Shahida MacDougall is British Council Country Director with over 15 years' international experience of leading teams, managing programmes and supporting the development of government institutions, national education reforms and civil society organisations in Uzbekistan, the UK, Pakistan, Northern Ireland, Argentina, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Nepal. Bal Krishna Sah of The Himalayan Times caught up with Shahida who spoke on various British Council fronts, to discuss her understanding of the organisation's achievements during her tenure, as well as her personal journey and the learning she garnered from Nepal during her four-year stay. Excerpts:

What are your thoughts on bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and Nepal?

The British Council is separate from the British Embassy. I believe some people mistake us for the same organisation. We are part of the UK government, but not the Embassy. We clearly contribute to the UK government's priorities, but we are separate entities.

Last year, the United Kingdom and Nepal commemorated the 100th anniversary of their Treaty of Friendship, which was marked by events and celebrations throughout both countries. This year marks the British Council's 65th anniversary in Nepal, and both anniversaries highlight the length, depth, and stability of our strong relationship.

I can only speak from the British Council's perspective and experiences. Over the years, the British Council has played a significant role in Nepal's development across a variety of sectors, from education to cultural exchange, reaching millions of people and fostering valuable connections between our two nations.

The emphasis on youth development, educational support, and the promotion of arts and culture demonstrates strategic alignment with Nepal's national priorities. We continue to support Nepal's priorities and improve its social and economic infrastructure by collaborating directly with individuals, communities, and government leaders, as well as leveraging the British Council's global network of experts.

What truly shines through is the mutual benefit that both countries derive from our relationship. While we hope to add value and complement the efforts of other development and implementing partners to help Nepal achieve its development goals and transition from Least Developed Country to Middle-Income Country by 2030, we are also committed to fostering greater understanding and trust between the two nations. This is critical in today's global environment, where such collaborations contribute to a more peaceful and equitable world.

Overall, our bilateral relationship is a collaborative effort aimed at mutual growth and prosperity, and we aim to continue our partnership and collaboration for many years to come.

What advantages do young people gain from the British Council? Could you name some of the data achieved during your tenure?

Young people benefit immensely from our diverse programmes, which are designed to add value to Nepal's priorities by improving their skills, increasing their employability, and fostering positive pathways.

This year, the British Council worked in over 200 countries, reaching more than 600 million people. Our efforts generate thousands of opportunities for people, institutions, and governments to engage with the UK's expertise in arts, culture, education, and the English language.

Through our work in education, the English language, and arts and culture, we focus on building essential educational and foundational skills to support youth employability, and encouraging creative solutions to pressing issues such as climate change.

For instance, our English and Digital for Girls' Education (EDGE) programme has had a significant impact, benefiting over 18,000 girls in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. This program, which teaches English language, digital, and life skills, is expected to reach over 40,000 girls by 2025. For more than three years, we have been delivering an adapted model of the programme in Nepal in collaboration with VSO, known as Girls Empowerment Mainstreaming Sustainably (GEMS). We have established clubs in community centres for 459 girls and provided health awareness sessions to 23,000 women and girls.

Our English programs are consistent with Nepal's vision to improve the quality of English education. We believe that improving English proficiency is critical to Nepal's goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2030. We are working with all levels of government to improve English teaching and assessment, as well as with organisations to expand our reach to marginalised and remote areas in support of the School Education Sector Plan (SESP).

Our Culture Connects programme bridges the cultural divide between Nepal and the United Kingdom. Every year, Nepali artists attend art programs and festivals in the United Kingdom, where they learn about global culture and expand their professional network. In addition, through our arts work, we formed partnerships with 15 UK-based artists and directly engaged with 176,000 people last year through exhibitions and fairs.

As part of our 65th anniversary celebrations, we showcased Nepal and Nepali arts and culture in an exhibition at the British Council's new headquarters in London, and we are very proud to be the first such exhibition.

We also actively support reforms and initiatives in the TVET sector. Our EU-funded Dakchyata TVET Practical Partnership programme has trained 6,750 people, with 29% being female and 47% coming from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, we have assisted over 2,000 young returning migrant workers in Nepal with their economic reintegration in collaboration with three UN agencies.

Last year, the British Council Nepal engaged 8.2 million people through virtual and in-person interactions. We worked directly with 170,000 students and collaborated with 250 government officials, 5,000 school leaders, 1.4 million teachers, 1,500 community leaders, 340 artists, and 100 arts leaders in Nepal.

Our mission is to empower the next generation and prepare them to make significant contributions to Nepal's development, whether through government partnerships or direct engagement with youth.

How are you addressing inclusivity through council work and opportunities? Why should youth trust it?

Equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to all of our initiatives, both globally and in Nepal. Regardless of the programme or sector, we make inclusivity a top priority, allowing us to reach and provide opportunities to a wide range of people and communities. This commitment is embedded in both our external and internal practices.

Gender equality and inclusion have been shown in numerous studies to have significant societal and economic benefits. For example, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that achieving gender equality in the workplace could boost global GDP by $12 trillion by 2025. A World Bank study also found that closing gender gaps in labour force participation could boost annual GDP growth rates by up to 0.4% in developing countries.

Over the last five years, we have actively encouraged women, LGBTIQA+ people, young people, and people with disabilities to participate in cultural life. Initiatives like the Women of the World Festival, Camera Sika, Disability Arts, Queer Arts, and Creating Heroines have advocated for equality, diversity, and inclusion. These efforts enable individuals to share their stories and celebrate their communities, ensuring that equality, diversity, and inclusion remain at the heart of everything we do.

Another important aspect of our inclusivity efforts is our Disability Arts programme, which connects disabled people with Nepal's arts sector. Last year, we collaborated with Diverse Patterns to create and launch Beyond the Norm, a toolkit designed to assist event organisers and producers in making their programmes more accessible to people with disabilities. This toolkit, which is free to download online, provides practical advice on how to engage people with various disabilities. This year, it will be available in Nepali. Over the last ten months, organisations such as Photo Kathmandu and the Nepal International Theatre Festival have used the toolkit successfully.

Accessible events not only empower disabled people, but also capitalise on a significant market opportunity. According to the World Health Organization, more than one billion people, or 15% of the global population, have disabilities, making them an important demographic for inclusion.

Our Women of the World Festival, or WOW, is another fantastic program that promotes and celebrates inclusion. We are thrilled and honoured to have Kathmandu Metropolitan City as a key partner in our 7th edition of the programme this year. They play an important role in hosting the festival. By the seventh edition, which is scheduled for November of this year, WOW will have engaged over 30,000 people in person and reached more than 10 million digitally, making it Nepal's largest gender-focused cultural festival.

Our approach to inclusivity is built into every stage of our operations. From the planning phase to programme implementation, we consider age, gender, faith, disability, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status to ensure that our opportunities are available to a diverse range of Nepalese people.

As a cultural relations organisation representing the United Kingdom, we ensure that our work is in line with Nepal's needs and incorporates the ideas and innovations of our Nepali partners. This local context is integral to our programme planning, contributing to our success and relevance.

Trust is developed over the years and I believe our commitment to inclusivity is evident through our work. Our engagement and interaction with our partners and stakeholders. We continually strive to reflect the diverse needs of the communities we serve and ensure that our programmes are accessible and relevant to all.

How has the British Council helped enhance educational and cultural ties between the two countries?

The British Council is instrumental in strengthening educational and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and Nepal. We leverage the UK's expertise in arts, culture, education, and English to make valuable connections through our extensive global network.

We assist people in Nepal by providing them with skills, confidence, and opportunities for personal and professional development. This includes supporting them with learning English, gaining access to high-quality education, and obtaining internationally recognized qualifications.

We also work with the Nepali government and educational partners to drive sector reforms and share best practices from the UK and our global network, as well as to promote best practices developed by ourselves and our partners in Nepal. Our initiatives include establishing British-style schools and international libraries, as well as creating an English language department at Tribhuvan University and assisting the English Teachers' Association. E.g. ABAN, NELTA.

Our work includes establishing over 90 school partnerships, providing higher education opportunities in the UK, and organising policy dialogues and professional development exchanges. Recently, we collaborated with the Nepali government to improve the school and TVET sectors, bringing global perspectives to local educational challenges.

Through these efforts, we hope to establish long-term educational and cultural connections that benefit both countries.

Does the British Council make good revenue from English test exams? How does that contribute back to Nepal?

Our exam work is self-financed. In addition to providing access to school exams in Kathmandu, we are expanding our delivery of IELTS, the world's most popular English language test, to 8 test centres throughout the country.

This enables thousands of Nepali candidates to make connections, gain confidence, and earn internationally recognized academic and professional qualifications.

In this way, Nepal's professionals meet relevant international standards, and students, of course, have access to global educational and skill training, as well as job opportunities.

This is critical for Nepal to meet its social and economic growth targets. As a UK-based charity, we keep our paid service and product prices as low and accessible as possible, and the revenue covers our costs. Any surpluses are reinvested in the organisation.

Could you please share some of the most significant outcomes of the British Council's 65-year presence in Nepal? Are there any particular numbers or data related to its impacts?

Since its inception in 1959, the British Council in Nepal has been dedicated to strengthening ties between Nepal and the United Kingdom. What began as a small reference room in Kathmandu has evolved into the much-loved and famous British Library. In the 1970s, we played a key role in educational reforms, such as establishing Budhanilkantha School and introducing English courses at Tribhuvan University.

During the 1970s and 1980s, we focused on institutionalising English education and providing scholarships. The 1990s saw the introduction of Cambridge A-Level programs and efforts to improve English language instruction.

The 2000s saw a shift toward more inclusive education, with projects addressing climate change and significant investment in teacher training. Recent initiatives, such as the EU-funded Dakchyata skills development programme and the ADB/EU-funded School Sector Development Plan, demonstrate our continued support for Nepal's educational reforms.

Some of the key outcomes of our work are: Tribhuvan University Graduates: Numerous skilled English teachers have graduated, enhancing English education in Nepal. Scholarship Impact: Many former scholarship recipients now play key roles in shaping Nepal's education and development policies.The Nepal English Language Teachers' Association (NELTA) has grown into an important platform for English educators in seven provinces.

ABAN and Budhanilkantha School Alumni in the United Kingdom, as well as Budhanilkantha School graduates, are making significant contributions as leaders in various fields. Thousands of teachers have benefited from our professional development initiatives. Empowering Marginalised Girls: Improving marginalised girls' English skills has resulted in better job prospects and opportunities. Standardised Assessments: We have implemented standardised English assessments, such as listening and speaking. International Exam Access: With our assistance, Nepali youth now have access to international exams such as IELTS and A-Levels, paving the way for global opportunities.

These achievements highlight the British Council's lasting impact on Nepal's educational and cultural landscape over the last 65 years.

How does the British Council intend to promote bilateral relations in the future?

Looking ahead, we are committed to strengthening bilateral relations between the UK and Nepal by aligning our portfolio with the priorities of the Nepali government and responding to local needs. We will achieve this through:

Strategic Alignment: We will continue to align our strategic priorities with those of the Nepali government, focusing on enhancing understanding, connections, and trust between our two countries. Our goal is to position the UK as Nepal's preferred and trusted partner in education and culture.

Supporting Reforms: We will support the government's reform priorities by leveraging UK expertise to improve the inclusiveness, quality, and relevance of education and skills training.

Promoting Inclusivity: By promoting English, arts, culture, and education, we aim to build more open and inclusive societies. Our initiatives will focus on equitable and sustainable development, enhancing social mobility, and improving economic prospects for young Nepali people through the UK's educational excellence.

Supporting Education Plans: We will continue to support Nepal's School Education Sector Plan, with particular emphasis on teacher professional development, multilingual education, English language teaching, and strengthening local governance for effective school education delivery.

Empowering Young Women and Girls: We will continue to engage young women and girls, empowering them with English and digital skills to advance their opportunities.

Enhancing TVET Sector: In the TVET sector, we will support government initiatives to bridge the gap between supply and demand and work with both public and private sectors to enhance employer engagement at all levels, improving the relevance and quality of vocational training.

Building Young Leaders: We will support young leaders and influencers by developing their capacities and networks, enabling them to address global challenges such as climate change and gender inequality through arts, culture, and social leadership.

Creative Economy and Heritage: We will prioritise initiatives that promote a creative green economy and the preservation of cultural heritage.

We are incredibly proud of our strong relationship with Nepal, our like-minded partners, and everything we have achieved over the last six decades. We look forward to deepening UK-Nepal relations and contributing to mutual growth and development.