60,000 NGOs registered in Nepal, but only 10,000 remain active

Kathmandu / Aug 5: Despite having nearly 60,000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (SWC), Nepal has only around 10,000 active organisations currently operating, highlighting a significant gap between registration and actual engagement in the sector.

The revelation was made by SWC Member Secretary and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security Chakra Bahadur Budha during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee on Wednesday.

According to Budha, while around 60,000 NGOs have been registered with the Council over the years, a large majority have become inactive. Similarly, among nearly 250 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) that have received approval to work in Nepal, only 136 are currently implementing active projects.

Providing details about the activities of international organisations, Budha said the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) began its work in Nepal in 2009, with its latest agreement renewed on February 25, 2022, for a five-year period. The organisation has been contributing to areas such as transitional justice, human rights, Supreme Court precedents, and the legal rights of victims.

He further informed the committee that the ICJ has proposed a new project titled ‘ENABLE’, which focuses on promoting the rights of women and girls with disabilities. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the ministry’s facilitation committee.

Budha also stated that Amnesty International Nepal has been affiliated with the SWC since 2062 BS, with its current affiliation remaining valid until mid-July 2026.

According to SWC records, Amnesty International Nepal has received approval for a human rights campaign and advocacy project worth Rs 51.54 million for 2026. The funding required for the project will be provided by Amnesty’s international secretariat based in London, he added.