Nepal, April 7 -- In the three decades since Nepal's democratic transition, civil society has grown from a scattered network of community efforts into a dense and diverse ecosystem of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations and emerging social enterprises. From supporting Dalit communities in the Tarai to advocating for indigenous land rights in the hills, NGOs have played a vital role in plugging the gaps left by the state and market.

However, this sector is at a dangerous crossroads today, facing public scepticism, shrinking foreign aid, internal capacity constraints and a rapidly changing regulatory and political environment. The question is no longer whether NGOs are necessary. They are. The real question...