Technical assistance, information exchange, and other activities designed to help strengthen Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) are the cornerstones of a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and ICMA.

The MOU was signed on November 15 by Ananda Raj Pokharel, Kathmandu’s Chief Executive Officer, and David Grossman, ICMA’s Director of International Programs, in the presence of other senior officials from both organizations and from the Embassy of Nepal.

The MOU formalizes a relationship that will be fleshed out with a detailed work plan to increase the capacity of municipal staff and the institutional strength of the city. Both organizations will seek donor funding to underwrite these efforts. Kali P. Pokhrel, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, D.C., said the MOU was a good beginning for collaboration and partnership between the parties.

In greeting the guests, Mr. Grossman acknowledged the difficult environment for municipalities in Nepal, where the national government is in transition and local-level responsibilities remain unclear. “In this situation, we are particularly appreciative of the city’s efforts to improve the quality of local government and services.  And we are eager to follow the progress of public administration reform efforts in the country.”

Mr. Pokharel noted, “We understand the serious need to strengthen the capacity of KMC to deal with the growing and multidimensional challenges of the capital city.” He said this initiative “will provide the basis for sharing resources, experiences, and know-how for improved management in the days to come.”

ICMA has an affiliation agreement with the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN), one of 25 international affiliates representing 32 countries. The agreement commits the two organizations to share information and resources, seek opportunities to work cooperatively on international consulting projects, jointly promote the values and ethics of professional management, and participate in the International Management Exchange Program.

The relationship between ICMA and MuAN dates back several years, when MuAN representatives took a study tour hosted by the Urban Management Centre, ICMA's affiliate in India, to observe how associations of professional managers work in that country. MuAN is also seeking opportunities for professional exchanges between city managers.

To learn more about ICMA’s international programs, visit the website, or e-mail international@icma.org.