APRIL - JUNE 2015

TRANSPARENCYINTERNATIONALNEPALcoalition against corruption

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CAPSULEMONTHLY NEWS BULLETIN

MAKING AID FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS TRANSPARENTTo ensure transparency and accountability in the aid/ donation that Nepal has received after the devastating earthquake, that struck on the 25th April 2015, TI-Nepal has started to track the flow of earthquake related aid to Nepal. Prior to this, opinions were solicited from the Hon. Finance Minister of Nepal and Transparency International (TI)Secretariat. Currently,Government portals, Financial Tracking Services of the UN and media reports are being used as sources.

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Cover Imagehttp://tracks.unhcr.org

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CAPSULE APRIL - JUNE 2015

Below are the updates on the aid tracking so far:MAKING AID FOR EARTHQUAKE .........

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE AID 2015 BY THE GOVERNMENT OF NEPAL(AS OF 2 JULY 2015)

RELIEF AID PLEDGED FOR NEPAL EARTHQUAKE 2015 BY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DONORS: (AS OF JULY 3, 2015 )

TOTAL = $4,079,101,062

The preliminary draft of the Constitution of Nepal 2071 was tabled to the CA on Tuesday on June 30th 2015. Therefore, to provide recommendations to the CA’s Constitution Drafting Committee, TI Nepal Executive Committee and general members held a discussion on 2nd July 2015. The discussion focused primarily on anti-corruption and integrity features in the various articles of the draft. Specifically, provisions laid out for constitutional bodies, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, and the Auditor General and Public Service Commission, were deliberated in detail. There was a consensus among the TI Nepal members that the draft had watered-down constitutional provisions in terms of the role and scope of the bodies, in comparison to the provisions in the current ‘Interim Constitution, 2063. Ambiguity on the constitutional provisions in relation to the Political parties and Judiciary were also observed. Whereas, provisions for internal democracy, transparency, and responsibility of the political parties were found to have been weakened.

The meeting culminated in the formation a list of suggestions to the Constituent Assembly in line with TI Nepal’s core values.

To assess and understand the issues associated with the distribution of immediate relief to the people affected by the recent earthquake, TI Nepal organized a help-desk cum on-the-site grievance collection center at the District Administration Office, Dhading on the 30th June 2015. The initiative was taken jointly with TIN affiliates, HRDMAN Dhading, a civil society organization based in Dhading. The event had the support of DAO officials and other volunteers.

Around 77 people came in contact with the center, mostly with grievances related to relief distribution. Most grievances were related to the cash and materials provided by the government and other organizations. At the end of the day, TIN team met the DAO officials to channel the main grievance of the people for necessary action. Local media covered the event.

GRIEVANCE COLLECTION - MOBILE ALAC

DELIBERATIONS ON THE CONSTITUTION OF NEPAL, 2072

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5,798,505,435

12,401,600,000

Received/ Deposits (NRS) Disbursed to Ministry of Home Affairs (NRS)

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Two conferences on Promoting Ethical Culture in business were organized by TI Nepal in Pokhara and Hetauda, in collaboration with Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI), and Makawanpur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI), on the 28th of June and the 17th of June 2015. Each of the workshop was attended by nearly 50 representatives from district chambers of commerce and industries of the region, associations, entrepreneurs, TIN and its affiliated organizations, senior government officials and Ncell P Ltd.

The ongoing trend of unhealthy competitive practices by the business community, policy and procedures related hassles that challenge business ethics, and ways in which local chambers and individual businesses can take up those challenges to promote ethical culture in the region were the major highlights of the discussion.

Further, the business community of the regions expressed mixed opinions on ‘ethical business’ practices within the region. The participants at both the conferences highlighted the necessity of policy reforms to facilitate business ethics, a strong political commitment, and broader reforms to promote business ethics.

PROMOTING BUSINESS ETHICS

A gathering of 15 organizations based in different districts and affiliated with TI Nepal took place in Sauraha, Chitwan on the 13 June 2015. The event focused on the trends observed in the different districts as a result of a targeted intervention since 2012 called the Advocacy and Legal Advice Center Development Pact (ALAC DP). TI Nepal encouraged better service delivery and accountability in targeted government institutions through the intervention. Members from affiliated organizations shared their perspectives on public grievances at the district level, integrity pledges made by government offices, media partnerships, community engagement, and advocacy initiatives at district based government offices. Overall, a positive trend was observed through the active cooperation between TI Nepal and affiliated organizations. The Management Association of Nepal shared an independent review of the ALACDP program. The TI Nepal President, select board portfolio holders, and secretariat staff attended the event.

PARTNERSHIP MEETING

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Partner organizations from 9 districts of Nepal, involved in the BNIN program, participated in a refresher-training program organized by TI Nepal in Kathmandu on the 24-25 June 2015.The event aimed to equip partner organization representatives with the knowledge and tools necessary to carryout BNIN activities at the district level. At the program, TIN officials and resource persons shared their perspectives on NGO management, The Good Governance and Right To Information act, mobile ALAC, media mobilization, research work, public service delivery, and peer facilitator training tools. A guest lecture on integrity and spirituality was part of the program that highlighted the importance of morality in promoting integrity. In addition, the program team carried out a discussion cum orientation on the BNIN program planning and reporting, along with administrative and financial matters. A total of 18 representatives from 9 districts, the TIN President and Portfolio holders, and staff were part of the event.

REFRESHER TRAINING IN KATHMANDU

On 14 June 2015, a TI Nepal team, lead by President Bharat Bahadur Thapa, visited Dhading, one of the districts of Nepal affected by the recent earthquake. Meetings were held with the officials of District Administration Office Dhading and HRDMAN, a TI Nepal Affiliate, to assess the post earthquake situation. A quick observation of the relief distribution system and the extent of the damages to private and public property were also made. Site visits to shelter camps and government schools were taken to listen to peoples’ grievances.The visit was in relation to TI Nepal’s initiative to make all forms of relief aid given to earthquake victims transparent and accountable.

OBSERVING EARTHQUAKE DAMAGES

Integrity, ethics, and good governance were reiterated in two regional conferences organized by TI Nepal at Nepalgunj, Banke and Lahan, Siraha on the 21st of May and the 2nd of June 2015. Local partners of TI Nepal's BNIN program, BAS Nepalgunj and CDC Siraha, co-hosted the conferences, where representatives from 4-5 districts and local stakeholders actively participated. Discussion on the Good Governance Act and an overview on the district and regional corruption related issues were the major highlights of the conferences. At both the conferences, representatives of the government as well as civil society organizations extended their full support of the initiatives carried outby TI-Nepal at the local level. TIN President Bharat Bahadur Thapa chaired the conferences.

REGIONAL CONFERENCES

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Officer Emojani Shrestha and former Intern Samrat Rayamajhi have been selected as TI Nepal exchange fellows to TI Indian and TI Bangladesh for the year 2015-16. Since 2009, TI Nepal leads the South Asian exchange program that allows TI South Asian Chapters to learn from peer chapters in the region. To date, 33 personnel have successfully completed fellowships.

Amina Waltham, from England, started her two-month internship at TI-Nepal on the 1st of June 2015. Amina, a fourth year undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University,USA, and is studying Economics and International Relations. While at TIN she will help develop proposals, provide assistance in the publishing process of documents, and develop an individual macro policy proposal for TI-Nepal.In the future, she is interested in working in development assistance and policy implementation.

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL NEPALP.O. Box 11486, Chakubaku Marg, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, NepalTel: +977 1 4475062, 4475112, 4475262 Fax: + 977 1 4475112Email: trans@tinepal.org Web: www.tinepal.org

TRANSPARENCYINTERNATIONALNEPALcoalition against corruption

INTERN

EXCHANGE FELLOWS

TI Nepal collaborated with the Cartoonist Club of Nepal to create a calendar for the Nepali New Year 2072 B.S. Prominent cartoonists have portrayed contemporary issues and tried to succinctly give messages against corruption. The calendars are in popular demand and being disseminated to NIS institutions and TI Nepal's network of 26 partner organizations.

TI NEPAL CARTOON CALENDAR

APRIL - JUNE 2015