Recognizing women's contributions to natural resource management

Background

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated worldwide to recognize and appreciate the unique accomplishments and struggles that connect women across the globe. This year’s IWD theme is “Each for equal”. In Nepal, IWD provides a platform for women to celebrate their successes and share lessons learned through their experiences in achieving gender parity in various sectors of development. The IWD 2020 theme for Nepal is “Generation of equality: Let’s end violence, discrimination, and inequality”.

Two landscape programmes currently implemented in Sudurpaschim Province – ICIMOD’s Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) – have placed gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) as a priority in the natural resource management (NRM) process. TAL is implemented in the province’s lowlands (Kailali and Kanchanpur districts), while KSLCDI is implemented in the highlands (Baitadi, Bajhang, and Darchula districts). Despite the different focus geographies, both programmes prioritize GESI in NRM. Using IWD 2020 as a platform, a half-day workshop has been planned in Dhangadi, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal, to mark women’s contributions to NRM.

Objectives

1. Celebrate women’s achievements in NRM in Sudurpaschim Province
2. Exchange experiences and share lessons learned from KSLCDI and TAL in integrating GESI in NRM
3. Apprise senior provincial ministry officials on the significance of integrating GESI in NRM

Expected outcomes

1. People-to-people and women-to-women exchange of experiences and best practices in integrating GESI in NRM
2. Way forward from relevant ministries for GESI integration in the planning and implementation process