In Nepal, paving the way for gender equality in local governance
How a Government of Nepal-led flagship programme has guided provincial and local governments to establish a groundwork for an equitable society by enforcing GESI policies and codes of conduct, alongside conducting regular audits on gender and social inclusion matters.
Until a few years ago, gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) was an overlooked agenda in Namobuddha Municipality of Kavre. Even as GESI was included in federal government policies, grassroot people especially women, children, physically disabled and backward communities were hardly aware of those issues. Civil servants, local authorities and political leaders, in general, didn’t intend to enter into those topics which were considered relatively less important.
Their understanding, however, changed after the government implemented Provincial and Local Governance Support Program (PLGSP) some four years ago. PLGSP is a flagship programme of the Government of Nepal funded by Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom and the European Union, with UNDP as a technical support provider. One of the key objectives of the Programme was to ensure provincial and local governments have the capacity and promote inclusive development and equitable governance in line with the spirit of the Constitution.
Following a series of training, deployments of experts and through participatory planning process, most of the provincial and local governments started formulating their own GESI policies to implement gender inclusion in practice. Further, GESI codes of conduct have been prepared for effective implementation of those inclusive policies. And those activities are audited to check whether the promised activities are carried out to impact targeted people in accordance with goals set in GESI policies.
Based on local necessity, priorities differ from one local government to another although the main spirit remains the same. For example, in Kavre, Namobuddha Municipality has introduced a few measures to curb violence against women. Rescue and Relief Fund for managing domestic violence victims is one among many other interventions. A shelter is in operation in view of supporting women in case of emergency rescue and relief.
The municipality also allocates a budget for a child revolving fund to ensure child rights. Separate funds have been created to support Dalit, indigenous nationalities, single women, senior citizens and physically disabled people.
“GESI code of conduct is being implemented from ward to municipality level,” said Tara Devi Sunuwar, gender focal person at Namobuddha municipality adding, “The municipality has already endorsed the GESI strategy. For the municipality, the annual GESI audit has become a regular work in the local government system.”
The municipality helped to rehabilitate three women facing domestic violence. Two of them were physically assaulted. The rescue and relief fund was used to help their rehabilitation. “They are now raising children on their own,” said Ms. Sunuwar, adding, “The money we provided them has been invested for vegetable farming and goat keeping.”
Third woman was facing economic pressure after her husband died. The money provided by the fund was used to help her raise her children.
Additionally, as many as five women benefited from the emergency when they faced gender based violence. “We use emergency funds when women are not able to bear travel expenses to make citizenship cards or other needy documents,” said Sunuwar, “We have mobilized women cooperatives to make them aware of GESI policies and economic empowerment.”
Notably, enhanced focus on equality and inclusion has also knock on effects on overall service delivery. For instance, within Gandaki Province, the deputy mayor of Sundar Bazar amended the annual budget before the expiry of the fiscal year. This was possible after the deputy mayor attended a gender responsive budget.
Annapurna Rural Municipality, a local government entity with an impressive score of 92%, has demonstrated exemplary performance in service delivery, achieving a commendable 86% out of 100, according to the evaluation system developed by the Local Government’s Institutional Self-Assessment (LGISA).
“Testimony affirms that local governments excelling in inclusive governance are also adept at delivering more effective and inclusive services,” said Jashmin Sthapit, an e-governance expert at PLGPS.
With PLGSP support, Nepal’s all 753 local governments and seven provinces have gender friendly laws, evidence-based decision making, capacity building and effective service delivery. From ward to province, all governments are trained and engaged in promoting GESI policies in practice.
In Bagmati, which covers Namobuddha municipality, PLGSP supported parliamentarians in the law-making process. A study on provincial and local-level cooperative law, their strengths, and their weaknesses was conducted. The recommendations are very important for provincial assembly members to amend the laws.
The Bagmati Province accomplished a study of various documents prepared for local governments in the technical support of the Provincial Center for Good Governance (PCGG). It has suggested to prepare a periodic plan, execute the program only on the basis of demand from local and provincial governments, organize more technical on basic infrastructure training and procure management and legal training.
The Office of Chief Minister has acknowledged the suggestions put forth by the study.
According to PLGSP, almost 200 elected representatives and staff were trained in fiscal year 2079/2080 in Bagmati province. Thirty percent of the local level have conducted annual GESI audits and allocated budget from internal resources in Bagmati province.
Thirty five percent of local governments applied the Code of Conduct to reduce gender-based violence in the workplace and established the management fund for gender-based violence victims.
In recent years, the program has facilitated integration of GESI in all aspects of the federalization process making provincial and local governments fully functional, sustainable, inclusive and accountable to their citizens.
The program supported to complete 47 GESI audits in provincial ministries and agencies. In achieving this, 20 ministries and agencies of Lumbini province conducted a GESI audit. Similarly, 13 ministries and agencies of Koshi Province and 7 of Karnali provinces conducted GESI Audit. GESI Audit at provinces has enhanced a participatory process that the program undertaking to identify recommendations to the provincial government to integrate gender equality and social inclusion within provincial planning, decision making processes and programming.
Province wise, 55 local governments in Sudurpashchim Province, 45 in Bagamati Province, 20 in Lumbini Province, 12 in Gandaki Province and 1 in Koshi Province have prepared and adopted their codes of conduct to control exploitation and including sexual harassment. This represents a dedication to preventing exploitation and harassment and fostering a safer and inclusive environment at the workplace.
In Lumbini, the provincial government has formulated several laws to ensure GESI. The newly formulated province civil service act, province forest regulation, executive order of province training academy, provincial government fiduciary risk reduction guideline, volunteer mobilization guideline, and gender responsive budgeting guideline have ensured social and gender equality.
Because of frequent training and orientation to government officials’ changes are visible in provincial and local governments. This has changed the thinking and work style of officials working in various governments.
Rabin Karki, gender focal person at the Physical Infrastructure Ministry under Koshi Province, is one among several officials to change his mind about gender and social inclusion after the training organized by the program.
“Before joining training, I used to think GESI was a women’s issue. What I understood now is that it’s not only issue related to women, but a common issue,” said Karki, adding, “I have started to discuss about GESI, build a female-friendly toilet, disable friendly toilet and we are planning to build breast feeding room for female staffers and service seekers.”
The GESI audit has helped provincial and local governments to improve mistakes.
Suman Lingden, chief administrative officer at Yangwarak Rural Municipality, Koshi Province, feels so.
“GESI audit is a monitoring method wherein feedback received from the field helps us to formulate a GESI action plan and implement it. It helps us to improve lapses which ultimately contributes to GESI,” said Lingden, adding, “Work performance of many local bodies will be enhanced if GESI audit is followed.”
In Yangwarak Rural Municipality, breastfeeding rooms are designated in all wards and the municipality office from this fiscal year. Fifty percent insurance expenses are waived for disabled people.
After GESI training, Ganesh Khatiwada, gender focal person of Yangwarak Rural Municipality said Safe Houses are established in two wards of the rural municipality. Safe Houses ensure food and logistics apart from legal assistance to women suffering from domestic violence.
The program has provided an opportunity to mainstream GESI beyond traditional practices of ending gender-based violence.
Ms. Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, Resident Representative for UNDP Nepal, provided insight into the broader impact, stating, “When provincial authorities, mayors, ward chairs listen and discuss, negotiate and take decisions to invest in food and water access, healthcare, education, shelter, roads, decent work, and other infrastructure and services, they are using their unique position to take deliberate paths in support of preventing violence against women, assuring safety and security of women, and guaranteeing emotional wellbeing of women. Then, they are setting examples.” Ms. Labe added, “With CSOs, and other local partners, PLGSP certainly is a platform to facilitate integrated efforts.”
“This year’s 16 Days Campaign theme focuses on financing prevention strategies. So my humble call is to the decision makers at the Sub national levels to seize this opportunity beyond the 16 Days to reflect and act on how they facilitate prevention of violence in their respective territories,” Ms. Labé, connecting with the ongoing 16 Days Campaign Against Gender Based Violence.
Ram Kumar Mahato, Joint Secretary, MoFAGA, highlighted the program’s instrumental role in fostering gender and social inclusion in Nepal. He said, “PLGSP has been instrumental in fostering Gender Equity and Social Inclusion in Nepal, in Province and Local Governments. Over four years, the program spurred grassroots awareness and commitment to GESI issues, leading to significant policy formulations and code of conduct implementations at all three tiers of governments. The program’s impact is evident in transformed mindsets among government officials, showcasing the potential for a more equitable society with sustained commitment to GESI principles, however challenges include varying priorities among local governments and the need for continuous GESI audits.”
Some, however, argue the program is yet to reach targeted populations. “The way the program has been designed, it should have been implemented in coordination with the local governments,” said Laxmi Devi Pandey, chairperson of the National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, “Some rural municipalities complain that they are left untouched by the program and feel like being mere recepients.”
Ms. Pandey acknowledged the program has positively changed people’s perception in project areas.
As evidenced by officials, the platform has indeed led to tangible changes in local governance. As Tara Devi Sunuwar rightly concluded, “It may take a little time to fully ensure gender equality, but what I feel is that it’s not impossible to achieve the set target of building an inclusive society.”
Read more about the Programme at: https://plgsp.gov.np/
