While appreciating the positive role and contributions INGOs have made in different sectors and areas, the officials also pointed to some of the gaps and shortcomings, and provnews_ided some suggestions for the future.
The officials pointed that the government was increasingly recognizing the role and contributions of INGOs in the overall development process of the county. The representative of Ministry of Health and Population in particular commended the AIN members working on health sector for their contributions and cooperation with the ministry. However, the participating officials suggested that there was a need to promote good governance in INGOs, especially develop a more efficient accountability framework, end the current situation of Kathmandu-based big NGOs accessing most of INGO funds and align the priorities of AIN with that of the government. They also stressed the need for INGOs to work as partners with the government. Some officials pointed that since AIN dnews_id not have a legal status, it was difficult for them to officially engage and work.
Many of the participants also opined that many government agencies perceived INGOs negatively because of communication gap and that there was a need to communicate and interact more frequently and regularly. However, they also accepted that there were gaps on the part of the government too in terms of engaging, supporting and creating enabling working environment for INGOs.
The AIN Chair, Vice Chair, Steering Committee members and Working Group Coordinators agreed that there were shortcomings on part of INGOs but stressed that AIN was working towards overcoming them. They pointed to specific cases where significant improvement had been achieved (on the issues raised by the government officials). Both snews_ides agreed to continue communicating, interacting and enhancing coordination in the future.
Senior officials from Ministries of Health and Population; Women, Children and Social Welfare; Education; Environment; National Planning Commission, CA Secretariat attended the program. The program was being organized as part of the engagement with key stakeholders, which is specified in the AIN Communication Strategy.