Kaalo Moso: a fraud policy that ends in public shaming
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Kaalo moso is soot. Smearing it on someone's face is an old Nepali punishment for public disgrace. In May 2016 Mission Rebuild Nepal made it a written board policy.
The policy, drafted by the organisation's secretary Ashok Oli and approved by the US board with effect from 17 May 2016, applies to current and former staff, board members, affiliates and strategic partners. It covers fraud, waste, abuse of position, and felony convictions.
- A whistleblower, staff member or board member reports suspected mismanagement, crime or conflict of interest.
- The general secretary opens an investigation and writes to the person concerned with questions.
- If there is no reply within a week, a certified letter goes to their physical address.
- If there is still no reply, the president or vice-president telephones.
- After a further week of silence the person is classified as culpable, removed from any position held, and the board is informed.
- The organisation publishes the finding, with the person's photograph blacked out and captioned kaalo moso lagayiyeko maanchhe, and notifies donors and news media not to transact with them in its name.
The reasoning given in the document is unsentimental. Revenue had passed $400,000. Most of the organisation's work required wire transfers from the United States to Nepal, which are subject to federal oversight, and the organisation had to be able to show where the money went if audited. Beyond that, the board was made up of doctors and business professionals volunteering their time, and a single person's misconduct would end the reputation the whole group depended on.
The policy was published in English for review and comment before adoption, and a Nepali version followed a week later. It has never been invoked.
