Kathmandu: The two-day National Civil Society Conference-2081 BS, organized by the NGO Federation of Nepal, concluded with the election of a new leadership headed by Arjun Kumar Bhattarai as the President. The event, held in conjunction with the Federation’s 11th General Convention and 30th Annual General Meeting, witnessed the participation of 900 attendees, including representatives from civil society organizations across the nation.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the newly elected leadership team consists of 51 members, with key positions filled by Nani Maya Thapa as the Senior Vice President, Rajendra Sharma and Sanjay Lamsal as Vice Chairs, and Devi Khadka as the General Secretary, among others. The executive committee also includes a diverse representation of provincial leaders.
In an interview with RSS, President Bhattarai expressed his commitment to leveraging his three-year term to elevate the Federation’s role in advocating for civic rights. Acknowledging the financial challenges faced by civil society organizations due to recent USAID funding cuts, Bhattarai emphasized the importance of exploring internal resource management focused on production, productivity, and entrepreneurship to ensure the sustainability of CSOs.
The new leadership aims to prioritize strengthening human rights, safeguarding the Constitution, supporting government efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and addressing legal challenges in CSO registration. Bhattarai stated, “We have assessed social and economic justice as one of our key agenda, ensuring that the Federation remains both a watchdog and a partner to the government.”
Nani Maya Thapa, the newly elected Senior Vice President, highlighted her dedication to fostering inclusive and participatory roles within CSOs. With over three decades of experience in the civic movement, Thapa has encountered challenges within male-dominated social structures. She stressed the need to dismantle the perception that leadership roles are predominantly male and advocated for increasing women’s participation in CSOs beyond the mandatory 33 percent representation.
Thapa expressed her vision of transforming CSOs into model institutions of inclusion and social justice, with proportional representation of all genders at decision-making levels. She emphasized, “The mandatory 33 percent is the take-off point for women’s representation but not the destination, as it is largely perceived.”