Gender strategies in Nepal : breaking down the barriers

Abstract

Increasingly researchers, policy makers and practitioners are accepting that development affects men and women differently. Although much work has been done to integrate women into development projects, physical, social, cultural and economic barriers continue to impede women's full involvement in development, particularly in decision-making processes. Often these barriers are overlooked, poorly understood and/or thought to affect all women in the same manner.

This research project, composed of three phases, set out to explore these gender specific challenges to women's participation in the development. The first phase involved the training of Nepal Community Development Centre (NCDC) staff in gender awareness and analysis tools and techniques. The second included an assessment of the barriers that restrict the participation of Nepali women in development planning decision-making. The final phase focussed on the development of a gender policy for NCDC's projects and programmes. The project aimed to assist NCDC in developing a community-oriented gender strategy which would increase gender equality in the development process.