Civil Society: Mutual Accountability Project Annual Work Plan (Year 5)

The project aims to foster a more legitimate, accountable, and resilient Nepali civil society capable of advancing the public interest. To achieve this goal, CS:MAP focuses on four objectives, incorporating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) across project activities. The first objective is to strengthen the enabling environment for civil society and media. This involves improving the legal and regulatory framework for civil society organizations (CSOs) and promoting a culture of transparency and accountability. The second objective is to enhance the capacity of civil society and media to engage in effective policy advocacy and government engagement. This includes providing training and technical assistance to CSOs and media outlets to improve their advocacy skills and ability to engage with government officials. The third objective is to promote more coordinated and effective civil society and media oversight of public resource use and public service delivery. This involves supporting CSOs and media outlets to monitor and report on government performance and promote transparency and accountability in public resource use. The fourth objective is to strengthen the organizational capacity and sustainability of selected CSOs working in USAID priority sectors to advance local solutions. CS:MAP-Human Rights Strengthening (CS:MAP-HRS) is a supplement to CS:MAP, implemented for one year within the CS:MAP timeframe. The project aims to improve the enforcement of fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal. This involves assessing the government's implementation of human rights commitments and human rights laws mandated by the Constitution and building the capacity of CSOs to monitor and report on them. The transition to federalism in Nepal has presented several challenges, including the need for effective coordination and cooperation between governments at different levels. The lack of human resources at the provincial and local levels has exacerbated these challenges, leading to misunderstandings and controversy over the scope of provincial and local security-related authority, the convening of Public Service Commission examinations, and the need for harmony among federal, provincial, and local-level laws and policies. The left-leaning coalition that came into power following the 2017 elections had the reputation of supporting non-governmental or civil society activism to address human rights abuses and promote gender equality and social inclusion. However, there was minimal consultation with the civil society and media sectors in the drafting of laws and policies related to freedom of association, freedom of expression, and press freedom. Provisions within draft laws and policies were often found to be control-oriented rather than facilitatory, and failed to align with constitutional provisions or international standards. To address these challenges, CS:MAP and CS:MAP-HRS will work to strengthen the enabling environment for civil society and media, enhance the capacity of civil society and media to engage in effective policy advocacy and government engagement, promote more coordinated and effective civil society and media oversight of public resource use and public service delivery, and strengthen the organizational capacity and sustainability of selected CSOs working in USAID priority sectors to advance local solutions.