Nepal: Nepal’s Women Leaders Champion Inclusive Development

Sep 25, 2024 | Manohara KhadkaSumitra KC
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Since Nepal’s shift to a federal structure in 2015, a new generation of women leaders has emerged, dedicated to water management, sustainability and equitable development. However, entrenched systems and outdated norms continue to hinder their progress.

In 2015, Nepal passed a new Constitution, which mandated a radical shift towards inclusive representation.  Under Articles 215, 216, 220, 222 and 223, a certain portion of elected positions were reserved for underrepresented groups. The 2017 municipal elections, held for the first time in two decades, saw almost 40% of seats in 753 constituencies reserved for women. 18 women were elected as mayors or rural municipal chairs, with an additional 718 women elected as deputy mayors or vice-chairs. In the subsequent 2022 elections, 25 women were elected as mayors or chairs and 564 women were elected as deputy mayors or vice-chairs.