NGO Registration in Nepal: Setting Up a Non-Profit

A non-governmental organisation in Nepal is registered as an association under the Association Registration Act, not as a company. The process is straightforward once you understand which office does what, and the order they expect you to arrive in.

Registration at the District Administration Office

An NGO begins life at the District Administration Office (DAO) of the district where it will be based. You submit the constitution of the organisation, the details of the founding members (a minimum of seven is usual), and the proposed objectives. The DAO issues the registration certificate, and the organisation must renew it each year.

Affiliation with the Social Welfare Council

To work on social-development projects, receive foreign funding, or partner with INGOs, an NGO affiliates with the Social Welfare Council (SWC). This is a separate step from DAO registration and is what most donors will ask to see. Projects funded from abroad generally need SWC approval before the money can be brought in.

Staying compliant

After registration come the obligations: annual renewal at the DAO, an annual general meeting, audited accounts, and reporting to the SWC on funded projects. Most problems we see are not founding errors but lapsed renewals, which can freeze an organisation’s bank account at the worst moment.