AIN sharing
AIN shared about its membership, steering committee, working Groups and role of AIN as a network coordinating with Government bodies, relief, recovery and winterization efforts of AIN Members. AIN also enquired about the coordination mechanism and role of INGOs (where does INGOs fit) in NRA and line Ministries to do work in a most effective way. AIN congratulated NPC for establishing NRA and showed commitment to work closely with NPC and NRA to supplement and support in every possible way.
Remarks from NPC Vice Chair
NPC Vice Chair Yub Raj Khatiwada remarked that NPC recognizes the role of INGOs and NGOs for social transformation. NPC is keen to define the role and responsibilities of each sector including the Civil Society for operationalizing and translating the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) for the next 15 years. He added that NPC would meet AIN again to discuss on SDGs. He also sanews_id that AIN should be candnews_id about what INGOs can do and what they cannot since NPC understands the strength and limitations of INGOs. NPC also understands the fact that working together with INGOs as a development partner, NPC would be in a better position to do smooth development work, given the strength of INGOs who have better outreach in terms software, reaching out to community people and society, and has better understanding of local dialects and dynamics.
NPC Vice Chair had some reservations about the national NGOs in terms of their transparency and accountability. He opined that the Cooperatives are more accountable and credible than the local NGOs; because Cooperatives people are the members of the society, hence they are more answerable to the society. He suggested that NGOs should be properly localized and streamlined and have proper feedback mechanisms to make them accountable. He cautioned that INGO should partner with credible INGOs. He gave example of his experience about working in the UN System (abroad) where NGOs fabricated data and misused accounts. He also mentioned about few instances where profit-making organizations are registered as NGOs and dnews_id fraud.
He appreciated INGOs role for Earthquake support but also raised concern over INGOs not showing balance sheets. He added that NPC faces lot of public scrutiny for not tracking the huge funds that have entered Nepal after earthquake. He advised that AIN should find ways to better address these issues, set norms to be more transparent and find mode of communications to share with Government. He also stated that the Media has been their biggest critic and there has been high level of politicization.
NPC Vice Chair shared that NPC has come up with periodic plan and sectorial strategies and they would like to invite AIN for discussion on thematic areas and seek feedback and INGO perspectives on the same. NPC is keen to have regular discussion with AIN. He assured to help AIN and facilitate if there are any coordination problems with line Ministries for any other social agendas as well.
He shared that NRA has started to function; NPC is the member of the Steering Committee of NRA. They have made the Organogram with 7-8 local offices, with two districts per sub centre and inter district level offices. Seven for most affected districts and one for all the other 17 districts. The LDOs, CDOs and Joint Secretary will take care at district level for earthquake related issues & development programs. The DDRC committee will still remain there and the office will be under the Ministry of Urban Development for technical backstopping. NPC is all set to approach and reach the affected areas. The Centre will make only the policies and set rules. NPC has other mechanisms to reach at village and community level, through civil society forum and senior citizen forum. For transfer of social security benefits, CDOs would decnews_ide who could be in the village level committee. The NRA does not implement projects on its own but the Ministries will implement in coordination between NRA and line Ministries, following the Government model and mechanisms. The Vice Chair Khaitwada also mentioned there are no Donors yet in the National Council but they do foresee it as necessary. However, no meeting has yet been held at the Council.
While concluding, the Vice Chair recommended meeting the CEO of NRA Sushil Gyawali and assured to meet again in the coming days.