Home Capitalise General Contact Members Services
 

Capitalization of experiences of NGO national platform (NPF)

 

Unless you object to it, the information collected in this questionnaire will be put online in the International Resource Center 's website. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further clarifications.

 
I
 History and Task of the NGO National Platform
II
 Function and Governing of the NGO National Platform
III
 Internal and external relations of the NGO National Platform
IV
 Other Remarks on your NGO National Platform
 
I. HISTORY AND TASKS OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM
1) HISTORY OF THE NGO National Platform

a) Please describe the important factors connected to the creation of your NPF (important events: famine, arrival of an international NGO, political crisis, etc)? 10 lines or more

 

NGO Movement in Nepal is a recent beginning. The success of the mass movement of 1990 the NGOs a new avenue but the Government rules and regulations have not been changed as per the sentiment of the mass movement. At the conclusion of a two day national convention of NGOs it was decided that there is a need to organize a national forum of all the NGOs in Nepal for the freedom and autonomy of NGO movement. Thus the NGO Federation of Nepal was established in 1991 with about 45 NGO members.

 

b) Please describe the significant growth of your NPF (extension of scope, increase in the number of members, activities, possible crisis)? 10 lines or more

 

In the last 16 years NGO Federation of Nepal has grown significantly in number, coverage and programmes. NGO Federation has developed a long term framework with a four pillar strategy: Capacity Building and NGO Governance Reform, Women Empowerment and inclusion, Youth Empowerment and Broad based civil society networking.

 

The Federation which was started in 1991 with little more than 40 NGO members has now reached to more than 3400 NGO members with district committee in all 75 districts of Nepal .

 

c) What are the strong points of your NPF?

 
  1. Only one national federation of all NGOs in Nepal .
  2. Coordinated Human Rights monitoring in Democratic movement.
  3. Working as a Confederations of all other federations
  4. National Secretariat of Peoples SAARC 2007
  5. Brought all leading political party leaders to one table for discussion in 2006
  6. Registered under "National Directive Act" not under Society Registration Act.
  7. Provided Land by the government to construct National Resource Centre
  8. Democratically Elected District, regional and Central Executive Board.
 

d) What are the weaknesses and points to be improved? (For example, in terms of institutional or organisational reinforcement, communication material, strategy, financial management, etc)

 

1. Improvement of Central, regional and district secretarial management.
2. Long term finance resource management to translate "Strategic Planning"

 
2) MISSIONS OF THE NGO National Platform

a) What services does your NPF offer its members? Give a detailed account of the aims and activities organized (type of training, counsel, communication means, etc)–10 lines or more

 

1. Vision

NFN envisions a democratic and just society through a vibrant and strengthened NGO movement striving for an economically sustainable, socially equitable and environmental friendly nation.

2. Mission

  • Organize and mobilize people to promote a democratic and just society.
  • Strengthen NGO movement and promote capacity building processes
  • Safeguard the autonomy of civil society and work as a change agent.

3. Goal

  • To strengthen the dynamic and pro-people NGO movement in Nepal
  • To enhance the capacity of NGOs to improve organizational good governance
  • To mobilize member organization to implement pro-poor development initiatives
  • To promote and protect human rights, social justice and lasting democratic peace

NFN organizes trainings, thematic workshops, communication strategies and other necessary activities to realize the overall goal.

 

b) Does your NPF take a stand with respect to government policies, regional or international institutions? YES

 

If yes, which ones? In which domain (education, health, Human rights)? How? (meetings with the Ministry, Letters to the Editor, organization of seminars, etc)

 
  1. NFN opposes the code of conduct formulated by Social Welfare Council to control the NGO activities. NFN protested and also filed the case to the Supreme Court.
  2. NFN raises its voice against any human right violation through Press releases, protest marches, international solidarity campaigns, etc.
  3. NFN always advocates "Inclusive Democracy".
 

c) How are its stands elaborated and adopted (organisation of campaigns, creation of permanent commission or work group within the NPF, etc)?

 
NFN played very active role
  • In building UNHCR office in Kathmandu
  • Peace accord with Maoists
  • Raising its voice against any obstacle created in the development process.
 
II Functioning and Governing of The NGO National Platform
1) Functioning of the NGO National Platform
 

•  What is the legal status of your NPF? Is it registered or declared with the authorities? What laws govern NGO activities in your country? Are there different laws for different kind of organizations? (NGO, association, union, collective group, etc) Specify in 10 lines

 

NFN is registered under "National Directive Act" ( rastriya nirdeshan ain ). Only with the decision of the cabinet any national federation can be registered under this act. Government approval is not necessary for foreign funding. But all NGO have to be registered under Society Registration Act. NGO Federation enjoys more freedom in terms of legal obligation.

 

b) What are the decision-making bodies of your NPF? (General Body, Administrative Board? Executive Administration? Ethical Board? How are these bodies designated?

 

Every year General Body makes the major policy decision as tabled by the Executive Board. Executive Board gives directive to the Central Secretariat to implement the program. General Secretary of the Central Executive Board is responsible for the overall programme implementation and monitoring on behalf of the board.

 

c) Internal rules and ethics

::

Does your NPF have internal rules? YES/NO (If yes, please attach the document)

   
::
 Does your NPF have code of ethics or other similar documents? YES/NO (If yes, please attach the document)
   
::

Have you changed the code of ethics or internal rules in the last 5 years? YES/NO If yes, please specify:

   

 
 

d) What are the conditions for membership in your NPF (financial membership, charter, participating in a commission or a work group, tasks relating to development or human rights…)?

A registered NGO can apply for membership. There is no provision for individual membership. INGO can be affiliate member.

 

e) Do you have international institutions as members (associations, NGO movements)? YES/NO If yes, how many? Are they specifically organized within the NPF?

NGO Federation is the member of some regional and global network. INGO can not apply for the membership, but NFN and Association of INGO in Nepal (AIN) is working together in some of the issues of common interest.

 

f) How many members receive information about your activities and your members (letter, e-mails, meetings, web site, Intranet…)?

We have regular mailing system to all regional and district committees. The districts disseminate the information to member NGOs on a regular basis. Publications are regularly mailed and emails are send regularly to update on information.

 
2) GOVERNING OF THE NGO PLATFORM

a) How are the Administrative Board members elected? What are their duties? (Drawing up strategic perspectives, follow-up of activities and budget…)? Specify.
 

All the procedures are governed by the constitution. Central Board members will be elected every three years by mass voting. Central Executive Board is the apex body of the Federation.

 

b) What are the functions of the General Body? Specify.

 

General Body meets every year. The body passes financial and activities report with budget and propose activities for the coming year. Policy decisions are also made if the need arises.

 

c) Are there other governing bodies in your NPF? YES/NO If yes, what are their functions?

Central Executive Board, Regional Committee and District Committee.

Administratively there is a Central Secretariat, regional resource centre team and district office staff.

 
III. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE NGO PLATFORM
 
1) RELATIONS WITH THE MEMBERS
 

a) How many members are there in your NPF?

2004 :
2005 :
2006 : More than 3400 updated data is awaited.
 

b) Do you have work groups or thematic commissions? YES/NO If yes, on what themes do they work (example: nature, health, objectives of the Millennium for Development, access to funds…)?

Yes there are thematic groups in all relevant issues.

 

c) Do you assess the expectations or needs of your members? YES/NO If yes, in what way?

General assembly, District meetings and convention are forums here expectations of the members are widely discussed.

 
2) RELATIONSHIP WITH SPONSORS
 

a) Does your government provide reinforcement policies for NGOs? What are the arguments that justify this policy? What are the functions and special tasks attributed to NGOs by your Government, that justify the funds for reinforcing their capabilities?

There are two agencies in Nepal which are responsible for NGO Governance. One is District Administration office under Ministry of Home. All NGOs are registered in this office and every year it has to be renewed with an audited report and a progress report. Secondly Social welfare Council is responsible for coordinating and facilitating NGO activities.
 

b) Is there a specific financial system to reinforce the NGOs in your country (example: funds, special donations)?
- If yes, what kind of capabilities do they support? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these funds?
- Else, how does the NGO fund its capability-reinforcement programme (staff training, research, strategic plans, organizational diagnosis…)?

 
  1. Financial report should be prepared every year by registered auditor.
  2. Program report should be published every year.
  3. Coordination should be developed with District Development Committee regarding programme implementation at the particular district.
  4. Still pre-approval of proposal by the Social Welfare Council is needed prior to receive foreign fund. This is now no more in practice.
 

c) Who are your sponsors? For each sponsor, specify the project you are working on and the duration.

NFN believes in consortium funding. The major source of internal fund is through membership fee. At this moment we are been supported by DANIDA, CIDA, Action Aid and other bilateral agencies.

 

d) How would you summarize your relation with the sponsors (easy/difficult access or communication problem of co-financing, flexibility or not, project pace, evaluation, unsuitable problems, financing of the general expenses of the establishment…)?

Good as equal partners in development.

 
3) RELATIONS WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS, NGO'S
 

a) Do you work with international NGOs, international networks, and national NGO platforms from countries other than yours? YES/NO If yes, please specify the names and the nature of relations:

 

We do work with other national regional and global network like Global Campaign for Poverty, ANGOC, VANI, SAPPE etc.

 

b) Are there other NPFs or national NGO networks in your country? YES/NO
If yes, what are they? Do you work with these NPFs and/or national NGO networks? YES/NO
If yes, on what themes, what projects?

 

No

 
IV OTHER REMORKS ON YOUR NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM
  • NGO Federation is the coordinating agency for Peoples SAARC - 2007
  • NGO Federation is anchor organization for Imagine a New South Asia on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance theme.