National Consultation with Child-Related Stakeholders on Sustainable Development Goals
On September 9, 2024, the Nepal SDGs Forum and the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN) Lalitpur held a National Consultation with child-related stakeholders focusing on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and children. Moderated by Ms. Nanda Tamrakar, Secretary of NFN Lalitpur, the event was organized in collaboration with World Vision International Nepal and Consortium Nepal, which aimed to assess the status of children within the context of the SDGs and to identify ongoing challenges and gaps in achieving these goals.
The event was chaired by Mr. Narendra Dangol, President of NFN Lalitpur, with Mr. Ram Prasad Subedi, the NFN central president, serving as the chief guest. Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Singh, a former member of the National Planning Commission, was the special guest. Other notable guests included Mr. Arjun Bhattarai, NFN Secretary General, and Ms. Yusha Shakya, a child representative from Consortium Nepal. Approximately 60 participants attended the consultation program.
Mr. Narendra Dangol delivered the opening remarks, which emphasized the importance of such gatherings in addressing children's issues in Nepal related to the SDGs. In another session, Mr. Dipesh Ghimire, a researcher, presented findings on child-related SDG goals and indicators, outlining their current status. Following his presentation, participants engaged in discussion to reflect on the information shared and consider future actions.
Participants acknowledged the value of tracking SDG progress in the child sector but suggested that more issues impacting children, such as health and nutrition, should be addressed comprehensively. Mr. Arjun Bhattarai pointed out that there remains significant work to be done within the child sector, emphasizing that this research is a pilot conducted in only one municipality of Koshi Province, and that such efforts should expand to all seven provinces.
Dr. Sangeeta Singh noted that there has been satisfactory progress in the child sector, urging local ownership of plans and programs aimed at multi-sectoral development for children. In his closing remarks, Mr. Ram Prasad Subedi highlighted the need to focus on four key pillars of child development as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child: right to survival, protection, development, and participation. He stressed that these fundamental rights must be prioritized to establish a strong institutional framework for any child-focused interventions.
