Capacity building for NGOs, crucial to China's success--says CANGO
 On 24 November 2007, the China Association for Non-Governmental Organization Cooperation (CANGO) held a forum in Beijing to emphasize the need to build the capacity of the country's NGOs to help them to improve their services to their beneficiaries, and to contribute toward the development of the country in general.
The Forum on "NGO Capacity Building and Sustainable Development in the New Era" was a well-attended event, with participants coming from NGOs working in the fields of community development, environmental protection, and gender and development; as well as representatives of international NGOs, bilateral and multilateral institutions, and the academe.
Huang Haoming, executive director of CANGO, cited the NGO sector for playing various roles, such as mobilizing resources, providing public services, sustaining the stability of society, resolving social disputes, promoting economic development, and creating job opportunities. In fact, the Chinese government has acknowledged the complementary role that NGOs are playing not just in promoting development, but, just as importantly, in fostering harmony in Chinese society.
However, the Forum participants conceded that Chinese NGOs could still do better. Professor Wang Ming, of Tsinghua University, said that NGOs are hindered by restrictions in regard to resources, systems, values, and the environment. He added that there is limited capacity and professional training in the sector. Moreover, Chinese NGOs suffer from inadequate communicate among themselves and from few opportunities for mutual learning.
One of the forum's distinguished participants, Li Yong, who is deputy director-general of the Bureau of NGO Administration, Ministry of Civil Affairs, emphasized that capacity building is "the fundamental factor" in the development of NGOs.
CANGO is implementing a project called "Development of the [H]armonious [S]ociety and NGO Capacity Building," of which the Beijing Forum was part. In the next three years, CANGO will organize visits for "civil affairs" officials from 12 provinces to countries such as Germany, France, Japan, and Korea, to acquaint them in current regulations relating to, and the management of NGOs. Workshops are also scheduled to be held in 10 provinces, with about 1,000 participants. Lastly, CANGO will hold 16 capacity building training courses for 500 participants from different parts of China.
Source: "Forum on 'NGO Capacity Building and Sustainable Development in the New Era,'" NGO Cooperation Forum, Vol. 55, No. 6, Nov/Dec 2007, pp. 5-6.
CANGO promotes "balanced development"
 On 2-3 November 2007, the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO) held a forum on "Balancing Urban and Rural Development-Public Participation Capacity Building" in Wanzhou, Chonquing. The event was participated in by representatives from communities, various NGOs, universities, and the media.
The forum comes on the heels of a proclamation by the State Council of China declaring Chongqing as a pilot city for initiatives to achieve a balance between urban and rural development.
After two days of discussion, the participants agreed that the benefits of balancing urban and rural development ought to be shared by people in remote mountain areas; that farmers' capacities need to be improved; and that public participation in the task of balancing urban and rural development needs to be facilitated through capacity building programs.
Source: "Open Space on 'Balance Urban and Rural Development-Public Participation Capacity Building,'" NGO Cooperation Forum, Vol. 55, No. 6, Nov/Dec 2007, pp.1-2.
NFN jointly spearheads Janayatra campaign for a "New Nepal"
 On 9-21 September 2007, Nepalis from various sectors participated in a Janayatra (People's Caravan) to ensure that elections for a Constituent Assembly--already twice postponed--would push through on 10 April 2008.
The Janayatra began simultaneously--from Ilan in the Eastern Region, Ramechhap in the Central region, and Baitadi in the Far Western region--and converged on 21 September 2007 in Butawal. The Janayatra was broadly represented--participants were composed largely of the poor, Dalits, indigenous peoples, the disabled, women, Madhesis (southern Nepalese found in the Terai region), the youth, peasants, laborers, forest and other natural resource user groups, and other marginalized groups.
 The Janayatra is an offshoot of the people's movement of April 2006, when millions of Nepalis took to the streets for 13 days to demand "a just, democratic, and federal republic."
Since 1990, when the late King Birendra yielded to pro-democracy protests, Nepal's experiment with democracy has been disastrous. The multi-party parliament produced incompatible coalitions and inefficient governments. Matters became worse in June 2001 when Nepal's crown prince massacred much of the royal family. Gyanendra, the murdered king's brother, assumed the throne and Nepal's Maoist insurgency intensified.
When a ceasefire with the Maoists ended in 2003, Nepalis began protesting against the monarchy. King Gyanendra responded by assuming direct rule in February 2005, which led the Maoists and mainstream political parties to ally together. A farcical election in February 2006 was followed by mass demonstrations against King Gyanendra's regime. The unrest ended when Nepal's generals asked the opposition to form a government. The king restored the parliament, and in November 2006 the Maoists and the interim government signed a peace deal, ending a 10-year civil war. An election to a constituent assembly was initially set for 22 November 2007, but was postponed. It is now expected to be held on 10 April 2008.
          
The Janayatra is part of the "Imagine A New South Asia (INSA) Campaign," which envisions a Nepal that is "free," "prosperous," "democratic and decentralized," and "proud of its diversity."
The Janayatra had also issued the following demands:
- Conduct of peaceful, independent and impartial elections, and guarantees for the involvement of grass roots level people;
- Guarantees that the Constitution that would be formed would foster the building of "a bright, democratic, federal, people oriented and inclusive nation";
- Creation of a New Nepal that is free from feudalism, and a culture which has kept women, Dalits, and indigenous groups from gaining power, dignity, and recognition in society;
- Land reform which is people-oriented, especially favoring peasants, landless people, and other groups that depend on common property resources for their livelihood;
- Priority given to the local community in the assignment of forest use rights, capacity building of the user group, and people oriented utilization and management of the forests;
- Amendments of unjust bilateral treaties that govern the use of Nepal's water resources, in order to favor the local people.
The Janayatra Campaign was facilitated by a secretariat composed of major networks, federations, and forums, including the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN). The others are:
- Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal;
- National Land Rights Concern Group, Nepal;
- National Land Rights Forum, Nepal; and
- National Dalit Network.
Sources:
Imagine a New Asia Campaign: Janayatra 2007, published by the NGO Federation of Nepal, November 2007.
"Nepal," Background article, Economist.com, March 18, 2008.
"New Nepal: New South Asia," http://www.ngofederation.org/news_events/janayatra07/index.htm
Photos: http://www.ngofederation.org/resources/photo_gellary/janayatra07/index.htm
NFN supports the Terai Movement
 In February to March 2007, the NFN gave its support for the Madhesi Movement--also called the Terai Movement. The Movement is named after the Madhesis, southern Nepalese who inhabit the Terai, a flat southern region of Nepal that is home to about half of the country's population.
The Madhesis complain of social discrimination and of being neglected by the Nepalese government. For over a year, protests had created havoc in the flat farmlands of the south-east and south-west, and claimed scores of lives. In mid-February 2008 strikes shut the south down and blocked fuel deliveries to the whole country, worsening shortages of kerosene, gas, petrol and diesel. On 28 February 2008, the government signed an accord with the Madhesis, promising, extravagantly, that all ethnic groups will be proportionately represented in all government organizations, including the army. The accord also pledged that the Madhesis will gain their own "autonomous region", thus decentralizing the country. These and other promises persuaded the Madhesi parties to join the fray for the elections for the constituent assembly slated in April this year. However, few Nepalis are pinning their hopes on the government's agreement with the Madhesis, and with another ethnic group. Some have even given warning of a new Kosovo in south Nepal.
In its campaign to support the Madhesi Movement, the NFN was particularly intent on ensuring that certain groups did not exploit the legitimate grievances of the Madhesis to wreak havoc in the Terai region. The NFN focused its efforts in areas in the Terai region that were most heavily affected by the Madhesi Movement, such as Biratnagar, Janakpur, Siraha, Sarlahi, Nepalgunj, and Birgunj. Likewise, the NFN's Eastern Region Resource Center in Biratnagar and the Regional and District Committee Members put up a parallel campaign in support of the Madhesi Movement, which consisted of staging dharna (sit-in) programs, and issuing press releases to clarify the issues involved.
Sources:
"Ballot box takes wing," The Economist, 6 March 2008.
"Madhesh," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhesh.
"Regional Resource Center of NFN and the Terai Agitation," NFN Activities," Proaction, Vol. 15, Issue 1, 2007, p. 37.
Photo:
http://demrepubnepal.blogspot.com/2006/04/madhesi-rights-total-equality.html
NFN holds "The People's SAARC"
 Prior to the start of the Janayatra 2007, the NFN had coordinated "The People's SAARC" (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation), together with some 40 civil society organizations.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on 8 December 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC is supposed to provide a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together, and aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States.
Unfortunately, the SAARC has been widely criticized for its failure to address the problems of people and to strengthen trade and economy in the sub-region. "The People's SAARC" is therefore an attempt to make the association more people-oriented, to hold the States more accountable to their citizens, and to promote "democratic politics" in South Asia--referring to "equality of opportunity; participation, delegation of power, recognition of the people's rights to struggle; and distribution of natural resources in an equitable manner, without discrimination on the basis of origins."
The People's SAARC program ran from 23-25 March 2007 at the Staff College, Jawalakhel in Kathmandu. Adopting the slogan "Strengthening South Asian People's Solidarity for Democracy, Justice, and Peace," the People's SAARC featured sessions and fora on a broad range of issues, such as (1) food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, and farmers' rights; (2) disability; (3) youth and politics; (4) children's rights; (5) women in politics; (6) Dalits and social inclusion; (7) natural resource management; (8) migration and internal refugees; and (9) human trafficking; among others.
The People's SAARC was inaugurated by the speaker of the legislative-parliament, Subhash Nemwang. He said that the active and broad-based participation of senior leaders and activists from all sectors is crucial in promoting people's democracy, peace, and social justice in the South Asian region.
The People's SAARC culminated in a rally on 25 March 2007, in which over 2,000 people from all over South Asia took part. Representatives from the political parties, social service organizations, government agencies, the business sector, the academe, and the media took part. During the mass assembly, the "People's Charter" was presented to leaders of the major political parties.
The NFN serves as the People's SAARC secretariat.
Sources:
Imagine a New Asia Campaign: Janayatra 2007, published by the NGO Federation of Nepal, November 2007.
"New Nepal: New South Asia," http://www.ngofederation.org/news_events/janayatra07/index.htm
"People's SAARC," NFN Activities, Proaction, Vol. 15, Issue 1, 2007, p. 31.
NFN good governance program goes into high gear
 In preparation for the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal, NFN's Institutional Good Governance Project launched several initiatives throughout 2007. These are as follows:
Institutional Good Governance Policy. Workshops were held in NFN's five Regional Resource Centers on separate dates in December 2007 to draft a policy that would facilitate the formulation of principles, values, policies, and procedures that would govern the NGO community in Nepal.
Training in Good Governance and Rights-Based Approach. Two NGO representatives (one male, and one female) from each of the country's 75 districts participated in a four-day training in good governance and rights-based approach. The participants were then deployed to conduct the same training in their respective districts.
NGO Bill and NGO Code of Conduct. On 26 March 2007, the current NGO Code of Conduct was reviewed by some 300 people, consisting of women, Janajati, Dalit, Madhesis and other marginalized groups in 63 districts of Nepal. The revised Code was thereafter circulated among NFN's alliance partners and other NGOs for comment. The same set of participants took part in discussions for the drafting of an NGO Bill. The NGO Bill Preparation Campaign will involve discussion sessions at district and regional levels, among representatives of NGOs and other non-NGO groups.
Source: "Reforming NGO Governance," NFN Activities, Proaction, Vol. 15, Issue 1, 2007, pp. 35-39.
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