Miscellaneous
MoFALD lays down rules for NGO proposals
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has issued a directive to all district development committees (DDCs) to disapprove any proposal from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promoting a particular religion or related activity.The Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has issued a directive to all district development committees (DDCs) to disapprove any proposal from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promoting a particular religion or related activity.
As the government is working to formulate the working procedure for mobilisation of NGOs by local bodies, the Social Mobilisation and NGOs coordination division under the MoFALD on Monday directed all DDCs to engage NGOs in local development activities in an effective manner by making them accountable and transparent.
The directive states that approval or pre-agreement on the proposed proposals/projects will be done only by Local Development Officer (LDO).
In absence of an LDO, the acting LDO appointed by the ministry is responsible to approve the projects or programmes to be implemented by the NGOs in respective districts.
The new directive has also directed the Social Welfare Council to give pre-approval to plans and programmes of NGOs only after holding consultations with all the concerned stakeholders in the respective districts. During the consultation, the detailed information of village development committee or wards, selection of the beneficiaries and project activities should be discussed and agreed before issuing the pre-approval by the SWC, the letter sent to the DDCs mentions. It has further asked the DDCs to set up NGO desk and update the profiles of NGOs on regular basis.
Earlier in April, a ministerial level meeting of MoFALD had issued a seven-point directive to local bodies to ensure the effectiveness of NGOs working in the respective districts for local development.
The directive included that the council of local bodies was responsible to approve the activities of the NGOs for implementation. Local bodies, including DDCs in each district, were told to develop and update the profile of all NGOs working in their respective districts and not to partner with any NGO that fails to get its plans and programmes approved by the council.