• Reflection of the Institutional Good Governance Project of NFN
• Governance in Priority in Ilam District
• Campaign for CA Elections Scales Nation

Reflection of the Institutional Good Governance Project of NFN [TOP]

Human Resource Development

NFN has been able to reach to 1050 NGOs with its project activities prioritizing on Institutional Good Governance. Among these it has been able to develop 158 trainers on the subject till date. The programme activities have already covered 40 districts (out of 25 planned in this quarter). Besides, trainings and workshops in Regional Resource Centers in all the five development regions have enhanced the knowledge and understanding of participants on institutional good governance.

Strengthened Coordination

Since the initiation of the project, there has been a better coordination among the district chapters, regional resource centers and center office of NFN. Communication is enhanced between the district chapters and the regions. A bottom-up participatory approach is applied in giving feedback and suggestions. Moreover, the member orgnaistions are in close coordination and have been supporting NFN during programmes and activities.

Practice of Public hearing and Public Audit Increased

The practice of conducting public hearing and public audit has increased in the recent times in the districts. Kanchanpur and Palpa have already conducted public hearing in their own institutions and community. The impact of the programme is seen on the community level and within the participants. After these progrmmes, they have started questioning on the actual budget and the actual expense of a particular programme or activity. With their influence, participants have started a practice of conducting public audit of the trainings and programs that they participate in.

Identification of Issues Hindering NGO Governance

Since the initiation of the project, it has been able to identify the crucial issues hindering the NGO governance in the local level. Lack of awareness among the staff on accounting, collection of supporting documents of the programmes and expenses made, lack of documentation, one man leadership are some of the problems that most of the local NGOs are facing. NFN has identified that human resource development and capacity building of the local level NGOs should be given mere priority to strengthen NGO governance

Social Inclusion more in Priority

It is needless to mention that there is at least 33% of inclusion of women in all
the central, regional and district level committees in NFN and it further aims to bring 50% of women in total organisational structure. This has influenced the member organizations to follow the best practices of governance of NFN in their own organizations. Moreover, the inclusion of a differently able woman in the regional committee of Eastern Region has become the most influencing factor for member organizations to prioritize on social inclusion in organizational settings. The change was evident in trainings and workshops of the Central Region, Dhading district, Mustang district, Nawalparasi district, Western Region, and Udayapur district. In these places, there was a phenomenal increase in the number of women participants and participants from ethnic diversities in comparison to other places. The data analysis is as follows:

Gender and Ethnicity Disaggregated data of Institutional Good Governance and Right Based Approach Training

CENTRAL REGION

MUSTANG

WESTERN REGION

UDAYAPUR

Second Convention and Fifth Annual General Meeting of the Western Regional Committee
Second Convention and Fifth Annual General Meeting of the Western Regional Committee was held on 20 July 2007 in Tansen, Palpa. Chief Guest of the programme Mr. Shanta Lall Mulmi-General Secretary of NFN, Special Guests, Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa-Treasurer of Social Welfare Council, Ms. Gaja Kumari Gurung-Central Member of NFN, and Mr. Yadav Kumar Rayamajhi-Member of the Parliament inaugurated the session together, followed by a one minute silence in the honour of the brave martyrs. Mr Ram Bahadur Raut- Central Member of NFN along with the representatives of civil society organiations were invited as guests in the programme. The convention elected Mr. Tika Ram Bhusal as President, Mr. Badri Nath Nepal as Vice President, Ms. Samjhana Devkota as Secretary, Mr. Prakash Pandey as Joint Secretary and Ms. Manju Gyawali as Treasurer of the Western Regional Committee.

Governance in Priority in Ilam District [TOP]

A Case Study

The Ilam branch of Kirat Rai Yayokkha, an organization in Ilam has shown drastic change in its organisational operation. The changes were evident after attending the training on'Drafting the Institutional Good Governance Policy' organized by NFN.

Prior to this training, the organisation did not have documented mission, vision and goals. According to the chairman of Yayokkha Ilam, they were not even aware that the organisation should have its Starategic Plan for better functioning. Separation of roles and responsibilities between the executive committee and the management committee was not an issues of priority.

But after attending the training on 'Drafting the Good Governance Policy' of NFN, the chairman of Yayokkha Ilam says that the training has brought changes in the organisational level. He could learn a lot from the program and could share it with the other members, staff and NGOs in the district. They organised a meeting with their staff and the executive members and prepared their vision, mission and goals. Besides, they have started revising their organizational policy too. The changes in the organizational policies are believed to bring in efficiency in the organizational affairs. Separation of power and responsibilities among the executive committee and the management committee is the much sought after concept that the organsation is looking forward to.

Furthermore, the changes in the Kirat Rai Yayokkha have influenced other NGOs in the Ilam districts as well. Renuka Rai and Sangita Rai, representatives of Yayokha, are very pleased to see the whim of governance evident in the local level originations in Ilam. It is a great achievement that few organizations have started reviewing their organizational policies; some have started advocating for at least 33 per cent of inclusion of women in their organizational setting, and some have started giving more importance to the documentation. The impact of the project of NFN has been positive as it has sensitized NGOs in Ilam on following the values and principles of Institutional Good Governance.

Campaign for CA Elections Scales Nation [TOP]

There is no way to constituent assembly elections (CAE), CAE is the way', lauded the representatives of 75 districts gathered separately in six different places of Western, Far Western and Eastern, Mid Western and Central Regions on 21-25 April, 24-28 April, 7-11 May, 21-25 May and 25-29 May 2007 respectively for a training and workshop on Democracy, Constituent Assembly and Electoral System organised by NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN). The programme was aimed at educating and aware participants of democratic values and principles, 'what', 'why' and 'how' of CAE and constitutional issues. The programme brought together two representatives (one woman) from each district who, on completion of the training, will facilitate similar training workshop in respective districts, and launch campaign at VDCs.

The programme provided substantial time and venue to discuss the issues related to CAE and sensitise participants to the process and procedures. The fundamental issues discussed were the mandate of people's movement upon which the CAE is based on, the face of New Nepal, restructuring of the state, right to self determination, federalism, international experience of constituent assembly and so on. The participants univocally hailed restructuring the state in federal face through CAE. They were of the opinion that CAE has no choice; CAE is the only choice. Citing inability of the political leadership to pace faster for structural transformation, doubts were unfolded whether the elections to CA would hold in time. Also answers were sought to the doubts and the result was: 'there is no alternative to CAE. If conspiracies are being baked, it would gather no moss, but conspirators would be disdained.'

Voices of the regional training workshops were representatives of the nation. The message shared and the information imparted would logically reach to the grassroots and reasonably contribute to aware people and encourage them to campaign for the CAE. Apart from carrying the campaign message, the participants open heartedly put the issues of district they belonged to and also warned the ulterior motifs not to unfurl their hat to subdue the people's voices. To them, the new constitution should reflect cultural identity of peoples - be them Madhesi, janajati, cultural minorities and so on-, honour and protect ethnic diversity, replicate socio-cultural, economic and political verve of the nation, guarantee dignified life of dalits, and respect pluralism where people at least could enjoy life without distinction and discrimination in the name of caste and gender.

On the final day of the training, an interaction was organised amongst political parties and civil society members in each region. Speakers of the interaction wished a success of the campaign and also unveiled their interest to be a part of it. Representatives of eight political parties expressed their commitments to make the CAE free, fair, fearless, inclusive and participatory. They were of the opinion that they would not let people loose their hope, but act to narrow down the gap between the political leadership and the people if it is widening due to slow delivery of actions. The five-day training workshop including the final day interaction was participated in by 390 people.

Similar training workshops are underway in 75 districts to develop district level campaigners. The campaigners upon completion of the workshops will march to the villages to aware and educate people to the CAE and its procedures. To date district level workshop have been completed in- Jhapa, Taplejung, Siraha, Khotang, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Tehrathum, Sunsari, Saptari and Sankhuwasabha district in the Eastern Region; Sarlahi and Sindhuli district in the Central Region; Myagdi, Syanja, Nawalparasi, Gorkha, Palpa, Parbat, Arghakhanchi, Tanahun, Baglung, Kaski and Mustang district in the Western Region; Dailekh, Jajarkot, Rukum, Bardiya, Banke, Dolpa, Surkhet and Kalikot district in the Mid Western Region; Doti, Achham, Kanchanpur, Baitadi and Bajhang district in the Far Western Region.