17-18 November 2025, Colombo, Sri Lanka: The SAARC Development Fund (SDF) convened the 9th Meeting of the Counterpart Agencies (CAs) in Colombo, bringing together CA Focal Persons from the Ministries of Finance of the SAARC Member States. The meeting was followed by a field visit to SDF-funded projects in Colombo.
Opening the meeting, the Officer-in-Charge of SDF, Mr. Waseem Shahzad, highlighted the critical role of Counterpart Agencies in supporting project implementation across the region, serving as vital links between the Fund and national stakeholders. The session focused on strengthening coordination, reviewing progress and addressing common implementation challenges.
SDF teams presented updates from the Economic & Infrastructure (E&I) Window, Social Window, Monitoring & Evaluation, Administration & Finance, Legal, and Communications & Knowledge Management. Discussions covered project eligibility, co-financing prospects, audit and closure processes, monitoring requirements, and the proposed revision of E&I credit policy.
The CAs shared key recommendations, including the need to engage CAs throughout project implementation and closure, and review of project proposals from local NGOs.
SDF Secretariat expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation and valuable guidance of the Counterpart Agencies in enhancing the impact of SDF-funded initiatives across the region.
SDF and the participants also expressed appreciation to the Counterpart Agency – the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of Sri Lanka – for their support in holding the meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
