Project Description

NFN designed its project in response to growing pressures on civil society in Nepal, including shrinking civic space, increasing accountability requirements, declining international funding, and the need to modernise organisational systems. The underlying assumption was that effective external advocacy depends on strong internal governance, clear institutional direction, and meaningful engagement with members.

The project therefore focused on three complementary objectives: developing key governance and management frameworks, strengthening the capacities of central, provincial, and district representatives, and initiating the digitisation of NFN’s membership and knowledge management systems.

A defining feature of the project was its participatory methodology. More than 250 stakeholders—including board members, staff, provincial and district committees, member organisations, government representatives, development partners, and civil society leaders—contributed through surveys, workshops, interviews, and consultations. The process produced six major institutional documents:

• NFN Strategy 2030

• Members and Stakeholders Engagement Plan

• CSO Code of Conduct

• MEAL Framework

• Fundraising Strategy

• Digitalisation and Knowledge Management Guidelines

Beyond producing these documents, the consultation process itself became an organisational learning exercise. Participants reported feeling "valued and heard for the first time" during policy formulation, while board members developed a deeper understanding of members' priorities across Nepal.

The project also initiated NFN’s digital transformation by strengthening website management, organising institutional knowledge into central repositories, planning a comprehensive member database, and investing in digital infrastructure to improve communication and organisational memory.