PAF said such a law was necessary also to end long-running hostility held by local development authorities against communities for leading development at the grassroots level.[break]
“Nepal´s success with community-led development is appreciated world over for its result-oriented performance and empowerment of democracy at the level. However, the government´s local development agency takes local communities´ endeavors for development as moves that take away chunk of their budget,” said PAF Vice Chairman Vidhyadhar Mallik.
Interacting with the press on Friday, Mallik expressed grievances over local government agencies disowning PAF programs and not extending basic services to communities for whom it has been implementing targeted poverty reduction programs.
“They argue that PAF is not necessary. Reality is that PAF came into being because the government realized that existing state-machinery proved ineffective in implementing targeted poverty reduction program,” Mallik said. He even disclosed that the government agencies were not providing health and veterinary related services to community organizations just because they formed under the aegis of PAF.
“Sadly, this non-cooperation due to differences over whether public agency or community should lead the development is hurting poor people. This is injustice and must end,” said Mallik, stressing the need to recognize community organizations and user groups as unit level institutions of local governance system.
While the enactment of law that recognizes legal status and autonomy of community organizations and user groups will enable communities function independently, Mallik said it would also help immensely in PAF´s exit strategy. He also disclosed that the World Bank (WB), the principle donor, has decided to provide additional financial assistance of $75 million to PAF to extend its programs in 15 new districts.
However, as $ 27.5 million of that assistance came in the form of soft loans, he said the government has already requested the WB to convert it into grant.
Dr Gayatri Acharya, task team leader of PAF in the WB, too said that WB Nepal office was already undertaking necessary processing to adjust grant pledged for Roads Sector Development Project for PAF.
“It will not impact the net volume of grant and loans that Nepal will receive. But the WB board will still needs to decide on the request of the government,” she said.
PAF, GIZ join hands
Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) Nepal and German International Cooperation (GIZ) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to work together against poverty in common working districts and municipalities of Nepal.
As per the MoU, PAF and three GIZ-assisted programs -- Inclusive Development of the Economy, Improvement of Livelihoods in Rural Areas Project and Sub-National Governance Program -- would collaborate to improve and strengthen pro-poor governance and facilitate local level planning to articulate the voice of the poor.
"This alliance will help realize our common objective of poverty alleviation, local governance, social inclusion, job creation, livelihood improvement of the rural poor and address the root cause of conflicts in Nepal," said Dr Thomas Labahn, country director of GIZ.
PAF is currently working in 40 poorest districts, while GIZ-supported programs cover 13 districts and 21 municipalities across the country.
"This is a strategic partnership between PAF and GIZ to establish synergies in poverty alleviation efforts and to ensure increased opportunities for the poor and disadvantaged population," said Raj Babu Shrestha, PAF executive director.
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