Report on Conflict Sensitivity of Norwegian NGOs’ Development Assistance in Nepal

The Project
Norway has in recent years stepped up its efforts to be more aware and knowledgeable about how conflict affects development assistance and vice versa. The Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu has spearheaded the process by organising several seminars on conflict sensitivity. The review is part of the process and looks at Norway's support to Norwegian non-governmental organisations in Nepal with a special focus on conflict sensitivity. A large proportion of the development aid to Nepal is channeled through Norwegian organisations. For 2006, NOK 26.2 million was channeled to 11 organisations (including two umbrellas).

Interesting Findings
• The review concludes that the Maoist insurgency has compelled many development actors to rethink their strategies while addressing the underlying causes of poor governance, conflict, and a disappointing development record. Many Nepali organisations have revisited their development practices increasingly focusing on self-critical examinations of their missions, transparency and accountability. However, I(nternational)NGOs based outside Nepal have to a much lesser degree been held accountable to the public the way organisations working in Nepal have. A majority of the Norwegian organisations follow up their programmes and projects from a distance in Norway, although a few have hired their own project coordinators. The Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu has encouraged the organisations to be more sensitive to the root causes and dynamics of the conflict in order to increase the impact and synergies of the projects.
• The value-added of Norwegian organisations on conflict sensitivity was in some instances remarkable, but in general the Nepali partners were much better trained and aware of "do no harm" and other tools for conflict sensitive monitoring and implementation, than were their Norwegian counterparts.
• The findings suggest that just half of the organisations reviewed can be labelled "conflict sensitive" when using indicators such as existence of context analysis, project targeting causes of conflict, transparency, generating learning from the field and coordination.
• Good developing practices were seen as one of the most important indicators of conflict sensitivity in Nepal due to widely held mistrust of aid given by I/NGOs among people. While the majority of the Norwegian organisations seemed to have solid financial and administrative monitoring, a few had weak monitoring and evaluation mechanisms of their projects in Nepal.
• The review also found a lack of importance attached to ensuring that planning and budgeting are inclusive and participatory.
• Norwegian NGOs do not sufficiently coordinate or cooperate, either in the field or in Norway. There is a need for strong mechanisms to enforce such coordination and cooperation.