INGO: Working Together

International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs) have shown that they can reach to the needy people at times of disaster

June 13, 2015, 5:45 p.m. Published in Magazine Issue: Vol: 09 No. -1 June. 12- 2015 (Jestha 29, 2072)

Although the International Non-Governmental Organizations and non-governmental organizations played a very crucial role in delivering the relief materials during the earthquakes, this will not be the same during the period of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Recently Published Directives for INGOs and NGOs by International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance, imposes so many conditionality and bureaucratic hurdles that nobody may be willing to work.

Published just two weeks before the International Donors' meet planned for Nepal's post earthquake reconstruction, many development partners are likely to question the modalities.

“The new directives are directed to make INGOs and NGOs more transparent and recognize the role of these organizations,” said Madhu Marasini, joint secretary and head of the division. “The ministry wants to see where the funds come from and how they are managed.”

With a strong global lobby around the world, it is not easy to control and contain the international civic society movement. This will definitely to put the pressure on the government when it is desperately seeking the foreign aid.

One of the concerns of the major donor countries is about the lack of accountable institutions at the local level. In the absence of elected local bodies, many donors prefer to work through INGOs and NGOs at the grass root level. The donors argue that the community based organizations are more accountable than the all party mechanism or anything else.

“There is a communication gap. The government needs to treat us as a party of international civil society movement,” said Deepak Raj Sapkota, Chair of AIN.

In the first phase, soon after the major earthquakes struck Nepal on April 25 and 26, most of the members of Association of International Non-governmental organization (AIN) moved to various remote parts of Nepal with relief materials.

Having expertise in dealing with humanitarian crisis, INGOs chose the villages of badly hurt districts with packages for the children, women, people with disabilities, elders and other poor communities.

“INGOs reached rural and remote parts of Nepal side by side with Nepal’s security forces. We have provided relief materials to the needy people as much as we can," said Deepak Sapkota, AIN chair and country Director of Karuna Foundtion.

Out of 106 members of AIN, 76 INGOs joined the distribution of relief materials. The organizations included ACF, Action Aid, ACTED, ADRA Development, ADRA,Aibi-Nepal, Aide-at-Action,Ama Foundation, Amda Minds, AWO International ev,BBC Media Action,BNMT, CARE,CBM, CECI, Oxfam, Practical Action, Karuna, Save the Children Fund, Child Fund Japan, Concern Worldwide,CPCS International,

Similarly, DCA South Asia Regional Office, EBT-N, ECPAT-Luxamberg, Fairmed Nepal, ELM, Fida International, GNHA, Goal, Good Neighbor International, Handicap International, Heifer International, Helen Killer International, Helvatas, ICCO Cooperation, IFES Nepal, IM Swedish Development Partner, INF and International Development Enterprises also joined the relief operation.

Others included Islamic Relief Worldwide, LDF, LWR, Medicines Du Monde France, Mennonite Central Committee, Mercy Cops Nepal, Mission East  Partnership with Medair, Mountain Child, Netherland Leprosy Relief, Next Generation Nepal, Northa Helping People in Himalayas, Plan International, Planete Enfants,READ Nepal, Relief International, Renewal World, Restless Development, Smridhi Pahad, Likewise, Shangri-La Home VZW, Shapla Neer, Stromme Foundation, Sunrise Children’s Association Inc, Tearfund, Terre Des Hommes Foundation,  The Australian Association of  Forget me not children home, The Leprosy Mission Nepal, The Mountain Institute,  The Umbrella Foundation, UMN,VSO, WaterAid, We World Onlus, Welthhunger Hife, Winrock International and World Vision also joined the relief operation. 

According to AIN, their contributions include cash, purifying drinking water, food, medicines,  tents, blankets, hygine kits, torch, shelter kits, metal roofs, bamboo poles, mattresses, tarpaulin sheets, basic medicines, blanket shops, education and recreation kit support.

Although their support is small, they reached the much required emergency relief materials for the people covering many parts of Nepal.

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