Nirmal Adhikari/Indra Adhikari
12 December 2007

NRCS Central Executive Committee (CEC) members interacted on the preparation of the Fifth Development Plan (2008-2010). NRCS is developing a Fifth Development Plan (2008-2010). Meanwhile, a series of meetings have held at different levels to discuss on the current issues and priorities for the strategic plan.

“In the preparation of all level of leadership, volunteers, and experts from the desk to the community, we are in the process of the Fifth Development Plan, let’s make it a success,” said NRCS Chairman Sanjeev Thapa opening the workshop.

NRCS First Development Plan was started in 1984 although sectoral plan like disaster management plan was initiated from the seventies.

The one day workshop was participated by 28 CEC members and 10 senior managers shared their experiences of implementing previous development plan which eventually identified strategic directions and priorities of NRCS for the years to come. All participants emphasized that the Fifth Development Plan should consider the changing socio-political context of the local community and need for designing programmes.

“NRCS started planning culture with a disaster plan in 1970s,” said Secretary General Dev Ratna Dhakhwa in the meeting. He revisited NRCS history up to 1975 and focused on the changes in the global and the national context. He presented how the concepts of the Federation of the Future, regional strategies, global priorities and operation alliance be integrated in the Fifth Development Plan. He also made possible links between the Fifth Development Plan and the CAS 2008-210 that would be developed in line with the plan.

Prof. Dr. Parthibeshwar Timilsina, facilitator for the plan process, reviewed the achievements of the Fourth Plan and briefed the gaps and needs identified through the consultative process among senior managers.

Regarding the rationale of the strategic plan, Dr. Timilsina said, “Plan is needed for the NRCS to deliver timely services, to provide service to the heterogeneous beneficiary groups and to keep programs in to tracks.” He also presented on how the NRCS plan could contribute to the National Plan.

Sharing past experiences, Ramesh Kumar Sharma, former NRCS chairman pointed out the need of making case studies to show achievements of the development plans.

“This is the time to review the extension of the sub chapters,” said Aziz Syed, ICRC Cooperation Delegate in Kathmandu. Mr. Syed stressed on the problems in mobilizing sub chapters because of the limitation of their resources and organizational territory. Andrea Reisinger, Federation representative in Nepal also participated in the workshop.