Abstract
This research analyzes the factors that determine the placement of development NGOs in Nepal through the examination of the placement data of 39,606 NGOs. Using multivariate ordinary least squares, this investigation demonstrates that the location of an NGO is determined by: level of community needs, resource availability, and the level of political engagement. NGOs are in fact active where their support services are in high demand. However, the other two determinants: ‘resource dependency’ and ‘political engagement’ suggest that development outcomes may be limited due to placement concentration in areas of high human resource availability and high political activity.
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Source: Social Welfare Council (2014)
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Notes
The apex government body established to coordinate between social welfare-oriented institutions and organization.
NGOs register primarily at the District Administration Offices (DAO), district offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, to receive non-Nepali financial assistance, they need to register with the Social Welfare Council. NGOs cannot renew their registration if they secure foreign funding without the approval from SWC. Hence, it is safe to assume that any NGOs that receive foreign funding is on the list of SWC list.
For detailed discourse on NGOs and Civil Society in Nepal, see Bhatta (2012).
Nepal has 75 districts. Kathmandu Valley has three out of 75 districts—Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur.
Though this fund is channelled through District Development Committee, it should be expended as per the decision and direction made by concerned parliamentarians.
The problem is not very severe. Only a very small number of NGOs operate beyond the district where they register. For example, in 2014, only 655 (0.016% of total) NGOs received funding which enabled them to operate in additional two districts in average.
The mean variance inflation factor (VIF) for all independent variables used in regressions is 2.28.
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Acknowledgements
I thank my colleagues Austina Karma Gurung, Chris Oestereich, Istvan Rado, Stéphane P. Rousseau, Pearl Phaovisaid, Daniel McFarlane, and three anonymous reviewers for their valuable feedback in the earlier version of this work.
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Dipendra, K.C. Between Rhetoric and Action: Do NGOs Go Where They Are Needed?. Voluntas 30, 1197–1211 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-018-0024-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-018-0024-9