Collaboration Meeting with CSOs and Development Partners
Consortium Nepal organized a collaboration meeting with civil society organizations and development partners on 14th Jan, 2026 to review ongoing activities, reflect on organizational milestones and discuss potential areas for future collaboration. The sessions were divided into two parts, the first with civil society organizations and the second with development partners. During both sessions, Consortium Nepal introduced the newly formed board and shared upcoming activities while also seeking commitments from CSOs and development actors for potential areas for collaboration.
The representatives from partner organization expressed their commitment to meaningfully engage with Consortium Nepal in its upcoming initiatives. They also recommended Consortium Nepal to closely monitor the instances of child abuse and inappropriate forms of child participation, particularly in the context of upcoming election. Participants also highlighted the changing narratives of child participation and emphasized on the need of organization to rethink and redefine its meaning in current socio-political context.
Participants also recommended to discourage the involvement of children in programs of political parties and stressed the importance of addressing cross-cutting issues collaboratively. There was a strong emphasis on inclusivity, especially ensuring the participation of marginalized and deprived children. One participant proposed joint research initiatives, particularly focusing on the socio-political participation of children, including both the use and misuse of children. The representatives from development partners also expressed their commitment to work on child participation. Recommendations were received to develop child participation framework and to engage in advocacy and campaigning initiatives.
Key Recommendations from the meeting include:
- Discourage the involvement of children in political party programs and activities
- Strengthen monitoring of child participation to prevent misuse and abuse, especially during and before elections
- Rethink and redefine the concept of child participation in the current socio-political context
- Promote inclusive participation by ensuring the engagement of marginalized and deprived children
- Collaborate with network organizations to work on cross cutting issues
- Initiate joint research activities related to children in partnership with Kathmandu University
- Strengthen advocacy and campaigning activities centered on child rights and participation
- Strengthen the Digital Resource Centre to support knowledge sharing and advocacy on child participation
- Ensure clear distinction between meaningful child participation and child usage or tokenism
- Update the Child Participation framework in line with changing contexts, including the 3Vs- Visibility, Value and Verifiability
- Facilitate physical and online consultations with candidates from all political parties to understand their positions on child participation and their commitments within election manifestos
- Build common consensus on the principles and standards of child participation
- Engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha through innovative and digital approaches
- Address and prevent pseudo or symbolic participation of children
- Establish linkages between Children and relevant ministries at federal, provincial and local levels especially during Children’s Day and similar platforms
- Utilize and promote digital advocacy tools to outreach and engagement of organization
- Ensure institutional clarity and organizational positioning on child participation
- Enhance liaison and coordination with government agencies
- Assess child participation through three dimensions: modes of participation, models of participation and degrees of participation
- Clarify whether child participation is treated as a means or an end or as a process or an objection.