INTRODUCTION OF ORGANIZERS:
UCLG ASPAC
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) represents and defends the interests of local governments on the world stage, regardless of the size of the communities they serve. The Headquarter of UCLG World is located in Barcelona and the Headquarter of UCLG Asia Pacific (ASPAC) is in Jakarta, Indonesia. The mission of the organization is;
to be the united voice and world advocate of democratic local self-government, promoting its values, objectives and interests, through cooperation between local governments, and within the wider international community.
• Present in 127 of the 191 UN members states in seven world regions, UCLG’s members include individual cities and national associations of local governments, which represent all the cities and local governments in a single country.
• Over 1000 cities across 95 countries are direct members of UCLG.
• 112 Local Government Associations (LGAs) are members of UCLG, representing almost every existing LGA in the world. Europe boasts the largest number of LGAs, which represent around 80% of the total European population.
United Cities and Local Governments has a decentralized structure with 7 Regional Sections in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Euro-Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and West Asia, North America and a Metropolitan section. These Regional and Metropolitan Sections are independent legal entitles which conduct their own regional activates.
ADDCN
The Association of District Development Committees of Nepal (ADDCN) is a representative institution of all seventy-five (75) DDCs in Nepal. It was founded in 1995 under the National Directives Act, 1961. It has a council, an executive committee and a secretariat with 8 different professional units. The objectives of ADDCN are to promote Democracy, Decentralization, Development and District Government (4Ds), disseminate and keep both the government and policy bodies including parliament informed on district development initiatives and DDC activities; facilitate the process of sustained development at district levels based on people’s participation; strengthen the capabilities of DDCs through information, advisory, training, technical and professional supports and services; and provide forums to DDC and other stakeholders to promote democratic, inclusive and autonomous local governance. The ADDCN has been contributing in the capacity of Co-President in UCLG ASPAC since 2006 by 2010 June.
MuAN
Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) is the representative organization of all 58 municipalities of Nepal. After the local election in 1992, a concrete effort was made to bring all municipalities of Nepal under a single banner by establishing an association of municipalities. Throughout 1994 to 1996, MuAN merely played advocacy role to influence the central government on some legal issues. Since 1997 onward the role and function of MuAN have been expanded in the areas of promoting international relations and providing technical advice and counseling to member municipalities. The MuAN as an organization which is capable to work for overall development and common interest of municipal governments in the spirit of decentralization and local good governance. It is a council member of UCLG ASPAC.
NAVIN
The National Association of Village Development Committees in Nepal (NAVIN) is the umbrella or representative organization of all 3915 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Nepal. It was established in 1995 under the national directive act, 2018 BS by the approval of cabinet. From the very inception it has been working in two outputs area such as advocacy and lobby of national policy; and the strengthen capacity of member VDCs by providing training and orientation for effective and timely service delivery at local level. By now, NAVIN has not got membership of UCLG ASPAC. However, recently NAVIN has decided to get membership of UCLG ASPAC.
KATHAMANDU METROPOLIS
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is the capital and largest city of Nepal. It is only one metropolitan city in Nepal out of the 58 municipalities in Nepal. It is the cosmopolitan heart of the Himalayan Region. It is the gateway to Nepal. It has a glorious history going back two thousand years, and a refined culture that ranks among the highest in Asia. It is also a modern financial and business hub, exotic tourist destination, and a sacred goal for pilgrims. Kathmandu is situated in a bowl shaped valley in central Nepal. The entire terrain is like a steep incline, descending from the icy Himalayan heights to the hot Terai flatland within a short distance.
STEERING COMMITTEE
With a view to make Annual Seminar and UCLG-ASPAC Executive and Bureau Meeting more effective which is going to be held on 28-31 April 2009 in Kathmandu, a steering committee comprising 11 members is formed as follows.
1. Mr. Krishna Prasad Jaishi Coordinator (ADDCN) 2. Mr. Jeevan Bahadur Shahi Member (ADDCN) 3. Mr. Ashok Benju Member (MuAN) 4. Mr. Dhrub Wagle Member (MuAN) 5. Mr. Bhim Dhungana Member (NAVIN) 6. Mr. Nawaraj Gelal Member (NAVIN) 7. Mr. Narayan Gopal Malego Member (Kathmadu Metropolitan City) 8. Mr. Shankarraj Kandel Member (Kathmadu Metropolitan City) 9. Mr. Ramesh Shrestha Member (MuAN) 10. Mr. Saroj Nepal Member (NAVIN) 11. Mr. Hem Raj Lamichhane Member Secretary (ADDCN)