Only one in six of Nepal’s nearly 60,000 registered NGOs remains active, while just 136 of 250 INGOs operate with projects, a parliamentary panel learned amid scrutiny of rights groups.
Only about 10,000 of the nearly 60,000 non-governmental organisations registered in Nepal are currently active, while just 136 of the approximately 250 international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) that have ever worked in the country remain operational with active projects. These stark figures were presented to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, underscoring long-standing concerns about the scale, oversight and effectiveness of Nepal’s sprawling civil society sector.
Social Welfare Council (SWC) Member Secretary Chakra Budha (also referred to as Chakrabahadur Budha), who is also a joint secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, shared the data during a meeting of the House of Representatives’ Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee. The discussion focused on the legal status of several international human rights organisations following a joint statement by Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) regarding alleged pressure on Supreme Court justices.
Massive Registration Numbers Mask Inactivity
According to Budha, roughly 60,000 NGOs have affiliated with the SWC over the years. Of these, only around 10,000 are active. On the international side, records show about 250 INGOs have received approval to work in Nepal at some point, yet only 136 currently implement projects.
These SWC affiliation numbers are cumulative: they count every organisation that has ever registered rather than those that continue to operate or renew. Independent analysis has highlighted the gap. One detailed 2026 study examining District Administration Office (DAO) renewals estimated approximately 25,760 active NGOs by the end of fiscal year, with thousands more newly registered that year. The same research found that the bulk of SWC-affiliated groups never renewed their affiliation, and only a fraction remain active in practice.
Nepal’s NGO sector expanded rapidly after the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990. From a few hundred organisations, the number of registered NGOs climbed past 22,000 by 2000 and has since exceeded 50,000 according to successive SWC figures. Including cooperatives, community-based groups and other associations, the broader civil society landscape is even larger. Many organisations deliver services in health, education, women’s empowerment, disaster response and remote areas where state reach is limited. Yet audits and studies have repeatedly shown that a large share are dormant, minimally active or operate more like family outfits than professional entities.
Status of Key International Rights Groups
The committee meeting examined the registration status of the three organisations that issued the joint statement. Budha informed lawmakers that Amnesty International is currently in the process of renewing its registration. The ICJ holds a valid registration until 2027 after renewing its agreement in 2022; it has operated in Nepal since 2009. HRW received approval in fiscal year 2007/08 but has not renewed or obtained fresh approval since then.
Additional details shared in related coverage noted that Amnesty International Nepal’s affiliation remains valid until the end of 2027 and that it has an approved human rights campaign and advocacy project for 2026 with a budget of more than Rs 5.15 crore.
Regulatory Framework Under Strain
Nepal’s regulatory system for civil society is fragmented. Most domestic NGOs must register with a District Administration Office under the Associations Registration Act. Affiliation with the SWC is required for those seeking foreign funding or engaging in certain social welfare activities under the Social Welfare Act of 1992. INGOs typically need a general agreement and project-specific approvals from the SWC, often with a minimum annual expenditure threshold.
Overlapping requirements from DAOs, the SWC, local governments, tax authorities and other bodies create bureaucratic burdens. Annual renewals, audits and case-by-case approvals for foreign funds are standard. Critics argue the 1992 Social Welfare Act is outdated and fails to distinguish adequately between different types of organisations, from small community groups to large professional NGOs. Proposals to consolidate laws – including a draft Association Act discussed in recent years – have faced delays and debate over whether regulation should prioritise facilitation or tighter control.
Funding patterns compound the challenges. Only a relatively small number of NGOs – hundreds rather than thousands – regularly access foreign grants. INGOs and larger domestic groups have brought in substantial aid over the years, but donor fatigue, the winding down of post-2015 earthquake recovery programmes, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recent aid reductions have led some international organisations to scale back or exit.
Implications for Oversight and Reform
The disparity between registered and active organisations raises practical questions about monitoring, accountability and the efficient use of resources. The SWC is tasked with regulation, facilitation and promotion of the sector, yet its capacity to oversee tens of thousands of entities is limited. Past audits have flagged misuse of funds and defunct groups among those reviewed.
Civil society plays a visible role in Nepal’s development and democratic life; many local elected officials have NGO backgrounds. At the same time, public perception sometimes views the sector through a lens of opaque funding and limited downward accountability to communities. Strengthening data systems so that affiliation figures better reflect operational reality, simplifying compliance for genuine grassroots groups, and updating legislation to match federal structures and contemporary needs are recurring recommendations from analysts and practitioners.
The parliamentary committee’s hearing comes at a moment when questions about the legal standing and activities of international rights organisations have drawn attention. The figures presented by the Social Welfare Council provide a clear snapshot: Nepal has an exceptionally large number of registered NGOs and INGOs on paper, but a far smaller number that remain active and implementing work. Bridging that gap – through better regulation, realistic counting and supportive policy – will shape how effectively civil society continues to contribute to the country’s social and development goals.
