IMF Staff Concludes the Scoping Mission for the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic for Nepal

IMF News, January 22, 2026

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Canonical URL: IMF Staff Concludes the Scoping Mission for the Governance and Corruption Diagnostic for Nepal

Press Release No. 26/013
Mission leader: Jonathan Pampolina
Mission type: IMF Technical Assistance scoping mission (hybrid)
Location and dates: visited Kathmandu from January 12 to 21, 2026
Purpose: lay the groundwork for a Governance and Corruption Diagnostic (GCD) at the request of the Nepali authorities

Objective: identify macro-economically critical governance weaknesses and corruption vulnerabilities, and design an action plan with specific, sequenced recommendations and reform priorities
Core state functions to be covered (as identified in the IMF 2018 Enhanced Governance Framework):
- fiscal governance focused on public financial management and revenue administration
- financial sector oversight
- rule of law
- anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT)
Additional assessment: effectiveness of anti-corruption legal and institutional frameworks in supporting macro-economic objectives

Government and public sector institutions met (selected):
- Ministry of Finance
- Nepal Rastra Bank
- Constitutional Council
- Supreme Court of Nepal
- Judicial Council
- Public Service Commission
- Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority
- Office of the Auditor General
- Office of the Attorney General
- National Planning Commission
- National Information Commission
- National Vigilance Center
- Financial Intelligence Unit
- Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs
- Ministry of Industry, Commerce & Supplies
- Finance Comptroller General’s Office
- Inland Revenue Department
- Department of Customs
- Special Court for Corruption Cases
Other stakeholders engaged:
- business associations
- civil society organizations
- international development partners

Main GCD mission: to be conducted in the coming months to further engagement and discussions on reform measures to strengthen governance and integrity, and economic outcomes
Final output: a diagnostic report that will:
- include an analysis of the nature and severity of corruption in Nepal
- set out key findings identifying governance weaknesses and vulnerabilities
- propose a targeted, sequenced, and prioritized reform plan to mitigate identified vulnerabilities

The IMF staff appreciates the Nepali authorities’ commitment to this diagnostic and looks forward to continuing the collaboration
The GCD aims to translate diagnostic findings into specific, sequenced recommendations and reform priorities to support macro-economic objectives

Source: IMF press release, January 21, 2026