Project Overview

Funding Partner: CIVICUS Global Alliance
Duration: October 22, 2020 – Present
Geographic Coverage: All 7 Provinces of Nepal (Biratnagar, Bardibas, Chitwan, Pokhara, Butwal, Surkhet, Dhangadhi, and Kathmandu)

Context & Rationale

Article 17 of the Constitution of Nepal secures fundamental civic freedoms including the freedom of opinion, assembly, and the right to form unions and associations. However, provisions in subnational legislations like the Local Government Operation Act 2017 posed potential risks of restricting civil society operations.

Major Results & Milestones

• Convened 8 major multi-stakeholder dialogues across all 7 provinces and a national synthesis convention in Kathmandu with 361 key leaders.
• Mobilized high-level participation from former lawmakers, federal/provincial MPs, former Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel, and municipal mayors.
• Endorsed the landmark 15-Point National Declaration on Civic Space, articulating commitments from government and CSO leaders to foster a congenial civic ecology.
• Published provincial review papers assessing the legislative environment for CSOs across all provincial jurisdictions.