This note, first of the several onfiscal management and policy option notes planned, providesa concise assessment of the achievements to date of theongoing reforms to budget management in Nepal and concludeswith some guidance on the key focus areas of fiscal policyand expenditure management over the near and medium term.It is a selective assessment that looks at major aspects ofthe policy and budget process with a view to identifyingareas for strategic focus, rather than a detailed renderingof the reforms.The note highlights the fiscal challengesthat are assuming increasing prominence and which must beaddressed by policy decisions and medium term reforms.While recognizing the uniqueness of Nepal's initialconditions, capacities and current security relatedchallenges, the note takes account of internationalexperience in implementing such reforms.The note startswith the economic and political background. The secondsection reviews fiscal trends and outlines issues to beconsidered by a fiscal strategy.The third sectiondiscusses institutional issues to strengthen the budget process.