Results/Achievements

1. Results/Achievements • Locally Available Funds Are Being Utilized by Women Rights Policy Advocacy Networks in 11 districts • Eleven district level women rights policy advocacy networks are formed and they are in the process of utilizing the locally available funds. Doti and Khotang district networks became successful in getting the funds. Similarly, VDC level formed 55 groups are approaching at VDC level to get the funds available for women. • Achievements within the Political Party • 40% political parties’ statutes seem to be gender sensitive. • Mindset within political parties and cadres has been gradually changing • Developed around 20% trainers from the participants of trainings • The political parties are in the pressure/process to make inclusive representation of women in their party structures.

2. Contd… • Skill Transfer/Empowerment • The women political leaders of the districts (around 500) and the VDC level women leaders (around 1600) have started to transfer the skills and knowledge they have learned from the project at their circles. • The VDC level inclusive women leaders (around 1600) of all 55 VDCs are turned into the strong women rights policy groups at each VDC for the advocacy of women rights. • Some potential women leaders of VDCs are taking initiatives in opening social organizations at their VDCs. • 39 inclusive youth advocates are produced for the advocacy on women’s inclusion in politics and women’s issues

3. Contd.. • Increasing Trend of Women's Inclusive Participation in Political Parties • 9.5% in 2007 to 22 in 2011 at district and 9% in 2007 to 16% in 2011 at centre levels on women’s representation in political parties • From inclusion point of view, Dalit women’s participation in politics increased to 24 %, Janajati increased to 20.5%, Bramin and Chhetri women’s participation decreased to 20.9% and 21.5% respectively. Muslim women’s participation increased to 7.8% and Madhesi women’s politics is increased to 14%. (Source: Status of women in political parties and CSOs of Nepal, Jagaran Nepal, 2011)

4. Contd.. • Women Leaders Capacity Enhanced • 1600 inclusive VDC level women, 500 district level women leaders of political parties leadership capacity enhanced • Coordination with IPWA Members Built Up • The IPWA belonging around 110 inclusive members including 189 inclusive members of “ Women Rights Policy Advocacy Network” (formed with our intervention) capacity has been enhanced . • The coordination between the IPWA and Women Rights Policy Advocacy Networks/Groups has been developed which seems to be positive sign in utilizing the locally available funds for women empowerment and leadership capacity enhancement of women at VDC and district levels.

5. Other Achievements • Stakeholders positive feeling towards the initiative taken on WIP • Other collaborative interests on WIP model • 100+ Skilled human resource developed directly for the trainings on human rights, women rights, gender, leadership, women’s inclusion in politics etc. • Common platform created by Women Resource Centre for effective advocacy on women’s inclusion in politics including overall women rights issues • Remarkable no. of critical mass created on women’s inclusion in politics including overall women rights issues

6. Further Change Can be Expected in the Future If the Initiative Continues…. • All 11 districts’ women rights policy advocacy networks will become successful in utilizing the locally available funds for women’s empowerment and capacity building of VDC level women leaders. The networks will be turned into the active advocacy networks in the districts. • All 55 VDC level women rights policy advocacy groups will become successful in utilizing VDC level available funds designing capacity building trainings at VDC levels along with its adjoining VDCs. The groups will be turned into the active advocacy groups in the VDCs. • Major 10-12 political parties will endorse in their constitutions, statutes and manifestos the reservation quotas for women in different policy making levels for women involvement in politics with due consideration to inclusive democracy and social inclusion. • Strong coordination will be built up with IPWA and like minded organizations and alliances for the advocacy on women’s inclusion along with women rights issues • Praiseworthy initiatives can be seen in implementing at least 33% inclusion of women in the committees of the political parties, student and youth wings and its reflection in CSOs too. Remarkable no. of critical mass for women rights and inclusion issues. Youth special initiative will be possible for women rights issues will be possible.

7. Contd.. • Women Resource Centre concept will further be practiced at local level. • Increment in the women membership from grassroots level in political parties that eventually contributes to women in leadership role in politics • Further leadership capacity enhancement of more than 1800 women political activists, social leaders and youth leaders able to intervene the policies and programs of the government and political parties. • Political parties’ student and youth wings documents will be developed as making gender/women friendly. • The leaders in the policymaking levels of major political parties will be more sensitive towards women rights issues and they will also adopt a policy of inclusive democracy and social inclusion in their party structures.

8. Lessons • Package training for potential women leaders and women political leaders in sharpening their leadership and advocacy skills for political participation and linking their skills in grabbing local funds for overall development of women in the districts and VDCs. • Skill transfer opportunities should be provided to the leaders even VDC women leaders to grooming their skills, capacity and developing confidence. • The participation of women in politics depends upon the policy and decision of the party leadership who usually are men. So, the project has to plan for male leaders' sensitization and influence strategy for inclusive participation of women in politics. • The active women alliances and networks should be further strengthened for effective lobby and advocacy on women issues and its legal formulization at political and government levels. • The political neutrality; inclusiveness and space for indentify politics and views are most to get the success in any initiatives. • Grassroots level approach for any initiatives

9. Contd… • The economic empowerment package program is equally important for women leaders as they have to depend on their male counterpart for their financial need. • The Media advocacy is needed and effective one for awareness building on women issues and pressurizing the concerned stakeholders. The multidimensional approach for implementing activities is needed. The multidimensional approach here refers to women’s capacity building, policy advocacy and media sensitization and mobilization for women’s political inclusion. • IEC materials are very effective and efficient way to communicate and disseminate the information • Project advisory unit and coordinating role of organization is crucial for maintaining effectiveness of any project.

10. Contd.. • The sustainability and institutionalization of the process initiated by the project cannot be achieved as according to the set goals and objectives of the project if it does not accomplish the required duration needed for achieving it. • Youth sensitization and advocacy is the best way to hit the ball of inclusive participation of women in politics and CSOs. It is because that youth are the future generation and if we have to create the critical mass for the advocacy then youth sensitization is most. • A common platform should be developed at centre and district levels for women leaders to initiating the strategic campaign for women's inclusion in politics. • The cluster program implementation strategy should be applied and geographical sensitive budget should be projected.

11. Challenges • Political parties are somehow positive and are in progressive thought in making their party structures inclusive in nature but there is a challenge to make them fully convinced that the male leaders' role (especially) will not be hampered if women's inclusive participation is ensured in their party structures. Similarly, some sensitivity can be seen in laws and bylaws of the political parties but there is a challenge to exactly mention in their documents a mandatory no. of women's inclusive representation. • The gradual increment is seen in women's participation in politics but there is a challenge to maintain the pace of increment by empowering women political leaders as accordingly in the completion of male political leaders. • There is numerous numbers of potential women who can be the leaders for tomorrow at VDC level too but there is a challenge to cash their potentiality in political and social sectors.

12. Contd… • Inclusiveness can be maintained in different capacity building related activities but there is a challenge to equally maintain the inclusiveness and build the capacity equally and accordingly. Thus there is a need of special package training for each categorical ethnicity and castes for equal level of empowerment. • Youth leaders have learning attitude but there is a challenge to make them fully internalized and materialize their potentiality on women's inclusion. • The critical mass for women rights and women's issues is increasing but there is a challenge to make them spontaneous on the advocacy of women rights and women issues. Even there is a challenge to reflect the impact of political inclusion and its increment ratio at other state mechanisms and social sectors too. • On women's movement some achievements are possible however there is a challenge to institutionalize even the gained achievements at party and state levels.

13. Contd… • Women leaders and women rights activists are on the same track for equal footing rights of women at all state mechanisms but there is always a challenge to initiate a common advocacy and campaign for women rights. • There is a low level women participation in politics as women politicians still lack bargaining power and capacity to hold the position. Thus, there is still a challenge to make them more competitive and empowered so that their voice will be heard at party level. • There is a challenge to make fully functional the women rights policy advocacy networks and groups without its regular functioning mechanisms

14. Some Glimpses National level advocacy for ensuring at least 33% women’s representation at all state mechanisms

15. Some Glimpses National level advocacy for ensuring at least 33% women’s representation at all state mechanisms

16. Some Glimpses National level advocacy for ensuring at least 33% women’s representation at all state mechanisms

17. Advocacy through research Advocacy through campaign

18. Some Glimpses Jagaran Women Resource Centre Inauguration National level seminar

19. Youth Sensitization Youth leaders Training

20. Some Glimpses of VDC & Districts Potential leaders of a VDC, Tanahun Potential leaders of a VDC, Kaski Potential leaders of a VDC, Dailekh Potential leaders of a VDC, Khotang Potential leaders of a VDC, Sindhupalchowk Potential leaders of a VDC, Doti

21. Some Glimpses VDC Interaction, Surkhet VDC Interaction, Sunsari VDC Interaction, Dadeldhura VDC Interaction, Morang VDC Interaction, Kavre Orientation to women DCM, Dadeldhura