On September 12, 2019, the World Bank announced that Centre for Natural Resources Management, Analysis, Training and Policy Research (NARMA), a Nepalese consulting firm, had been debarred from participating in World Bank-financed projects for 8 months. According to the World Bank, NARMA — which had been awarded an agricultural commercialization contract in Nepal — fraudulently submitted an invoice for payment for work it had substantially completed prior to being awarded the contract.
NARMA received a reduced period of debarment as a result of its cooperation and voluntary remedial actions, as well as the fact that NARMA had not been paid for the fraudulent invoice. NARMA has also committed to developing and implementing a corporate ethics training program consistent with World Bank compliance guidelines.