9/23/15 The Himalayan Times: EDITORIAL: Transparency needed

The Himalayan Times > Opinion > EDITORIAL: Transparency needed

EDITORIAL: Transparency needed

Published: September 23, 2015 2:20

The Himalayan Times

Some INGOs show their operations on the ground though they have re-granted the funds to the local NGOS, which means a wasteful increase in overhead costs

The assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation that had been promised has not reached the victims or their families yet. Many affected people, as well as unaffected, received some essentials for immediate needs, such as food and tarpaulin sheets, and Rs. 15 000 as initial installment of the pledged two lakh rupees for people whose houses had been destroyed or rendered unlivable. The government’s very strict criteria for eligibility for such a grant and soft loan for reconstruction of the destroyed houses should not be criticized to the extent they prevent unaffected people from taking advantage of the benefits. But on certain points, the criteria have been so strict that even many genuine victims have been disqualified from such benefits. The questions of how much of the generous donations raised round the world, including those from the Nepali diaspora, have been spent, and how, should naturally interest not only those who contributed but others as well, including general Nepali citizens. Rs. 475 million was raised through UN appeals.

A large part of the donations raised outside Nepal were reported to be channeled through international humanitarian organizations. Allegations have been increasing that such agencies have tended to inflate the costs while doing nothing or not much on the ground, including from Ben Smilowitz, founder and executive direrctor of the Disaster Accountability Project, a US-based charity watchdog. Soon after the devastating earthquake, the government said it would control the flow of international aid by requiring the foreign non-governmental organizations to work with local partners. The government wanted the donations to flow through the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund, but many international organizations insisted that they should spend the money through their channels. These organizations leave much to be desired as far as the transparency about the utilization of the donations is concerned. Smilowitz stressed the need for more honesty and accountability on the part of such organizations.

Sixteen of the world largest disaster relief agencies have revealed to the Thomson Reuters Foundation that they are spending up to one-sixth of the donations meant for Nepal on overheads despite the fact that they are using local partners. But local involvement is usually expected to involve less overhead costs. According to the survey, during the first three months of the quake, some NGOs had spent just a very small part of the funds for the benefit of the victims or their families. Some INGOs show their operations on the ground though they have re-granted the funds to the local NGOS, which means a wasteful increase in overhead costs. Aid effectiveness has been a perennial issue in Nepal, because a large part of it often does not go to the target groups. Those who sincerely help those in need in Nepal should be appreciated. But the foreign agencies and their local NGOS should also be kept under the scanner for another purpose. A number of them make their presence in Nepal to propagate other agendas which may go against the policies and priorities of the Nepal government and the interests of Nepal and Nepalis.