizing interventions based on the local context.

“Every fragile situation calls for a unique response. If the right policies—customized to the local context—are not in place and core institutions are not strong enough to absorb the resources provided by development partners, the vicious cycle of fragility, conflict, and poverty will continue,” said Stephen Groff, ADB Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “Sound structural policies can lead to more effective and efficient governance, while social inclusion and equity are the foundation for political stability and socio-economic growth.”

The study recommends that development partners and governments should include some key areas in their priority list for assistance. They involve mainstreaming gender equality at the local level, strengthening accountability mechanisms for public resource use, increasing investment on health and education, capacity building for environmental institutions, developing an innovative policy framework on land use, and improving regulatory frameworks for trade, finance and business.