orientation on Local Level Planning and Budgeting

On February 16, 2018, SOCH Nepal organized an orientation program inviting 86 participants including Mayor, ward chiefs, ward members, and members of the Coalition (known as Sushan ko lagi Nagarik Samaj) of CA: MAP. on local level planning and Budgeting at Kageshwari Manohara Municipality in Kathmandu in collaboration with Kageshwari Manohara Municipality. The Mayor was the chief guest of the program. The Mayor highlighted on the importance of organizing the event before the planning and budgeting of the Municipality. Uttam Niraula, Project Coordinator of SOCH Nepal explained the aim of organizing the program.

Ganga Datta Awasthi (Ex.secretary of Nepal Government) facilitated the orientation on Planning Process and Budgeting. He briefly explained 7 steps of planning process, the way of making participatory planning process, and the effective way of prioritizing the demands/needs as recommendation of committees and the process of effective implementation of planning. Additionally, he explained the process of effective and efficient budgeting.  He further highlighted the importance of local revenue and resources for local level budgeting and expenditure. He emphasized that local government is capable of self-sustain in terms of tax collection and local development.

The program was followed by the session of Hari Bahadur Thapa, the Editor the Kantipur Daily Newspaper on Local Government Operation Act 2074. He briefly explained the Local Government Act, how it helps to operate local government.  The third session was delivered by Pranab Bhattarai of GoGo Foundation. He briefly explained about the Social Accountability Tools and its importance on promoting accountability transparency for promoting governance at local level.