On 24 February 2025, the Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS), in collaboration with Forest Resources Studies and Action Team (ForestAction) Nepal organized a Symposium on “๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ: ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌโ, in collaboration with other organizations. The organizers brought together multiple actorsโincluding the government, researchers and academia, development partners, civil society, and private sector actorsโto understand the current opportunities and challenges (Theme 1), sharing best practices and innovations (Theme 2), and discussions on the frameworks, approaches and methodologies (Theme 3) to work towards achieving womenโs economic empowerment.
Dr. Dil Khatri, Executive Director of SIAS gave welcome remarks and invited the first keynote speaker, Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal, a distinguished leader, former member of Parliament (Upper House), and former National Planning Commission member. She underscored that WEE must be approached holistically, integrating economic, political, social and psychological empowerment. She stressed that rather than solely prioritizing asset-building for women, it is essential to evaluate their control over resources, flexibility of gender roles, and the prevalence of gender-based violence. She further emphasized WEE, being a multidimensional process, requires sustainable, self-reliant, and locally driven approaches.
After Dr. Paudyalโs key note address, moderator, Dr. Mani Ram Banjade (SIAS) introduced Theme 1 of the symposium, which revolved around women engagements in agribusiness, forest-based, and traditional enterprises in rural Nepal, facing numerous challenges. The speakers, Ms. Shreedhari Pandey (Oxfam), Dr. Bishnu Prasad Sharma (Tribhuwan University), Ms. Bhawana Khanal (South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication), and Dr. Meena Bohora (ForestAction Nepal) delved deeply into the opportunities, challenges, and key lessons learned in overcoming these obstacles, ensuring that women’s economic empowerment through natural resource-based enterprises is attainable. Their studies underscored the pressing need for gender-inclusive governance structures, policy backing and interventions as well as mechanisms to invest in climate-smart agriculture to address the deep-rooted barriers and long-term viability. Women, despite playing a critical role in agricultural production have little to no control over income that they generate. Similarly, Community Forest Enterprises (CFEs) have empowered women by enhancing their decision-making, financial management and leadership skill, positioning them as key stakeholders in forest-based enterprises. Likewise, their transition from subsistence practice to a market-driven ventures underscores the value of preserving indigenous knowledge. Finally, the speakers also emphasized discussed on empowering women through forest-based enterprises or Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) by offering a sustainable low-carbon business model that aligns with womenโs traditional roles and can boost their economic power.
The eventโs Theme 2, moderated by Dr. Naya Sharma Poudel (ForestAction Nepal) discussed about how digital solutions are revolutionizing women’s economic empowerment. The speakers for this session were Mr. Bibhor Kayastha (Aria Solutions), Mr. Prakash Subedi (Care Nepal), Ms. Sumnima Shrestha (Heifer International) and Ms. Wrishika Giri (FBPW Nepal), who highlighted the innovations, digital technologies, financial accessibility, and strategies adopted to enhance digital literacy, providing a blueprint for growth in agribusiness and natural resource-based enterprises. Innovations like the Farm to Fork software (developed by Aria Solutions) Kisan Card and Krishipath app (developed by Care Nepal) have enabled the marginalized women and small farmers to access financial services effectively. Similarly, Heifer Internationalโs development in strengthening womenโs role in livestock value chains have increased their income levels and overall social empowerment and likewise, The Rikishi Compost Pvt. Ltd illustrated effective education and skill-building initiatives focused on sustainable practices and inclusive workplace policies.
The final theme 3 of the symposium was moderated by Dr. Meeta Sainju Pradhan (SIAS) to explore the frameworks, methodologies, and rural entrepreneurship in advancing womenโs economic empowerment as key pathways and a way forward for a sustainable economic development in Nepal. The speakers for this session, Dr. Mani Ram Banjade (SIAS), Mr. Rajkumar Bhattarai (NDRI) and Ms. Pratish Joshi (Governance Lab) discussed how deliberative forums on Haat Bazaar in Arghakhanchi through pre-forum initiatives, stakeholders’ consultations, research, etc. led to structured and inclusive approach in addressing local market issues and challenges. Likewise, frameworks like WRISTS, where they ensure fair wages to workers (Wages), assessing whether the spaces where business operates are suitable (Rent), evaluating whether the government provided loan rates are suitable for the small scale business (Interest), reliable supply of services for production (Supply), what and how the technologies should be adopted (Technology), and equal access to business networks, grants, and subsidies to help women enhance their business (Support) have encouraged the status of women economic empowerment. Moreover, innovations like REAP (Rural Enterprise Acceleration Program) help focus on building strong business environment for rural entrepreneurs by helping their enterprises grow through innovation. Between the technical sessions, a poster viewing session was held, showcasing posters prepared by presenters on various themes of the symposium. After the technical sessions, Mr. Krishna Gyawali (Former Secretary of Government of Nepal and Chairperson of SIAS), Ms. Kamala Devi Sharma (Chairperson of Forest Action), and Hon. Apsara Chapagain, Deputy Speaker of Bagmati Provincial Assembly delivered their brief remarks on WEE in Nepal. The speakers highlighted the significance of addressing the persistent gender barriers, policies that encourage women entrepreneurs, context suited businesses promotion and capacity strengthening of women entrepreneurs to enhance the sustainability of their enterprises.
Finally, Dr. Dil Khatri concluded the symposium by expressing gratitude to all collaborating partners, the organizing team, session presenters, and participants for their valuable contributions in making the event a success.
