book1

fl oated by WB didn’t fi t for Nepal. For decades, the WB has been promo� ng
market-based approaches to land management through its lending prac� ces
and policy advocacy. This apparently means priva� za� on of land rights, both
through the conversion of customary rights into marketable � tles as well as
disengagement of the state, and legal reforms necessary for western style
land markets to func� on (Grain 2010).
Another case in point is aids provided by Asian Development Bank
(ADB). In June 2007 Asian Development Bank sent a mission to Nepal to
study the land governance and land reform of Nepal. The team developed
the proposal on ‘Nepal: Strengthening Land Administra� on Services’ Project
Number: 40544 September 2007 1 (fi rst report and proposal, it was revised
a� er scathing comment from the CSRC) 2 , as a pilo� ng project in Nepal.
Although the amount involved was small in size, the proposal ignored the
exper� se of Nepalese and the main agenda of land reform. The fi rst proposal
was developed cos� ng US $ 350,000, the Government of Nepal’s share was
US$ 50,000. The proposal was designed to suit the pockets of interna� onal
consultants. Of US$ 300,000, some $262,000 was set side for fees, salary,
transporta� on and per diem of interna� onal consultants (see table below).
The objec� on raised against draining of resources channeled in the name
of poor was brushed aside as baseless. When like-minded interna� onal
organiza� ons, individuals and network, stood up to it, the Country Director
of ADB Nepal Offi ce consulted Civil Society Organiza� ons on Land Rights
over the issue. Nepalese Civil Society expressed their reserva� on about
the issue of land right arguing that it was not a mathema� cal thing, and
that the computeriza� on of Kathmandu based Land Offi ces wouldn’t help
reduce poverty. It was a poli� cal issue and there was a clear provision in the
interim cons� tu� on of it, and an agreement in Comprehensive Peace Accord
favouring scien� fi c land reform and there had been the commitment from
the poli� cal leaders on this.
1. ADB: Technical Assistance Report, Project Number: 40544 September 2007, Nepal:
Strengthening Land Administra� on Service
2. Community Self-reliance Centre (CSRC) working in land and agrarian rights issue
Changing paradigms of aid eff ec� veness in Nepal 183