Madhesh Province Forms the Provincial Child Friendly Local Governance Monitoring Committee

In a significant step towards improving child welfare and governance, Madhesh Province became the first in the country to establish a Provincial Child Friendly Local Governance (CFLG) Monitoring Committee. The committee was formed on 30th August under the coordination of Rajan Nepal, Secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, during a programme organised by the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Madhesh Province, in partnership with the National CFLG Forum, UNICEF, and World Vision International Nepal. The program brought together 40 representatives from various Provincial ministries, government agencies, development partners, local organisations, and child club/networks.

Loknath Paudel, Principal Secretary of Madhesh Province , highlighted the direct connection between child friendly local governance and the overall well being of children. He highlighted the necessity of policies that focus on real life situations children face, and calls for comprehensive approaches for child development and parental training. “We need to think about creating policies, implementing and looking into real situations while exploring ways to ensure youths are also contributing to this cause.” Calling upon the federal government, local governments and development partners to unite in prioritizing children’s welfare, he thanked the efforts put by all stakeholders for this milestone for Madhesh Province. Resham Kandel, Under Secretary of Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, elaborated on CFLG concept, providing the overview and stressing the importance of structured, multilevel monitoring committees. He noted that while Madhesh Province has taken this strong step in forming Provincial CFLG monitoring Committee, there is still considerable work to be done to address various prevalent issues such as Child Marriage and Child Labor. He also discussed the role and structure of Child Friendly Local Governance Municipal Level and Community based Committees. He also discussed the sustainability and potential for expanding the horizon of CFLG efforts.

Ashok Khanal, Coordinator of the National CFLG Forum, offered a broader perspective on the current situation and challenges of the CFLG campaign in Nepal. Khanal cited insufficient budgets, limited awareness among local authorities, and instances of forced CFLG declarations as major obstacles. He also highlighted the need for greater institutional and human capacity to implement CFLG effectively. He underscored the pivotal role of the Provincial CFLG Monitoring Committee in ensuring that child participation and well-being are given priority in governance structures. He outlined a detailed process for the committee’s monitoring activities, including report submissions and verification procedures.

Tilottam Paudel, Strategic Advisor of the National CFLG Forum and President of Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal, provided insights into the path forward for child-friendly local governance. Sharing his experience in child rights, he stressed the importance of having clear guidelines and strong institutional mechanisms, such as dedicated child welfare offices. Paudel advocated for starting with small yet actionable steps that could potentially lead to larger positive changes in the lives of children. Anita Dahal, from UNICEF advocated for the need of sustainability after the CFLG declaration process, stressing the role of Provincial Government in ensuring that the initiatives continue to be effective. Pramil Adhikari from World Vision International Nepal, discussed the challenges in implementing CFLG, particularly the digital barriers. He questioned why CFLG hasn’t been prioritized by local governments and pointed out the lack of integration between the Local Governance Self-Assessment (LESA) and CFLG, arguing that it should be viewed as part of good governance rather than just infrastructure.

Aasha Mahato from the Provincial Level Child Network emphasized the importance of child well-being. She shared her experiences as a network member, highlighting the challenges she faced and praising the province for its efforts in advancing child-friendly governance. She stressed on the role the Provincial government must play in order to ensure the child-friendly policies and approaches are taken in both provincial and local levels.

Concluding the event, Rajan Nepal, Secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, announced the formation of the Provincial CFLG Monitoring Committee for Madhesh Province in accordance with the CFLG Declaration Procedure, 2079. As the coordinator of the committee, Nepal emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve the objectives of child-friendly governance. This landmark achievement of Madhesh Province sets a precedent for other provinces to reinforce the commitment to ensure the child friendly policies and governance are integrated into the broader framework of governance in Nepal.

National Child Friendly Local Governance Forum was established in 2017, and has been advocating for child-friendly policies and facilitating collaboration among government bodies, civil society organizations, and international partners, aiming to create a supportive environment for children at the local level. The Secretariat of NCFLG Forum is in Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal. So far, 23 local governments and 69 wards have been declared child-friendly. Nepal has aimed to be considered as Child Friendly Nation by 2087 B.S., showcasing the commitment made towards integrating child welfare into governance structures of Nepal.