Project WE: Women’s Representation in Policy Making in Nepal was initiated to analyze the effective representation of women in the policy and decision-making process in all three tiers of the government. The research project was possible due to the small grants program for the young leaders class of 2020 by the Women Deliver Young Leaders Program.
Over the course of 8 months, the team conducted extensive research to grasp the sense of effective representation of the women in the policy as well as the decision-making process of Nepal. To understand the existing plans, programs, policies, laws, and acts being implemented by the government for women empowerment, a policy review followed by interviews with the Ministries at the Federal Level and Civil Societies were conducted.
As the project also aimed at examining the representation status of women in policy making at the local level belonging to marginalized communities, the team conducted focus group discussions with the local women of the Chepang community and consultation meetings with the local government of Raksirang Rural Municipality. Having understood the existing problems of the Chepang women and the issues in the implementation process of the ongoing programs of the Rural Municipality, an orientation program was held to bridge the communication gap between the two parties.
Upon completing the two major activities; Policy Review and Case Study on Raksirang Rural Municipality, Bighnaharta Nepal released two publications namely, Women’s Representation in Nepal: A Policy Review and Women’s Representation in Policy Making in Nepal: Advocacy Research Paper.
The paper, Women’s Representation in Nepal: A Policy Review has incorporated the reviewed policies, acts, and programs focusing on women’s empowerment and representation as well as the outlook of the officials of the respective ministries and civil societies with key policy recommendations for relevant stakeholders. Similarly, the second publication, Women’s Representation in Policy Making in Nepal: Advocacy Research Paper has reflected on the representation and awareness status of the Chepang women in policy-making at the local level, and gaps in the communication mechanism between the local government and the Chepang women. The paper further provides key recommendations for relevant stakeholders at the local level.
You can get access to both publications through the links below.
Publication One: Women’s Representation in Nepal: A Policy Review
Link: Policy Review
Publication Two: Women’s Representation in Nepal: Advocacy Research Paper
Link: Advocacy Research Paper(A Case Study on Raksirang Rural Municipality)