Project Abhaya holds orientation roundtable for NCC Co-Working Group

Kathmandu, July 2

Project Abhaya organised a one-day Orientation for its National Coordination Committee (NCC) Co-Working Group on Wednesday in Kathmandu. The roundtable marked the formal orientation of 21 NCC members, comprising three selected focal persons from each of Nepal’s provinces, ahead of the Co-Working Group’s nationwide implementation activities.

The Co-Working Group brought together representatives of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) to align on the project’s roadmap and establish coordination mechanisms for implementation across Nepal. Participants included 21 NCC provincial focal points and two experts in public finance and the legal sector, who served as facilitators.

Discussions focused on the project’s implementation roadmap, the governance structure of the Youth Fiscal Accountability Network (YFAN), the roles and responsibilities of provincial focal points, expectations for the research, dialogue, and advocacy phases, and coordination mechanisms to support consistent implementation across all seven provinces.

Participants explored the practical implementation of fiscal federalism in Nepal before working in provincial groups to identify key fiscal accountability challenges, priorities, and indicators of success for the coming year. A second technical session examined public auditing systems, financial reporting standards, and the role of oversight institutions in strengthening public financial accountability.

The Orientation Roundtable represents a key milestone for Project Abhaya, ensuring that NCC members and technical experts possess a shared understanding of the project’s objectives, governance structure, and operational protocols in advance of the research, dialogue, and advocacy phases to be undertaken under the Youth Fiscal Accountability Network (YFAN).

“Building accountable governance requires informed young leaders who understand how public finance works and how citizens can engage with it. This orientation was about creating a shared foundation for collaboration across all seven provinces,” said Ishika Panta, Founder and Chairperson of Project Abhaya.