CIVIL SOCIETY IN NEPAL: SEARCHING FOR A VIABLE ROLE CIVICUS CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX REPORT FOR NEPAL 2006 Dev Raj Dahal and Tatwa P. Timsina INSTITUTE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...............................................................................................................................................1 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES .................................................................................................................................2 FOREWORD...............................................................................................................................................................4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS...............................................................................................................................................5 LIST OF ACRONYMS..................................................................................................................................................6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................................11 I. CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX PROJECT AND APPROACH ................................................................................13 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND ..........................................................................................................................13 2. PROJECT APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................14 II. CIVIL SOCIETY IN NEPAL...........................................................................................................................19 1. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ..........................................................................................................................19 2. CONCEPT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN NEPAL....................................................................................................20 3. MAPPING CIVIL SOCIETY IN NEPAL.........................................................................................................21 III. ANALYSIS OF CIVIL SOCIETY..................................................................................................................23 1. STRUCTURE.............................................................................................................................................23 1.1. Breadth of citizen participation in civil society ..........................................................................23 1.2. Depth of citizen participation......................................................................................................26 1.3. Diversity of civil society participants .........................................................................................27 1.4. Level of organisation ..................................................................................................................29 1.5. Inter-relations within civil society ..............................................................................................32 1.6. Civil society resources ................................................................................................................34 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................35 2. Environment...........................................................................................................................................36 2.1. Political context ..........................................................................................................................36 2.2. Basic rights and freedoms...........................................................................................................40 2.3. Socio-economic context..............................................................................................................42 2.4. Socio-cultural context .................................................................................................................43 2.5. Legal environment ......................................................................................................................46 2.6. State – civil society relations ......................................................................................................47 2.7. Private sector – civil society relations.........................................................................................50 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................51 3. Values.....................................................................................................................................................53 3.1. Democracy..................................................................................................................................53 3.2. Transparency...............................................................................................................................55 3.3. Tolerance ....................................................................................................................................56 3.4. Non-violence...............................................................................................................................57 3.5. Gender equity..............................................................................................................................58 3.6. Poverty eradication .....................................................................................................................60 3.7. Environmental sustainability.......................................................................................................61 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................61 4. Impact.....................................................................................................................................................63 4.1. Influencing public policy ............................................................................................................63 4.2. Holding the state and private corporations accountable .............................................................65 4.3. Responding to social interests.....................................................................................................66 4.4. Empowering citizens...................................................................................................................67 4.5. Meeting societal needs................................................................................................................71 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................................72 IV. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF NEPALESE CIVIL SOCIETY.....................................................73 V. RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................................................................................................75 VI. CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS..............................................................................................................76 LIST OF ANNEXES...................................................................................................................................................78 BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................................................................................................................................97 2 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Tables Table I.1.1: Countries participating in the CSI implementation phase 2003-2005................................13 Table III.1.1: Indicators assessing the extent of citizen participation....................................................24 Table III.1.2: Percentage of citizens involved in CSOs.........................................................................25 Table III.1.3: Indicators assessing depth of citizen participation...........................................................26 Table III.1.4: Charitable giving..............................................................................................................27 Table III.1.5: Indicators assessing diversity of civil society participants ..............................................27 Table III.1.6: CSO membership.............................................................................................................27 Table III.1.7: Participation of social groups as leaders of civil society .................................................28 Table III.1.8 Geographical distribution of civil society.........................................................................28 Table III.1.9: Distribution of NGOs by region ......................................................................................29 Table III.1.10 Indicators assessing level of organisation.......................................................................29 Table III.1.11 Representation of CSOs in federation.............................................................................30