NDWA organized a comprehensive orientation to Civil Service Organizations on July 13 and 14 on local planning process in Rautahat and Janakpur simultaneously. This activity was conducted by NDWA under the Civil Society Participation in Education (COPE) project funded by European Union with lead partner NCE Nepal and co lead partner GAN.

The orientation focused on the principles of planning and budget development. CSOs were provided orientation on how to plan budget following the seven steps of local level planning and budgeting. The orientation also emphasized on how inclusion and equity can be incorporated while planning for the budget focusing on people with disabilities. A group work was carried out at the last day of orientation regarding way forward on how CSOs can play a vital role while planning for the budget in their local levels.

Voice of the participants

“When selecting a plan, people’s representatives usually sit in a room and select a plan. When that happens, plans for our women and children with disabilities do not come. If the plan does not come and the budget is not allocated accordingly, we are falling further behind. Even when the plan is mobilized, they give it to organizations from their own pockets, which further deprives us of our rights, including marginalized groups, women, children with disabilities, and Dalit children.”

“This program has been effective and I feel that this program needs to be given to local level elected bodies and concerned departments.”