Our Accomplishments

Mainstreaming Gender In Politics

The Mainstreaming Gender in Institutional Practice of Political Parties (MGI3P) was set up in collaboration with UN Women in 2011, as a concretisation of the numerous projects DidiBahini has led over the years to mainstream gender into politics. Its ultimate goal is to achieve gender equality in politics, not only in numbers but also in meaningful participation.

Gender mainstreaming into society requires effort at all levels of decision-making, and alongside empowerment of women from below through the Women Forums and other grassroots activities, DidiBahini is now intent on working on the important sphere of participation and influence that are the political parties. The practices of political parties are crucial in the institutionalisation of gender mainstreaming, as well as effective policy-implementation.

Various workshops and meetings are held with district- and national- level governmental bodies, in order to exchange knowledge and ideas, as well as gain information and education relating to gender mainstreaming. The aim of these workshops is to improve the political parties’ institutional practice in regards to gender equality in politics.

DidiBahini has also released a number of publications relating to mainstreaming gender in politics, the latest of which was written in collaboration with UN Women and released at a book launch with all seven major political parties present. (see list of publications)

“Though a challenging issue for the traditionally male-dominated political parties mainstreaming gender is gaining acceptance and slowly being assimilated into party outlooks and mind sets thanks to programmes and books like this. This work is sowing the seeds for women political leaders to play an even bigger role at all levels of government and democracy.” Ben Britton, Development Officer for the Mountain Trust.

Women’s Political Empowerment through Development Education

Didibahini, from its inception has been facilitating and advocating for women’s political empowerment through capacity building training and action research. In 1995 Women in Politics was one of its main strategic agendas. By 1997 DidiBahini accomplished an outstanding task of developing an alternative curriculum for rural women in Nepal which was implemented in 18 different districts of the country as a pilot research. Later, this was disseminated to other interested institutions and organizations committed to women’s empowerment. In 1999 DidiBahini implemented the project Capacity Building Program for Women Leaders (elected and nominated women representatives) at the local level . Gender and Good Governance in Local Government, and Women’s Political Empowerment through Development Education are two other projects that DidiBahini implemented to support women’s political empowerment.

In this regard a survey was conducted in 32 Village Development Committees (VDCs) of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Parsa and Mohattari districts to get first hand information and data of women’s existing capacity, identify their needs for enhancing their ability and to prepare women’s profile. This survey revealed the fact that due to the lack of education, information, opportunities for exposure and leadership, women are in a subordinate position.

In order to promote gender equality and to fill in the gender gap, Women Forums (WFs) were formed in 36 VDCs of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Parsa districts. These forums are apex bodies of different groups (elected and nominated representatives, women from different groups and local CBOs, health workers, social workers etc). These forums provide a platform for grassroots’ women leaders to familiarize themselves with one another and functions of their respective VDC. It further helps to raise collective voices to exercise their rights and effectively mobilize local resources for the social development of their communities.

Women’s Changing Roles

Due to the series of capacity building training WFs have been able to interact with government officers at different levels. Women Forums have also developed advocacy and counseling skills, and leadership qualities. They are effectively mobilizing local resources for the benefit of community people. They have established linkage with VDCs, DDCs, government line agencies and a number of community based organizations and have access to a wide variety of development activities through sectoral agencies. Most of the WFs have identified their needs, developed plan and submitted the proposal to VDCs. Some of the forums have already accomplished the development activities through VDC resources.

The status of these women have been gradually changing from an ordinary housewife to other productive roles. They have been working as role models in the development field to overcome the wide differences between the gender inequalities and to fulfill their role as political leaders, decision makers and opinion builders.

Development Education

The skills and knowledge that they have gained are not sufficient enough, therefore they need to learn new skills, acquire knowledge and information to enhance their capacity further. Economic and educational development are interrelated. Education and access to information is considered a huge long term investment for the larger society. Individuals, communities and societies are increasingly confronted with new situations that demand new skills and approaches. The access to information and education enable people to raise awareness to help develop self confidence and stronger personality.

Realizing the necessity, “Didibahini Resource and Learning Center” has been established in four districts. These centers provide the platform for WFs, women, men, youth, children and adults to learn, interact and share information, knowledge, skills and experiences regularly. This help them identify their needs to plan and implement various development projects accordingly.

Women in Health, Education, Environment and Local Resources (WHEEL)

Women in Health, Education, Environment and Local Resources (WHEEL) is an action research project that covers five Village Development Committees (VDCs) across three districts. These include Baireni VDC of Dhading district; Bindabasini, Jhauwa, and Bahuarwa Bhata VDCs of Parsa district; and Dadhikot VDC of Bhaktapur district.

The first phase of the project began in 1999 with financial support from the Austrian government through the UNFPA Nepal office. From 1999 to 2001, as a research-based initiative, the project explored and tested various approaches to empower women. It facilitated a sustainable shift from the common passive, top-down development approach to a more innovative, long-term, action-oriented, and gender-responsive empowerment model. This approach recognized the diversity and complexity of rural women’s daily lives.

Key learnings from WHEEL I addressed multiple aspects of women’s lives, including livelihood, reproductive health, public and political participation, household workload and power relations, and access to and control over resources and services. WHEEL I also served as a short-term bridging phase that helped define a clear direction for WHEEL II.

The WHEEL II project, launched in January 2003, emerged from a social action learning process that brought together donors, implementing agencies, target beneficiaries, and other stakeholders. Through review and reflection meetings, this process created a collective action platform.

Output

The project has significantly increased access to quality educational inputs (both formal and non-formal) and reproductive health information and services for women, men, and adolescents in the project areas. It has also strengthened the capacity of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and local bodies to collaborate effectively in delivering education, health, and environmental protection services, while addressing entrenched patriarchal values within communities.

In addition, women’s capacity to participate in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of environmental protection and natural resource management activities has improved, along with their ability to exercise control over such resources within their villages.

WHEEL II completed its first year in December 2003. As a participatory action-research-based project, it generated new findings that encouraged both the project and communities to initiate various community-based activities. These included regular health camps, environmental campaigns, reproductive health advocacy initiatives, and school-based gender mainstreaming activities. These efforts mobilized people across all age groups, caste and class backgrounds, as well as political leaders and government staff.

The project also initiated Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Bhaktapur and Parsa. These centres promoted a culture of learning and sharing while sustaining collective community activities. They contributed to strengthening community cohesion toward positive transformation.

Through the CLCs, which include various interest groups and institutions, the project engaged with existing local resource groups such as Water User Committees (WUCs), Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), and other Community-Based Organizations (CBOs). Based on their track records, the project provided orientation and capacity-building support as an initial intervention.

Additionally, the project facilitated the formation of various women’s groups, taking into account ethnicity, caste, poverty levels, and access to basic needs. It has conducted training on Action Research, Reproductive Health (RH), Gender and Development (GAD), Saving and Credit Management, Institutional Development, Youth Leadership and Life Skills, and Gender and Reproductive Health across different age groups.

UNFPA and the Social Welfare Council (SWC) have consistently provided both formal and informal support, serving as key sources of inspiration in project implementation.Based on the outputs from WHEEL II’s first year, along with feedback and suggestions from UNFPA and SWC, the following activities have been identified for further implementation:

• Strengthening of Community Learning Centres (CLCs)
• Establishment of youth information centres
• Educational support programmes for poor girls and women
• Capacity building of local NGOs and CBOs
• Training for community women leaders and teachers on governance, reproductive health, income generation, environmental management
• Mobilization of communities especially youth for peacebuilding initiatives

Kinder Mission (KMW) 

About the project 

Project “FAITH” (Food Available in The Home)

An agricultural approach for self-reliant and sustainable development process of the DLRCs and marginalized communities

Project FAITH (Food Available in The Home) stands as one of DidiBahini’s key initiatives in promoting self-reliant and sustainable livelihoods among Development, Learning and Resource Centers (DLRCs) and marginalized communities. Through this initiative, communities were supported to utilize locally available resources for small-scale agro-based and micro-enterprises, contributing to both household food security and income generation. Mobilizing social mobilizers and DLRC members, the project successfully demonstrated practical approaches such as rooftop farming, organic vegetable production, and the productive use of limited or fallow land, creating replicable models within communities.

With an initial investment of NPR 5,000 per project, each of the four DLRCs implemented two micro-projects through a matching fund approach. The revolving fund mechanism enabled the recovery of initial capital within a year, while profits were reinvested into further production and expansion, ensuring sustainability of the initiative. FAITH gained particular relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic, when disruptions in food systems and livelihoods highlighted the urgent need for localized food production and economic resilience. The project contributed to addressing potential food insecurity and nutritional challenges, especially among vulnerable groups.

By promoting indigenous knowledge and traditional farming practices alongside innovative small-scale production methods, FAITH strengthened community capacity to produce, store, and manage food resources effectively. Beyond economic outcomes, the project played a transformative role in shifting community mindsets from dependency towards self-reliance, while fostering a deeper understanding of the interdependence between people, land, and food systems. Through this approach, FAITH has contributed to empowering communities to become more resilient, financially sustainable, and better prepared to face future challenges.

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSS)

The RWSS project aims to improve the health situation of the people by providing quality drinking water. Secondly, it aims to reduce the work load of the community and save time from fetching water. This saved time can be used for income generating activities. There are many water-related issues in rural Nepal: lack of near by drinking water sources, use of poor quality drinking water, and excessive time (mainly women’s time) to fetch drinking water. As a result of these, the health situation of the community is deteriorating as well as affecting on the economic activity of the local people.

Project Areas

• Bhaktapur District: Tathali and Dadhikot VDCs
• Kabhre District: Janagal and Baluwapati

RWSS activities

• In coordination with the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation fund development Board; in fifth batch, Sahunepakha Chisapani drinking water and sanitation project concluded. From that 35 households benefited. Monitoring and evaluation of the implementation phase is over.
• In coordination with Rural Water Supply and Sanitation fund development Board, in Ugratara Janagal VDC, Baluapati Deupur VDC and Tamanggaun of Dadhikot VDC Bhaktapur, the projects are in pipeline

Peace Enabling Awareness and Conflict Transformation Enterprise (PEACE)

Peace Enabling Awareness and Conflict Transformation Enterprise (PEACE) is one of the programs undertaken by Didi Bahini in joint venture with Community Action Center Nepal (CAC-N) and with the technical and financial support of Academy For Educational Development (AED). The project aims to identify the causes of internal and external conflict that is prevalent in the society. This project attempts to empower and strengthen most vulnerable group of society namely women, youth and the marginalized people to bring psychological and societal transformation in the conflict situation through peace building activities It focuses on the inclusion of Women’s group and youth which inculcates the values of not only empathy but building of the communities, which can significantly contribute to fostering dialogue and discourse on peace and security that is based on coexistence and cooperation.

Objectives

Increase efficacy and capability of civil society networks of women, youth and victims of conflict (VOC) / internally displaced people (IDP) communities to effectively engage in peace-building and conflict transformation activities and processes

Strengthen governance and peacemaking within key groups youth (women, women with disabilities, VOC, IDPs, and HIV AIDS) in 6 districts to increase the likelihood of a shorter, more lasting recovery period and enhance peace building and conflict resolution skills in local communities and with local support structures

Activities

Women, youth peace building council formation

Women peace council with 20 members and a youth peace council of 20 members have been formed in both rural and urban area of every district. Therefore, 80 participants are the direct beneficiaries from each district from Peace council. These candidates will be motivated to bring a multiplier effect in their family and community on Peace building and conflict transformation Weekly meeting has been conducted in the Peace council. In the meetings of peace council the district facilitators of respective districts has been giving non-formal education on peace building and conflict transformation.

Training of Trainers (TOT) in nonviolence, conflict transformation and peace building together with human rights and people-centered, participatory development and empowerment for women and youth councils

As part of activities of the PEACE project, DidiBahini organized a five days residential Training of Trainers (TOT) program on “Peace Building and Conflict Transformation” for the potential leaders (both women/ youth council members and district facilitators) of the Peace council. Training contents regarding “Peace building and Conflict Transformation” which included non-violence, conflict transformation, human rights, participatory development and empowerment was designed with the help of professional training experts. The training was conducted at Himalayan Horizon Hotel, Dhulikhel. The training was organized to encourage people to form peace building self-help and discussion forums in their own communities and to engage actively with their neighbors and other stakeholders regarding peace and conflict transformation and awareness raising.

Establishment of 2 Peace Enabling and Conflict Transformation Centers

The project will support the setting up of 2 Peace Enabling and Conflict Transformation Centers (Bhaktapur and Parsa district). The project will utilize the existing resource centers of DB for cost effectiveness and because these centers are well established in their communities. However, some basic equipment and facilities exclusively for the purpose will be provided by the project. The center will also be utilized in the process of developing a peace website.

Facilitate peace forums/roundtables at the national and local level

Emphasis will be placed on facilitating peace forums for specific actors (women and youth) and will provide space for people to come together to discuss the effects and impacts of violence direct, structural, cultural on their communities; what type of community they envision, and what can be done to build a lasting, sustainable peace on the local level and nationwide. Therefore, at least two peace roundtables with different stakeholders at district level will be organized within the project period.

Facilitate peace building forums and workshops in 4 schools (2 in Bhaktapur, 2 in Parsa and additional schools) and integrate a peace building and conflict transformation teaching learning environment (curriculum) in each participating school

With significant experience in working with youth and women with education focus DB will lead on assisting youth groups with facilitation of the program and working with teachers to integrate peace building curriculum into their regular programs.

Creation of a PEACE project website

PEACE will utilize the existing websites of CAC-N and DB and facilitate the creation of a linked web page highlighting the efforts, progress and challenges of the PEACE program in addition to the contributions of program participants and other stakeholders. Website design and creation will be sought from program volunteers and a professional technician will also be hired to support and train the volunteers. The website will also seek links to other Nepali civil society organizations engaged in peace building and conflict transformation and will also attempt to publish a hardcopy of program highlights and distribute to additional stakeholders in key government and civil society organization offices and resource centers.

Mainstreaming peace building and conflict transformation training and workshop with national civil society organizations and NGOsAs DidiBahini and CAC-N are both founder and core members of Shantimalika, one of the most active and widely covered national level peace alliance net works, PEACE will facilitate peace building mainstreaming workshops with Shantimalika member organizations (Dalit, Gender, Disability, single women and HIV/AIDS focused organizations) so as to promote peace building among civil society networks. Both DB and CAC-N will facilitate this process with significant input from women and youth councils; however DB will be the lead organization.

Manual and Fact- sheet publication

As the project team will be working on conceptualization, planning, implementing as well as gathering feedback of the training materials and process at the end of the project a complete manual is expected to have been published. Any similar programs and institutions in future can use the manual. In addition a fact sheet of about a couple of pages will be produced for wider sharing and dissemination of the experience.

Project “FAITH” (Food Available in The Home)

An agricultural approach for self-reliant and sustainable development process of the DLRCs and marginalized communities

Project FAITH (Food Available in The Home) stands as one of DidiBahini’s key initiatives in promoting self-reliant and sustainable livelihoods among Development, Learning and Resource Centers (DLRCs) and marginalized communities. Through this initiative, communities were supported to utilize locally available resources for small-scale agro-based and micro-enterprises, contributing to both household food security and income generation. Mobilizing social mobilizers and DLRC members, the project successfully demonstrated practical approaches such as rooftop farming, organic vegetable production, and the productive use of limited or fallow land, creating replicable models within communities.

With an initial investment of NPR 5,000 per project, each of the four DLRCs implemented two micro-projects through a matching fund approach. The revolving fund mechanism enabled the recovery of initial capital within a year, while profits were reinvested into further production and expansion, ensuring sustainability of the initiative. FAITH gained particular relevance during the COVID-19 pandemic, when disruptions in food systems and livelihoods highlighted the urgent need for localized food production and economic resilience. The project contributed to addressing potential food insecurity and nutritional challenges, especially among vulnerable groups.

By promoting indigenous knowledge and traditional farming practices alongside innovative small-scale production methods, FAITH strengthened community capacity to produce, store, and manage food resources effectively. Beyond economic outcomes, the project played a transformative role in shifting community mindsets from dependency towards self-reliance, while fostering a deeper understanding of the interdependence between people, land, and food systems. Through this approach, FAITH has contributed to empowering communities to become more resilient, financially sustainable, and better prepared to face future challenges.