The NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) has conducted a series of multi-stakeholder meetings with local governments and Inland Revenue Department across various provinces to address challenges and policy issues faced by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at the local level. These meetings took place in Koshi, Lumbini, Gandaki, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces. On July 17, a meeting was held between NFN Sudurpaschim province committee, NFN Kailali district committee and Dhangadi sub-metropolitan municipality, to discuss the problems faced by NGOs in the municipality and the creation of local laws for CSO operations. Ms. Kandakala Kumari Rana, the Deputy Mayor of Dhangadi, committed to addressing the issues raised, ensuring compliance with Nepali legislation. Additionally, to discuss and address various challenges faced by non-governmental organizations in accessing services from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), NFN Sudurpaschim organized a coordination meeting with IRD Dhangadi in June. Following this meeting, a one-day tax education interaction program was held on July 22, 2024, by IRD Dhangadi in collaboration with NFN Sudurpaschim for the CSOs of Kailali district. This program clarified the legal provisions related to taxes, the rules organizations registered under those Acts must follow, and the facilities available to them. NFN Koshi Province organized a meeting with Mechinagar Municipality on July 26, to tackle challenges faced by the CSOs’ at local level and explore solutions. The meeting saw participation from Mayor Gopal Chandra Budhathoki, Deputy Mayor Ms. Mina Upreti, and other municipal representatives. From the NGO Federation, Central Executive Committee Member Mr. Chabbilal Khatiwada, Koshi province Secretary Somraj Dhakal, and other members attended. Key issues discussed included the establishment of a district-level NGO Help Desk and enhanced CSO monitoring by the municipality. In Lumbini province, a meeting with Tinau Rural Municipality in Palpa on July 25 focused on CSO registration procedures, advocating that registration should be handled by district administration offices as per the Association Registration Act 1977, without imposing fees. Subsequently, in coordination with the NGO Federation of Nepal Kapilvastu District Committee, a discussion on VAT and CSO listing was held in Yashodhara Rural Municipality, Kapilvastu. Chaired by Mr. Jaiprakash Pandey, chairperson of NFN Kapilvastu, with chief guest Ms. Jit Kumari Belbase, chairperson of NFN Lumbini province, issues such as mandatory VAT registration for project implementation and listing fees in the municipality were highlighted. A seven-member CSOs co-ordination committee, which included the active representatives of the CSOs working in Yashodhara municipality, was formed for monitoring and follow-up of this issue. In Karnali province, a meeting with Panchapuri Municipality addressed the challenges and coordination between municipalities and CSOs, considering the geographical and political context of the region and difficulty in service-delivery because of the issue. Attendees included Mayor Lalbir Bhandari, Deputy Mayor Mukti Devi Regmi, Chief Administrative Officer Dil Bahadur Karki, NFN Karnali province chair Mr. Ghanashyam KC, and other representatives of NFN. A co-ordination meeting was held in Gandaki as well, with the Putalibazar Municipality in Syangja on July 28 and Madi Rural Municipality in Bulaudi, Pokhara on 29 July 2024. The meetings aimed at creating a friendly working environment for the CSOs at the local level. Discussions were held on developing partnership agreements between the municipality and CSOs and formulating local operational procedures to support CSOs. These meetings highlight a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) at the local level. The involvement and commitment of local government officials, including mayors, deputy mayors, and IRD officials, reflect a growing recognition of the vital role that CSOs play in social development. These initiatives, involving local governments and the Inland Revenue Department, are expected to result in enhanced cooperation, better regulatory frameworks, and a more enabling environment for CSOs.
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