KATHMANDU, Jan 4: The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has developed and implemented an online database system for international non-governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations (I/NGOs) involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation to submit their progress reports.
The NRA has asked all the 145 I/NGOs involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation activities in the earthquake-hit districts for the past several months to upload their progress reports into the database on their own by January 5.
Bhishma Kumar Bhusal, acting spokesperson of the NRA, said that the NRA came up with the online database system as majority of the I/NGOs did not submit their progress reports to the NRA on a regular basis.
NRA's online monitoring system to keep track of I/NGOs
“As majority of I/NGOs did not submit their progress reports regularly, it was very difficult for us to keep track of their activities. So, to ensure transparency in the activities of the I/NGOs, we have developed the online database for instant updates,” he said, adding, the NRA has already asked all the I/NGOs to come to the NRA to collect their login IDs and passwords and start uploading information about their reconstruction activities into the database as soon as possible.
He said that the NRA has asked them to upload all their information by January 5.
“But lately many I/NGOs have been requesting extension of the deadline stating that they may not been able to upload all their information by January 5 due to Christmas and New Year holidays. We may extend it,” he added.
He said that the NRA launched the database on December 30 and since then, only 40 I/NGOs have uploaded their information into the database.
“The database will contain all particulars of I/NGOs projects and programs, including the project costs and timeframe for project execution. Once all the I/NGOs upload their information, it will be really easy to track their activities and recommend necessary actions to make sure that the projects are completed on time,” he added.
He said that the NRA will also make surprise visits to I/NGOs project sites and see if the implementation status mentioned in the database is found to be wrong. “And if the ground reality does not match with the status mentioned into the database, the NRA can take legal action. We are confident that the database will be helpful in ensuring transparency in I/NGOs activities and also mounting pressure on them to complete their work on time,” he added.
