Forest user groups form the basic building blocks of FECOFUN, with democratic decision-making procedures followed throughout the multi-tiered structure that makes up the organizational profile of FECOFUN. Since 1995, forest users have worked together to establish FECOFUN as a national federation with village, range-post, district, regional, and national chapters.Out of 14000 CFu6s, more than 10000 have affiliated with FECOFUN which in turn have 8.5 million people.
FECOFUN representatives come from rural communities across Nepal’s all 14 administrative zones. Its office-holders and rank-and-file members are rural-based farmers – men and women, from distant villages throughout Nepal. There is at least 50 percent representation by women at each organizational level and in official positions (chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, secretary, and treasurer). A small number of Nepalese community-forestry professionals sit on FECOFUN’s advisory committee. However, unlike most organizations in Nepal, there are no development professionals on staff.
Representation starts from the bottom-up, with decisions taken at local-level user group assemblies. Each user group holds an assembly of its forest users to select representatives for Village FECOFUN and Range Post FECOFUN. Range Post-level representatives then select District-level representatives. From a nationwide pool of District-level representatives, National Executive committee (NEC) members are elected for five year tenures. The NEC also nominates an additional five individuals from across the five development regions of Nepal, in order to ensure better representation of disadvantaged ethnic and low caste groups.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is FECOFUN’s apex decision-making body. It convenes every five-years. General Assembly representatives are elected from each district, based on set criteria of proportional representation and gender equality. Among other duties which it shares with the National Council, the General Assembly is responsible for making decisions on prospective policies and programs, electing the Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and other members of the National Executive Committee, and making amendments to FECOFUN’s Constitution.
General Assemblies held:
2052 Falgun 27-29 (March 10-12, 1996)
2058 Aswin 21-23 (October 7-9, 2001)
2063 Paush 5-9 (December 20-24, 2006) comming on
National Council
The National Council should convene once every year. It is composed of one female and one male representative from each district, as well as the National Executive Committee, and distinguished members (as observers). It approves annual reports, program activities, proposals, and budget and audit reports. It also is responsible for appointing an independent auditor.
National Council meetings have not been held every year, because of a lack of resources (1997), the assassination of the Royal family (2001), and the Maoist insurgency (2002).
National Council Meetings held:
2054 Falgun 21-23, Makawanpur (March 5-7, 1998)
2055 Chaitra 11-13, Jhapa (March 25-27, 1999)
2057 Baisakh 28-30, Gorkha (May 10-12, 2000)
2059 Chaitra 15-17, Nepalgunj (April 29-31, 2003)
National Executive Committee
The National Executive Committee is comprised of 33 members – 28 elected from Nepal’s 14 administrative zones (one male and one female from each) and 5 nominated (one from each development region in Nepal) from under-privileged dalit and ethnic groups. The NEC meets once every four months. It decides administrative rules and procedures. It is also responsible for evaluating ongoing activities and providing feedback to the Steering Committee, which manages the day-to-day operations and implementation of program activities.
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