previous one was dissolved in May 2012) under the incumbent Maoist-led regime.

But as recently noted by the UK-based Economist Intelligence Unit, significant hurdles remain "to end the destructive political wrangling. In the meantime, Nepal's civic functions are in effect paralysed and economic activity is depressed".

Robert Piper, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nepal, told IRIN the current political situation is "naturally of real concern" to donor groups.

The position of chief of the Centre for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and national auditor-general are still vacant after seven years. In addition, there is no Public Accounts Committee - a parliamentary body that tracks spending of donor monies.

"These checks and balances are important in any democratic society," Swiss ambassador to Nepal, Thomas Gass, told IRIN. He is alsothe chairperson of donor group Nepal Peace Trust Fund.

Similarly, analysts and government officials make the same accountability charges against aid agencies that circumvent the government, directly implementing projects without consultation or approval.

Such a practice has become a de jure modus operandi in a country that has had five prime ministers in the last six years, according to the national umbrella group of more than 5,300 development local NGOs, the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN). Local elections were last held in 1997, leaving local governance barren, but for the few appointed government caretakers.

Local development programming has withered as the government has been consumed by jockeying for power in Kathmandu, said Gopal Yogi, NFN's vice-president.

"Our crucial concern is lack of locally elected bodies which would make a difference, and in