Social Development Path

SODEP is a national non-government, non-political and non-profit-making social development organization established in 2049 BS (1992 AD). It is registered with District Administration Office (DAO), Dhanusha, Province Madhesh in 2051 BS (1995 AD) as per the NGO Act of the Government of Nepal, 2034 BS, and affiliated with Social Welfare Council (SWC) in 2052 BS (1995 AD).

SODEP envisions building a society with non-existence of any kind of discrimination.It strives for social development and improving quality of life of people. The mission of SODEP is to educate and empower the disadvantaged, marginalized, poor and excluded communities such as Dalits, indigenous nationalities, Madheshis and women through rights based participatory approach. The major thematic areas of SODEP are human rights protection and promotion, good governance, anti-corruption, water supply and sanitation, sustainable agriculture, food security and socio-economic development.

Vision: SODEP envisions a society where people have been living dignified lives with self reliant livelihoods.

Mission: SODEP strives to empower the poor and excluded communities such as Dalits, Madhesis, indigenous people, women and children, among, other to improve their quality of lives through enhancing their capacities and promoting opportunities.

Goal: To improve the living status of the poor and excluded communities especially Dalits, Madhesis, children, indigenous people and women through participatory development process.

Objectives:

• To improve the living status of the rural poor, marginalized, oppressed communities, women and children through various social, educational, sanitation, hygiene and economic development and peace building programs;
• To promote humanity, peace and harmony;
• To overcome social, economic, cultural and political discrimination and speed up equitable and sustainable development process;
• To improve governance and democratic practices at community, civil society, political parties and government level so that people receive basic services efficiently and equitably; and
• To promote environment and respond to the causes and consequences of climate change.
• To improve poor rural women and girls’ socioeconomic conditions through an integrated process of economic, social, legal, and political empowerment.

Chronological History of SODEP

Date of Establishment: 1st November, 1992 (2049-7-15)
Registration No.: 235/051/52 (with District Administration Office, Dhanusha)
Registered Date: 2051-12-27 (10 April 1995)
Affiliation with Social Welfare Council, Nepal No.: 2682

Affiliated Date: 2052-1-5 (18 April 1995)

Membership:

Total member: 115 (Life member-7, General member- 108; Male – 47, Female – 68)

Institutional Management and Governance

• Transparent financial management and accounting system
• Regular Executive board meeting, General meeting and General assembly
• Democratic process adopted for election of Executive Members every four years in a complete neutral environment
• Personnel administration, Financial management, Institutional good governance, Monitoring and Evaluation, Gender and social inclusion, Child protection, Children and Youth Protection, Code of Conduct policies and five year Strategy Plan are in use within the organizational system.
• Registered with Permanent Account Number (PAN) and have obtained Tax-free certificate from the government of Nepal

Work force:
Number of Employees: 9 full time and 3 part-time.
Volunteers: 5

Reporting system: 
Annual Reports, Project Completion Reports and Project Progress Reports are regularly published.

Organizational networking / membership or working relation:
SODEP is a member of the following networks and alliances:

• NGO federation,
• Jan Sarokar Manch,
• NGO network group,
• Dalit Alliance,
• Citizenship Right Concern Committee,
• National Development Network,
• Nature-Human Centric SAARC movement,
• Global Network
• Human Rights Association Madhesh, and
• Humanist movement.

SODEP works in close cooperation with different government agencies such as Federal, Provincial and Local government, Municipalities, Rural Municipalities and International donors like UN agencies, multilateral, bilateral, INGOs and private sectors.