Although, informally, the idea about the Non-Resident Nepal (NRN) as a Diaspora Nepali group had been floated by several individuals and organizations since the nineties, until 2003, no formal NRN organization existed to cater to the global Diaspora demands.

In many countries, where the Nepalis had settled or were working temporarily, national and local associations have been in existence for many years.

For example, in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, where the Nepali people have lived, generally since the sixties, hundreds of Nepali associations had been established to serve the local Nepali communities, and to cater to their cultural, social and emotional needs. But no one single organization was available to connect these various disparate groups scattered across the globe.

Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) was conceived by a group of forward thinking NRN leaders in a meeting in London in 2003. Diaspora leaders from Russia, UK, US, Canada, Europe and Africa met to brainstorm on the possibility of starting a global NRN association. They formed an ad-hoc committee, organized background papers and draft by-laws, which were followed up by a global convention in Kathmandu later that year to give life to the idea of a global NRN organization. Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) in Nepal was the key partner at that time to support this idea, and provided logistic support for the first secretariat of NRNA in Kathmandu. The Kathmandu global convention in the fall of 2003 provided the exposure and a platform to officially launch NRNA as a global organization of all NRNs.

The 2003 London meeting was eventful in the sense that the leaders of NRN movement who gathered there decided to form a global association of the Nepali Diaspora. It was named NRNA and the organization was formalized through the writing of the by-laws of the association and establishing a permanent secretariat in Kathmandu, co-located at the premises of the FNCCI.

Since then, five global conferences have been held in Nepal every two years, consolidating the idea of the organization, popularizing the association among the grass root NRNA’s, and gaining gradual legitimacy in the eyes of the Government of Nepal, Nepali business and civil society, Nepali organizations, international organizations and the global Nepali community at large.

INITIAL THRUST OF NRNA

The initial impetus of the NRNA was provided by the convergence of the aspirations of various groups in the Diaspora Nepali community. Perhaps, the foremost was a business interest of the members of the Diaspora to invest in Nepal and obtain export, import, tariff, repatriation and other trade related benefits from the Government of Nepal. Similarly, the interest for possible technical cooperation and exchange was also paramount, especially among the Nepali professionals living in foreign countries. The possibility of obtaining dual citizenship with Nepal, and enjoying easy travel facilities to visit Nepal were also high in the eyes of many Nepali Diaspora members.
The Nepali government can tap into the resources the Diaspora is able to provide collectively and individually toward Nepal’s development. That is the route India, China, Israel, Poland, Ireland, Korea, Taiwan and many countries have successfully taken in the past.

Equally important for the expatriate Nepalis was the need for emotional attachment to the motherland, networking among the Diaspora Nepali community and an altruistic sense of supporting Nepal’s effort for a rapid economic development. Still another motivation was to connect the worldwide Diaspora into a single thread, and help each other in the Diaspora community. Thus, NRNA was born as a confluence of so many different aspirations and interests and the wishes of the Diaspora Nepali community.

In the formative years, the NRNA focused on getting a NRN bill passed by the Government of Nepal, getting a simplified visa regime for the foreign citizens of Nepali origin while visiting Nepal, and getting business-friendly policies to support the investment of expatriate Nepalis in Nepal. Eventually, realizing the dream of getting a dual citizenship in Nepal has remained a cherished goal of the NRNA. Equally important objective of the association is to support in the economic development of Nepal by charitable projects, through job-creating investments, and by lobbying in international capitals on behalf of Nepal. The Open University of Nepal Initiative, the Nepal Library Foundation, the Senior Living Quarters in Chitwan and several other projects are some examples of this kind of programs.

EVOLVING OBJECTIVES OF NRNA

Presently, NRNA has become a truly global organization with about three million unofficial members, and with almost 60 national units, called National Coordination Council (NCC). The Diaspora now boasts of some 10 percent of the total population of Nepal. Although some 80 percent of the Diaspora community is made up of relatively temporary Nepali workers in the Gulf, North Africa, Southeast and East Asia, many among them are also living there for a long term and are involved in long-term businesses and other enterprises. The more permanent groups of the Diaspora in North America, Western Europe, Oceania and East Asia are also rapidly growing, and are taking increased interest in the NRNA affairs.

NRNA now has some well-shared and finely articulated common objectives. These include: Promoting Diaspora’s financial investment in Nepal; promoting the Exchange of Knowledge and Technology between the NRNs and Nepal; obtaining dual citizenship (Nepali) for the Diaspora members who have taken foreign citizenship; helping the global Nepali community, especially the NRNs who work as migrant labors and; supporting the local communities in the adopted lands

ORGANIZATIONAL CHALLENGES FOR NRNA

There are many big challenges to NRNA in becoming a successful and stable organization. The first is the resource limitation of the vast majority of the Nepali Diaspora to successfully engage into the activities of the NRNA, and to meaningfully contribute toward its growth. Most members of the Diaspora have only limited disposable income, many have only basic education, and most lack the means to take frequent international travel, or to support the organization financially or logistically in any significant manner. The relatively better off Nepalis in the North America, Western Europe, and Oceania and the relatively smaller number in East Asia are themselves, in most part, struggling to survive, succeed, and establish themselves in their adopted lands. However, there is a good number among them who can help the organization grow, and help in institutionalizing the organization.

Further, because frequent global travel is required for the top leaders of NRNA, so far, only individuals who are prosperous, run their own business, and who can afford both money and flexibility of time can take up the senior leadership positions in the association. Professional people with only a few weeks’ annual leave time, and with constrained travel budget can only take limited travels for NRNA work, making it difficult for them to take up senior leadership position in the voluntary association.

Another challenge for the association is that it is still not officially registered in Nepal. Further, the financial sustainability of the secretariat still remains another challenge. The association must seek long-term external funding or income from investments to make it financially sustainable.

FUTURE OF NRNA

Every organization goes through start up, consolidation, progress, expansion, stabilization, and institutionalization. NRNA has done remarkably well in its initial phase of formation and consolidation. Thanks to the tireless effort of the visionary Diaspora leaders, the organization has been able to expand globally in a short period of time. The visionary leaders have trotted the globe to connect the global Nepali Diaspora into one galvanized organization.

The Government of Nepal, FNCCI and other Nepali agencies and organizations have fully supported the aspirations of the global Nepalis to connect with each other and also become one to help promote the socio-economic development in Nepal. Thus, so far the NRNA has done well and has become a formidable brand for the global Diaspora members.

The future of NRNA looks bright, as it amalgamates such a large Diaspora base for a common purpose. International financial and development organizations are beginning to see the benefits the Diaspora can bring to their native lands. With such a large percentage of the population living outside its national boundary, Nepal is also attaching significant value to the Diaspora. The Nepali government can tap into the resources the Diaspora is able to provide collectively and individually toward Nepal’s development. That is the route India, China, Israel, Poland, Ireland, Korea, Taiwan and many countries have successfully taken in the past.

Ambika P. Adhikari  [email protected]

The writer is the chair of Resource Mobilization Committee of NRNA’s Open University of Nepal initiative. A version of this article was first published in the souvenir of the NRNA 5th global conference, Kathmandu, October 2011

Published on: 13 November 2011 | Republica