World Bank Unveils New 7-Year Strategy to Boost Jobs and Resilience in Nepal
Kathmandu – On May 29, 2025, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors reviewed and discussed a new 7-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Nepal, outlining strategic priorities aimed at driving job creation and strengthening resilience to natural disasters, including those related to climate change.
“Creating jobs is not just at the heart of our mission, it is also the lifeline that can drive Nepal’s sustainable and resilient growth,” said David Sislen, World Bank Country Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The CPF builds on over six decades of partnership between Nepal and the World Bank Group and seeks to leverage collaboration with development partners and private sector solutions to generate growth, employment, and investment.
Under the new CPF, the World Bank Group plans to provide around $2.7 billion to achieve its primary objectives. These include generating more and better employment opportunities, improving connectivity and access to services, and enhancing Nepal’s resilience to climate-related and other natural disasters.
In the short term, the CPF will focus on promoting policy reforms in areas such as tourism, digital infrastructure, and integrated urban development. These sectors are expected to act as drivers of job creation and economic expansion. Efforts will include enhancing the investment climate to encourage private sector-led growth, strengthening digital connectivity and access to digital public services, and boosting the appeal and functionality of urban hubs like the Kathmandu Valley and secondary cities to attract tourists and investors.
“We support Nepal in creating more and better jobs, bolstering disaster preparedness, and contributing to a sustainable future by mobilizing domestic and international private capital, promoting public-private partnerships, and enhancing institutional capacity,” said Imad N. Fakhoury, IFC Regional Director for South Asia. The CPF aims to advance reforms that unlock private investment and improve the business climate to positively impact people’s lives.
Strengthening the accountability and effectiveness of public institutions will remain a core priority under the CPF, aimed at enhancing government capacity to deliver results.
“MIGA is committed to supporting Nepal’s development goals by providing political risk insurance and leveraging other guarantee instruments through the World Bank Group Guarantee Platform,” said Şebnem Erol Madan, Director for Economics and Sustainability at MIGA. “By mitigating investment risks, MIGA aims to attract private sector investments that are crucial for creating jobs and strengthening economic resilience. Through our partnership with the World Bank and IFC under the new Country Partnership Framework, we aim to support Nepal to harness its assets and build a more sustainable and prosperous future.”
The CPF is informed by a broad analytical foundation, extensive consultations with stakeholders from all seven provinces, and aligns with Nepal’s 16th Plan that outlines national development priorities.
