Gender-equitable and climate-resilient economic development in Nepal

Context

A major challenge for the Nepalese economy, which is largely based on agriculture, is the lack of jobs for young people and the fact that many men are leaving the country to find work. The women who remain have a heavy workload and account for a large proportion of agricultural workers. However, they face multiple forms of discrimination and have limited access to better paid jobs in the agricultural sector.

At the same time, the effects of climate change pose a risk to income from agriculture.

Objective

Economic development in Nepal is more gender equitable and more climate resilient.

Approach

The project works with Nepalese and international partners such as local community and district administrations to improve the conditions for gender-equitable and climate-resilient economic development. The aim is to support the establishment of companies, the further development and marketing of products, and the economic participation of women.

There are three mains fields of activity:

1. Expanding access to services such as new processing strategies and digital services for entrepreneurs to support the development of existing or newly established companies, particularly women-led companies.
2. Promoting partnerships with the private sector through, for example, community projects with trading companies in order to provide economic support for women in particular.
3. Expanding gender-equitable and climate-resilient economic development through local government, for example through the implementation of action plans for local economic development with a focus on gender-equitable and climate-resilient business promotion.

The project works primarily in the provinces of Karnali and Sudurpaschim. It is designed to have an impact in other regions of Nepal, such as Lumbini, Koshi and Kathmandu, and internationally in the Nepalese export sector, for example.

Last update: October 2024