Women’s Empowerment at the Frontline of Adaptation

indicators, including the Gender-related Development Index (Tiwari et al. 2009), which is lowest at 0.414 in the Far Western mountains, Mid Western mountains, and Western mountains, followed by Far Western hills (0.421) and Mid Western hills (0.439), compared to the national average, which is 0.499. In addition to the inhibiting socio- cultural factors that are pervasive in Nepal, the remoteness of these regions limits the exposure of both men and women to new ideas, policies, laws, systems and attitudes (UNDP 2009). Participation of Women in Labour and Community Forestry Since 1990, both the labour participation rate and employment to population ratio for women in Nepal have shown a steady increase (see Table 2). A long history of development interventions and exposure has contributed to making rural women aware, skilled, and organized. Today, rural women are more mobile and capable of earning income, owning enterprises, and holding leadership positions within community interest groups and cooperatives than ever before. These improvements have changed the status of Nepali women (particularly rural women) and this improvement has been observed in areas such as health, education, income generation, enterprises, land ownership, representation in community groups, and politics.

For example, in community forestry, which is one of the most successful development initiatives in Nepal, women’s participation as decision makers on the executive committees of community forest user groups (CFUGs) has, in the three decades

Table 2: Labour participation rate and employment to population ratio

Labour Participation Rate

Employment to Population Ratio

Year

1990 2000 2009 1990 2000 2009

Female 52.4 Male 84.6

59.9 81.4

63.3 80.3

52.2 82.5

58.8 79.7

62.0 78.6

Source: Asia-Pacific Human Development Report, UNDP 2012

Figure 3: Women and Development in Nepal

Population Distribution

Literacy Rate

Household Head

2011

2011

2001

2001

2001

2011

2001

2011

Labour Participation Rate Percentage

Employment to Population Ratio Percentage

0 20 40 60 80

0 20 40 60 80

13

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