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inclusion

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Enhancing Political Participation of Marginalised Women in Nepal

Women are commonly separated from one another in Nepal by caste identity. One of the major achievements of the project was getting the highest and lowest castes to cooperate with each other, which is normally a social taboo. Under this project, Brahmins worked with Dalits and Janajatis. It is noteworthy that Brahmins were involved, as they represent one of the highest castes in Nepal. It confirmed how innovative this project was in stimulating cooperation between different castes.
Project Partner
Association of District Development Committees of Nepal
Project Description
The project organized women into informal Women's Democracy Forums to build a culture of collaboration between marginalized women from different social backgrounds in five Nepalese districts. It intended to give women a voice at the district and village level by providing information, education, and communication materials and offering training courses on women's rights. Project activities combined traditional and alternative means of communication, such as street theater. This oral mode of education was adapted to the needs of remote communities. The project's visibility was also enhanced by the production of weekly radio programs; 72 episodes on the political empowerment of women and democratic processes were produced and broadcast over a six–month period. Local authorities and grassroots resource persons increased their commitment to the political inclusion of women. All of these activities were innovative in these Nepalese districts and were skillfully carried out by the implementing team. All activities were successfully concluded and delivered results over and above expectations.
Evaluation Date
September 2010
Country