The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) is holding serious consultation with other government agencies to regulate International Non-Government Organisations (INGO) operating in the country. The ministry is set to come up with a formal mechanism at the cross-ministerial level to regulate and monitor the organisations.
According to the government’s official data, 207 INGOs are registered with the Social Welfare Council and have direct MoUs with various line ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. Likewise, 101 INGOs are registered with the Association of INGOs in Nepal, an umbrella organisation of Nepali INGOs.
“We are of the view that those INGOs receiving funds directly by bypassing the government must be checked,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “How can they operate without informing the government and without the approval of the government?”
This is not the first time the government has tried to act tough against INGOs. Seven years ago, the then royal regime had tried to regulate the organisations, but the initiative failed following strong criticism from all quarters.
Along with government agencies, the UN Division of the MoFA is assessing the activities of the INGOs and monitoring their activities and programmes to find out whether they meet their targets. “We are also looking into their funding sources; how funds and the sources are canalised,” an official said.
MoFA is now scrutinising annual programmes of INGOs that have approached government agencies to renew their stay in Nepal. At least 27 INGOs registered with MoFA and working mostly on political and social themes are awaiting licence renewal, while the Social Welfare Council has denied the renewal to several INGOs. “What we are assessing now are the preconditions set for allowing these INGOs to work in Nepal, the kind of achievements they have made in the past and the results,” said a senior MoFA official.
The official, however, said it is not a move to curb the activities of the INGOs altogether. “Those who are performing well must be promoted, while those not complying with the objectives must be penalised,” said the official.
“We are working to form a mechanism to regulate the activities of the INGOs and are also doing some homework on how to move ahead along with its jurisdiction,” said DPM Shrestha.
The ex-president of the Association of INGOs, Achyut Luitel who is also the head of an INGO, Practical Action, said a strong regulatory body is needed to look into the affairs of INGOs.
“Social Welfare Council does not have the capacity to monitor the activities of the INGOs. A strong governing and permanent body is required.”
“Why does the government not prepare an Aid Management Platform like a platform meant for multilateral agencies?”
As a pilot initiative, around 12 INGOs have voluntarily registered with the platform which is under the aegis of the Finance Ministry.
MoFA officials say they do not have the exact data on who is working where and on which sectors. “So many state agencies have bilateral arrangements with INGOs and this has made it difficult for us to draw a conclusion
According to the government’s official data, 207 INGOs are registered with the Social Welfare Council and have direct MoUs with various line ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. Likewise, 101 INGOs are registered with the Association of INGOs in Nepal, an umbrella organisation of Nepali INGOs.
“We are of the view that those INGOs receiving funds directly by bypassing the government must be checked,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “How can they operate without informing the government and without the approval of the government?”
This is not the first time the government has tried to act tough against INGOs. Seven years ago, the then royal regime had tried to regulate the organisations, but the initiative failed following strong criticism from all quarters.
Along with government agencies, the UN Division of the MoFA is assessing the activities of the INGOs and monitoring their activities and programmes to find out whether they meet their targets. “We are also looking into their funding sources; how funds and the sources are canalised,” an official said.
MoFA is now scrutinising annual programmes of INGOs that have approached government agencies to renew their stay in Nepal. At least 27 INGOs registered with MoFA and working mostly on political and social themes are awaiting licence renewal, while the Social Welfare Council has denied the renewal to several INGOs. “What we are assessing now are the preconditions set for allowing these INGOs to work in Nepal, the kind of achievements they have made in the past and the results,” said a senior MoFA official.
The official, however, said it is not a move to curb the activities of the INGOs altogether. “Those who are performing well must be promoted, while those not complying with the objectives must be penalised,” said the official.
“We are working to form a mechanism to regulate the activities of the INGOs and are also doing some homework on how to move ahead along with its jurisdiction,” said DPM Shrestha.
The ex-president of the Association of INGOs, Achyut Luitel who is also the head of an INGO, Practical Action, said a strong regulatory body is needed to look into the affairs of INGOs.
“Social Welfare Council does not have the capacity to monitor the activities of the INGOs. A strong governing and permanent body is required.”
“Why does the government not prepare an Aid Management Platform like a platform meant for multilateral agencies?”
As a pilot initiative, around 12 INGOs have voluntarily registered with the platform which is under the aegis of the Finance Ministry.
MoFA officials say they do not have the exact data on who is working where and on which sectors. “So many state agencies have bilateral arrangements with INGOs and this has made it difficult for us to draw a conclusion
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