NGO Federation of Nepal organized a National Civil Society Conference and 26 th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kathmandu on 9 April 2021. As a conference organized in a virtual-physical model, 178 participants were physically present while nearly 150 took part virtually. The participation included representatives from government including Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC), Social Welfare Council (SWC), National Planning Commission (NPC), NFN Board, NFN province committees and district level representatives of NFN members, UN agencies, European Union, I/NGOs, media and CSO networks and federations. The program was held in three parts: an inaugural session, a thematic session on policy and operational issues of CSOs in Nepal and the Annual General Meeting. The program was inaugurated by the Chief Guest of the program, Hon. Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizen (MOWCSC), Julie Kumari Mahato. Minister Mahato, shared that a drafting committee for the anticipated Unified Social Development Act has been proposed to the Council of Ministers. She expressed her commitment to draft and pass this law at the earliest possible to protect the right of CSOs. She further committed to consult CSOs in the drafting process. She also expressed her awareness on the hassles faced by CSOs. She informed that soon the CSOs will be able to register and renew themselves online. Guests of the conference and AGM delivered inaugural speeches focusing on the current issues of human rights, democracy and civic space while emphasizing the historical role of CSOs in Nepal. Member of NPC, Min Bahadur Shahi; Vice- Chair of SWC Dr. Padma Prasad Khatiwada, Ambassador of the Delegation of the EU Nona Deprez, Chairperson of Red Cross Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina, Advisor of NFN Mr. Gauri Pradhan, Advisor of NFN Mr. Shanta Lall Mulmi, President of DPNet and NFN Advsor Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, President of FEDWASUN Mr Rajendra Aryal and AIN representative Mr Bishal Bhandari were present as special guests and spoke during the Civil Society Conference. President of NFN, Jitaram Lama, took the opportunity to demand improved CSO law/s and hassle-free operations for CSOs in presence of the Minister. He reiterated the role of CSO in democracy and the roles of Nepali CSOs to establish federal democracy in Nepal. Thus, he expressed NFN’s and larger CSO’s commitment to support government of Nepal for social development of Nepal and simultaneously demanded a unified Social Development Act that ensures rights and hassle-free operation of CSOs. Later, a thematic session was held on Policy and Operation Issues of CSOs in Nepal. NFN Province Chairs from all the 7 provinces of Nepal spoke on the gaps of the federal and province level CSO related laws. They also raised the operational hassles CSO face regarding registration, renewal, taxation and VAT. Some of the representatives opined that the current role of SWC in the federal system is inadequate and SWC should be present in all the provinces. They reiterated that the line ministry for the CSOs should be MOWCSC and therefore role of the Ministry of Home Affairs in registration and renewal of CSOs should be put to an end through the upcoming law. Immediate Past president of NFN, Mr. Gopal Lamsal stressed that the CSO-related law has been long pending, and that NFN along with other CSOs are struggling for decades for an improved CSO related law. He demanded that the CSO law should be drafted and passed immediately and civic space, democracy and freedom should be ensured. Senior Law, Policy and Human Rights Advisor of FHI 360, Mr. Tanka Aryal spoke in the thematic session. He stated that when matters related to principles of CSO related law is agreed upon, operational matters especially related to registration, renewal, tax, vat, project approval will be resolved accordingly; therefore, he stressed that CSOs should focus and advocate for improved CSO related law at first and foremost. Then, AGM of NGO Federation of Nepal was conducted. Secretary General of NFN Mr Ram Prasad Subedi presented the progress report of NFN. Similarly, Treasurer Ms Bishnu Thakali shared the financial report of NFN. Both of the reports were endorsed.
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