NGO Federation of Nepal

NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) is a national platform of Nepalese NGOs, established in 1991, as an independent, autonomous, apolitical, voluntary, not-for-profit and member-based organization governed by its own constitution. Currently, NFN has 6,183 NGOs affiliated to it from across the country and has also received special consultative status from the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). NFN has seven provincial committees comprised of 7–9 members each, one in each province. Together, they work as a provincial catalyst to support member organizations in leadership and professional skills development, and to enable them to face the challenges of sustainable development.

NFN, since the beginning, has been fighting for defending rights, freedom, and autonomy of NGOs towards expanding civic space in policy processes. It also has been facilitating capacity development of members with an aim to enable them advocate for and render services to communities effectively. On the other, it has been working for promoting human rights, individual freedom, democratic governance, peace and stability, development effectiveness, social justice and public service delivery through concerted efforts of lobby and advocacy. So, as a leading civil society organization, the roles of NFN are bi-fold: (i) to collaborate and complement government actions; and (ii) to serve as a watchdog for ensuring whether the government’s policies and actions are effectively responding to the needs, concerns and voices of diverse sections of society, particularly the weak and marginalized.

Activities on Inequalities

NFN has launched the inequality campaign in Nepal on 24 February 2017. A coordination meeting was held with the farmers group, different constituency groups, youth etc. Cartoonists also participated. On January 24, 2018 the demonstration program against inequality took place. Over 60 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), federations, alliances, network organizations and hundreds of social activists and volunteers came together and showed their solidarity against inequality. Different CSOs came up with slogans, comics, freeze drama and cartoons depicting the status of inequality. Further displays came in the form of banners, posters, flex, play cards, and street art. At the end of this program the CSOs distributed an appeal (both in Nepali and English). 

Nepal SDGs Forum

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) based on Millennium Declaration in the year 2000 by the United Nations (UN) has set foundation for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. As the successor of MDGs, 2030 Agenda of sustainable development was adopted by 193 member states of UN in September 2015. Agenda 2030 is integrated, indivisible and balance of three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental and poverty eradication is stated as the overarching goal. NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) has been continuously coordinating the civil society process on sustainable development agenda.

Nepalese CSOs assembled on 25 February 2016 formed a common civil society platform entitled “CSOs Forum on Sustainable Development in Nepal”, in short “Nepal SDGs Forum”. Nepal SDGs Forum is the common platform of all Nepalese CSOs, which has been mobilizing and encouraging the CSOs for their effective engagement in 2030 agenda. NFN working as the secretariat of this forum and facilitates the civil society process. This forum is directly engaging with government, parliament, local authorities, UN Agencies, INGOs and other international agencies. NFN is now serving as a secretariat of the forum by liaison, coordination and facilitation.

Activities on SDGs

• Sharing information on regular basis on SDGs among CSOs and other stakeholders
• Awareness on UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and enhancing capacity of CSOs at national, provincial and local level
• Mobilizing CSOs to facilitate on major issues of SDGs
• Consultation at National, Provincial and Local level on different goals of sustainable development
• Improve CSOs development effectiveness and accountability
• Promote the involvement of CSOs in implementing process
• Coordination and collaboration with government and private sector in planning, implementation and evaluation process of SDGs at different level
• Engage with parliamentarians, private sector, constitutional bodies, INGOs and development partners on policy and operational issues
• Engage with sub-regional, regional and global CSO platforms, network and campaigns
• Review of CSOs contribution on SDGs implementation

Main Constituency Groups

• Children (Major Group)
• Women (Major Group) and Girls
• Dalits
• Madhesi
• Indigenous people (Major Group)
• Persons with Disabilities
• Farmers (Major Group)
• Rural Poor
• Urban Poor
• Dwellers of disadvantaged areas
• LGBTIQ
• Local authorities (Major Group)
• Migrants
• Senior citizens
• Peopling Living with HIV and affected by AIDS
• Micro-entrepreneurs
• Non-Governmental Organizations (Major Group)
• Business and Industry
• Scientific and technology community (Major Group)
• Workers and Trade Unions (Major Groups)
• Cooperatives
• Media
• Youth (Major Group) and Adolescents

Thematic focus

• Eradication of poverty
• The right to food
• Access to healthcare
• Quality education
• Gender equality
• Access to clean water and sanitation
• Access to clean and sustainable energy
• Decent work
• Sustainable transport, infrastructure and access to technology
• Reduce inequalities, e.g. tax justice
• Sustainable cities and communities
• Sustainable production and consumption
• Climate justice
• Protect life below water
• Combat desertification, land degradation and loss of biodiversity
• Peace and justice e.g. Accountability of governments and the private sector
• Partnership for Global Justice e.g. trade and the financial system