115th International Women's Day
As Nepal moves forward, the role of women in shaping its future has never been more crucial. To mark International Women's Day 2025, The Himalayan Times reached out to inspiring women leaders from diverse sectors - corporate, politics, health, development, and beyond - to share their insights on a pressing question:
In what ways can accelerated action drive women's empowerment and transformation in Nepal?
Aarti RL Rana
Chief Business Officer - Commercial & Industrial
Laxmi Sunrise Bank Limited
Nepal stands at a crucial juncture in its journey toward progress. Women constitute more than half of the nation's population, yet systemic barriers, cultural biases, and institutional limitations continue to hinder their full participation in the economy. The question is clear - how can a country achieve sustainable prosperity while sidelining such a significant portion of its people? The answer lies in economic inclusion. When women have equal opportunities in education, workplace, leadership, entrepreneurship, the entire nation flourishes. However, progress must be swift and decisive, breaking down barriers, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring that women thrive in business, governance, and community development.
Economic empowerment is a key driver of transformation. Providing women with access to finance, financial literacy programmes, and business incubation initiatives will enable them to expand their enterprises and contribute meaningfully to Nepal's economic growth. Bridging the digital divide is equally crucial - ensuring rural women have access to technology, digital tools, and skills training can open new pathways for success in the modern economy. Expanding internet accessibility and equipping women with digital skills in e-commerce, fintech, and digital marketing will further enhance their career and entrepreneurial prospects.
At the community level, efforts should focus on educational reforms, gender-awareness campaigns, and safe spaces for women. Promoting male allyship and shared responsibilities at home and work is crucial for true gender equality. Nationwide awareness programmes, vocational training, and access to diverse educational opportunities will help women thrive across all sectors. Nepal must expand global partnerships to strengthen G2G scholarship programmes, ensuring underprivileged girls have access to quality education. Increasing bilateral agreements will boost scholarships in STEM, business, and leadership, equipping women with essential skills for economic growth. Enhancing public school infrastructure and integrating gender-sensitive curricula should remain top priorities.
Strengthening legal frameworks to combat gender-based violence and discrimination is critical in creating a safe and equitable environment. Safe spaces and support networks - including shelters, counselling centres, and legal aid services - provide essential assistance to women facing domestic violence and systemic inequalities. When communities actively work together to break these barriers, women can fully exercise their rights and reach their potential.
For sustainable progress, women must be represented at the highest levels of leadership in both the private and public sectors. Corporations play a pivotal role in fostering gender inclusion by identifying, sponsoring high-potential women for executive roles. Setting gender diversity targets ensures more women have a seat at the decision-making table.
Mentorship and networking programmes help bridge the leadership gap. Inclusive workplace policies are essential in fostering long-term gender equity.
To sum it up, while progress has been made, Nepal is still far from achieving the transformative change needed for gender equality. IMF research confirms increasing female labour force participation by just 5.9 per cent points could boost GDP in emerging economies by eight per cent, effectively offsetting the economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, progress remains painfully slow. The Global Gender Gap Report 2024 warns that at the current pace, it will take more than 130 years to close gender disparities worldwide - a timeline Nepal simply cannot afford. Gender equality is not just about fairness; it is an economic necessity. This is even more critical for Nepal, where over-reliance on remittances and male youth migration are slowing national growth and development. It demands a fundamental shift in mindsets, policies, and opportunities - one that ensures women's leadership, workforce participation, and economic inclusion at every level. The solution is clear: women must be at the centre of Nepal's economic future.
Bishakha Laxmi Khadka
Interim Director of Marketing, Communications, and Sustainability
Ncell
I believe women's empowerment is not just about creating opportunities and closing the gender-based gaps - it's about breaking the barriers that hold them back. It's high time to move beyond conversations and take bold actions towards accelerating adoption and implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in all sectors.
Ensuring women have equal access to technology and digital skills isn't optional - it's a necessity. Technology is a powerful equaliser, but only when supported by progressive policies that encourage women's participation across all sectors. Policy reforms, technological advancements, community-driven initiatives, and corporate leadership must work together to unlock opportunities for women.
Gender diversity should not be a standard. Organisations must ensure women have a seat at decision-making tables, foster inclusive work environments, and implement policies that support career growth and work-life balance.
Dr Shrujana Shrestha
Consultant, Dermatologist & Managing Director
Absolute Aesthetics
Accelerated action is essential to advancing women's empowerment and transformation. As a consultant dermatologist with my own clinic, a board director at Shikhar Insurance, and a member of the aviation and hospitality industries, I have seen how targeted initiatives can create lasting change for women.
In healthcare, particularly cosmetic dermatology, we need immediate programmes that offer mentorship, specialised training, and financial support to female professionals.
Encouraging women to enter and excel in medical and aesthetic fields enhances their economic independence and positions them as industry leaders. Insurance policies with better coverage for women's healthcare needs, including treatments that impact their confidence and well-being, can be game changers in improving quality of life. In the corporate world, companies must go beyond basic inclusion efforts and implement proactive policies such as leadership development programmes, flexible work environments, and funding opportunities for women-led businesses. In traditionally male-dominated sectors like aviation, hospitality, structured training programmes, scholarships, and fair promotion practices can help women break through barriers and secure top roles.
Kyra Marwaha
Country Delegate
Terre des hommes
Accelerated action towards girls and women's self-efficacy and empowerment in Nepal can take several forms that leverage both government initiatives and grassroots movements to foster systemic change. By understanding barriers and prioritising education for girls, the government, NGOs, and local communities can ensure girls and women acquire knowledge and skills necessary to participate fully in society. Programmes that address negative gendered norms and associated barriers for girls accessing school can help break down these barriers affecting their access to education.
Financial inclusion is essential for empowering women economically. Expanding access to microfinancing, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programmes can support improved financial inclusion. By equipping women with resources and support to start their businesses or pursue careers cultivates a sense of autonomy and self-sufficiency. This financial empowerment then contributes to family and community well-being.
Boosting girls' and women's representation in leadership positions is vital for transforming negative societal norms and practices. Accelerated initiatives that focus on mentoring, advocating for legal reforms and supporting girls and women's leadership training are central to ensuring their participation in decision-making and in them securing leadership positions. Lastly, by combining these strategies, Nepal can create a comprehensive framework for girls and women's empowerment.
Neha Homagai
Center Head Indira IVF, Nepal Consultant Gynaecologist and Infertility Specialist
Indira IVF
Accelerated action can drive women's empowerment and transformation in Nepal, particularly in the healthcare sector, by addressing gender disparities, improving access to education, and fostering leadership opportunities for women. As a female doctor, I recognise the importance of investing in women's health, education, and professional growth to create lasting change.
One key area is healthcare access. Strengthening maternal health services, increasing awareness of reproductive rights, and addressing gender-based violence through medical and psychological support can significantly enhance women's well-being. Expanding healthcare infrastructure in rural areas ensures that women receive timely and quality care.
Education and mentorship are crucial in bringing more women into the medical and STEM fields. Providing scholarships, leadership training, and equal opportunities in hospitals and research institutions will encourage more women to pursue careers in medicine.
Moreover, policy-level reforms can enhance workplace equity, ensuring equal pay, safe working conditions, and leadership roles for women in healthcare. Encouraging women to participate in decision-making processes will strengthen Nepal's health system and overall development.
By accelerating efforts in healthcare, education, and policy, Nepal can empower women to lead transformative changes, breaking societal barriers and fostering a more inclusive and progressive nation.
Samjhana Bista
Country Director
DCA Nepal
The biological roles assigned to women by nature place them at a different level from men, as they bear the unique responsibilities of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding - roles that cannot be transferred. These responsibilities make women more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, climate-induced disasters, and natural catastrophes. Our generation has witnessed major events such as the 2015 earthquake, devastating floods, and landslides, both in urban and rural areas - disasters that have disproportionately affected women. Beyond the immediate loss of life and destruction, women and girls face a variety of challenges post-disaster, including violence, stress, and trauma. Numerous cases show that women are often blamed for crop losses due to flooding, food insecurity at the household level, disrupted education, and limited access to health services.
This situation calls for urgent action, yet remains inadequately addressed and delayed. It is not enough to merely acknowledge gender concerns on paper; there must be concrete, equitable provisions, budgets, and investments across all sectors. Words alone are insufficient; we need the entire society to adopt a unified approach and take meaningful action.
Sobita Gautam
Member of the Parliament
Women in Nepal have come a long way, but true equality still remains a distant goal. Our constitution guarantees 33 per cent representation, yet in many cases, women are taken merely as numbers and being used to pass or fail decisions. Until today, women's representation has largely been tokenistic, serving as a formality rather than a force for real change.
Representation alone is not empowerment. Women need meaningful leadership, not just seats in decision-making bodies. They must be allowed to lead, not just exist within the system.
Women's empowerment is not just about policies; it is about changing attitudes and behaviours. Leadership should be based on competence, not gender. If a person has the skills, they should be given the opportunity. Women must be actively included in political forums, committees, and decision-making spaces. Nepal's demographic reality shows that most communities today are led by women, as many men have migrated abroad for work. Yet, they struggle due to a lack of leadership preparation. They need financial literacy, digital literacy, and self-defence training to equip them for leadership. A woman who understands financial management can better handle her household, business, and digital skills open new avenues.
Although local communities are mostly made up of women, leadership remains dominated by men. In local government elections, women hesitate to lead, feeling unprepared, while those who do step forward are not trusted with leadership roles. As a result, most women remain in deputy positions rather than leaders. To change this, women need training and support. More local government programmes should be dedicated to teaching women about governance and leadership. Since no one understands their communities better than women, empowering them at local level will make governance more inclusive and effective.
The government must introduce policies that encourage women's leadership - such as financial benefits, low-interest business loans, and targeted leadership programmes. Until now, the focus has been on representation. Now, it's time to ensure women are given real power with leadership positions. When women lead, real transformation begins.
Ritu S Vaidya
Managing Director
United Traders Syndicate Pvt Ltd
I am a woman who believes that if we want to perform adjacent to men, we should not be looking for special rules and courtesy on the field! Let's face the situation in the eye and take it on with the same grit and responsibility as would a man. For this our own preparation, preparedness, zest, enthusiasm and will, needs to be at par with any one on the performance field. Not to be better than men, but be the best possible version of the woman we are!
Any how to accelerate this process of empowerment and transformation below are the utmost important issues:
• Best possible education for all women - as an educated woman means an educated family and therefore society! We need to empower the women with the wings of education so that they can fly as high as they want throughout their lives as per their wish, and go ahead to be an Indira Gandhi, Kalpana Chawla, Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, or Sheryl Sandberg to name a few!
• Skill development and enhancement - teaching skills in an environment where education is lacking, can give an opportunity for women to create financial independence for themselves, where they can live life on their own terms, support their families and even create enterprises connected to their skills like forest essentials and many other cottage industry products. Bringing in accomplished trainers, resources and mentors to develop, enhance skills and the businesses around them, funding through micro finances needs to be emphasised, like the Bangladesh micro-finance model transformed millions of lives at the grassroots level.
• Digital learning and online platforms will give many women a renewed hope to learn even if they missed the initial learning years of their lives.
• Competitive platforms like businesses pitching competitions, beauty pageants, community fairs, which create a great platform to bring out heroes and encourage the rest to follow suit.
• Government policy for education for all, with special emphasis on girl child especially for the economically backward classes, where free meal schemes, monetary benefit for the family sending children to school work very well.
• Empowering women with equal rights as men on all fronts like wages, property, et cetera can give a voice to women to fight for their cause.
• Women's health and safety issues are sensitive areas which need a lot of self-education, government and society attention as a healthy woman brings up a secure family. Media can drive a big transformative change here.
I believe the education starts at home with our parents, who need to believe a girl is as or more capable as the male child in the family. If we give the girl child the wings of confidence and education she will be prepared to face the world and fight her own battles!
Sujeeta Mathema
Executive Director
ActionAid International Nepal
Rights, equality and the empowerment of women have the power to reshape every aspect of society, creating a more just, balanced, and sustainable world for everyone. Challenging and reshaping deep-rooted gender biases and power dynamics can shift the entire paradigm of political, economic, cultural and social frameworks.
Any action focussed on advancing women's rights, promoting equality, and empowering women has the potential to radically transform the foundational structure of society. However, these changes do not occur in a vacuum. Accelerated actions are needed in key areas. Expanding education and skill building opportunities equips women with the tools to thrive in the workforce. Strengthening social security and legal protections ensures their safety and well-being especially for informal sector labourers. Establishing gender-friendly spaces - both in public and private sectors - fosters inclusion and equality encouraging women.
to engage more actively in community and civic life. Economic empowerment through access to financial resources and entrepreneurship opportunities opens new avenues for independence and success. Additionally, integrating women into the digital landscape promotes innovation and bridges gaps in access to information and technology.
Together, these interconnected actions and rooted campaigns have the power to transform the lives of women in Nepal and drive the country toward greater gender equality and overall development.
