The REDD Implementation Center, World Bank Nepal and WOCAN organized three stakeholder workshops in Lumbini and Madhesh provinces and information session in Kathmandu to provide information on the W+ Standard and readiness for gender action in REDD+ between December 4 to 9, 2022 in Nepal.
The objective of the workshops and Information session was to provide knowledge and strengthen the capacity of project teams and country counterparts to include activities that significantly contribute to women’s empowerment, are measurable and measured, and lead to direct benefits for women including those from vulnerable communities. This will inform country counterparts implementing integrated landscape programs on specific women’s empowerment activities appropriate to their contexts, and demonstrate ways of measuring and monitoring improvement.
The workshops in the two provinces focused on introducing the women’s empowerment certification framework, the W+ Standard, validating the consolidated Gender Action Plan for REDD+ and developing the activities for gender interventions. There were 41 participants (12 women and 29 men) in Lumbini province and 43 participants (7 women and 36 men) in Madhesh province who represented the provincial Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE), REDD+, DFO staff and various project stakeholders including women representatives from Community Forest User Groups, Federation of Community Forest Users (FECOFUN), Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), Adibashi Janajati Mahasangh, Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resource Management Association (HIMAWANTI) and Scientific Forest Federation.
“This was the first time, I thought of gender issues, its causes and effects in this systematic way. It was so clear to come up with activities. I wish to learn more and share these learnings especially the W+ Standard with other women groups that I am engaged with”, Renu Sen, Chairperson of Scientific Forest Federation, Lumbini Province
“In Madhesh we do not have much natural forests, so we built our community forest and now we are ready to reap the benefit. Women members need more resources to start new businesses and be self-sustaining”, Ram Kumari Rumba, Chairperson, Scientific Forest Management Federation, Madhesh Province
The information session was organized at the World Bank Office in Kathmandu. The objective of the session was to provide detailed information on how W+ Standard can be integrated within the Forest for Prosperity Program (FPP). Dr. RC Kandel, Joint Secretary, REDD IC Chief, Ministry of Forests and Environment gave the opening address and emphasized the commitment of Nepal’s FPP project to achieve ambitious goals for gender-related activities and interventions, including the application of the W+ Standard.
Dr. Jeannette Gurung, Executive Director of WOCAN, gave a detailed presentation of the W+ Standard and listed the activities under the World Bank PROGREEN project for Nepal. Dr. Barun Gurung, W+ Lead Trainer, presented the overview of the W+ training course. After the presentation, there was a lively discussion with the participants. Dr. RC Kandel reassured the audience that the government of Nepal is committed to implementing the W+ Standard and needs support from all the stakeholders. Meerim Shakirova, Natural Resources Management Specialist at the World Bank Nepal Country Office, clarified that there will be another meeting to discuss the benefit sharing plan of the programme and that this just the beginning of the discussion. There are various other activities planned for inclusive implementation of FPP activities. Dr Jeannette and Dr. Barun emphasized that this is the start of the discussion of the W+ Standard, and that the training will provide much more clarity. Jaya Sharma, Senior Social Development Specialist & Gender Focal Point at the World Bank Nepal Country Office, closed the session on a hopeful note by emphasizing that the implementation of the W+ Standard will support the FPP to have more impact on women’s empowerment. She also highlighted that having the government of Nepal on board for such an innovative initiative is a great opportunity for Nepal.
