Women’s contributions to natural resource management and sustainable development

Background

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated worldwide to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the globe and the unique struggles that connect them. Every year, numerous events are held throughout the world to inspire women and to celebrate their achievements.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the livelihoods of women all over the world and exacerbated existing gender inequalities. As a result, women have had to face more challenges than ever before. Hence, it is more important than ever to celebrate this day in 2021 and to highlight and recognize the contributions of women in sustainable development.

In the Hindu Kush Himalaya, many women are directly dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods. A number of programmes are currently being implemented in Nepal’s Sudurpaschim Province with a focus on gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) in sustainable development and natural resource management (NRM). These include FECOFUN’s community forestry programmes; HIMAWANTI Nepal’s district chapters in Sudurpaschim; ICIMOD’s Air Pollution Solutions Initiative, Resilient Mountain Solutions Initiative, and Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI); and WWF Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) programme.

Objectives

Using IWD as a platform for advancing women’s agenda in the new normal during the COVID-19 era, this one-day workshop aims to

• Celebrate women’s achievements in sustainable development and NRM in Sudurpashchim Province
• Exchange experiences and share lessons learned from the various programmes being implemented in Sudurpaschim, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Apprise senior provincial ministry officials on the significance of integrating GESI in NRM and sustainable development

The following are the expected outcomes of the workshop:

• Women-to-women exchange of experiences and best practices in integrating GESI in NRM and sustainable development
• Celebration of women and their resilience in the era of COVID-19
• Way forward from relevant ministries for GESI integration in the planning and implementation process