KATHMANDU, April 27: All the offices of Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) across the country remain shut for the past ten days, after the regional office of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) suspended grants to FPAN.
FPAN, a leading national NGO working in the field of sexual and reproductive health, meets its administrative expenses through IPPF grant. [break]
All the services of FPAN have also been halted after the closure of its offices. FPAN has 40 offices across the country and has 25-30 percent contribution in national family planning programs.
The Asian regional office of IPPF at New Delhi had suspended annual grant to FPAN in February accusing irregularities. The regional office as a precondition for releasing the funds has asked FPAN to dissolve all central and section committees. IPPF member organizations must abide by IPPF regulations.
Responding to IPPF instruction, FPAN had organized a two-day special meeting in Pokhara 17 days ago to dissolve the committees,” Udaya Khanal, the chairman of Nepal National Employee Union at FPAN, said.
He said IPPF had instructed FPAN to dissolve all the committees and form an interim committee for one year. Same individuals have remained members of the central board and the committees for the past 15 years. Although the members do not receive any salaries, they are entitled to various facilities and foreign trips. The IPPF issues accreditations to member organizations every five years.
“The accreditation team which visited Nepal last December found irregularities in FPAN and instructed to change the board members immediately, but they did not follow the instruction,” he said. He said the regional office of IPPF in New Delhi is going holding its review meeting on May 5, 6 and 7 and the meeting is likely to cancel its accreditation to FPAN.
Khanal said the union had shut down its offices in an attempt to save the organization from dissolution. “We are seeking assistance from the government to settle the problem,” he said adding, “If we fail to meet IPPF condition, FPAN will be shut forever.” Khanal added.
He claimed that FPAN staffers have not received their salary for the past one month. “We have been told that we will not get our salary if the IPPF grant stops,” he added. The IPPF has member organizations in 170 countries.