Gender and Social Inclusion in Elections-Nepal

The Election Commission of Nepal and the BRIDGE partners conducted a three-day workshop on Gender and Social Inclusion in Elections in two different development regions at different dates. The workshop on Gender and Social Inclusion in Elections at Baglung (Western Development Region) was held from 9-11 November 2014 and in Dhangadi, Kailali District (Far Western Development Region it took place from 7 – 9 December 2014. Both these workshops were organized with the support of UNDP/ESP.

The workshop on Gender, Social Inclusion in Elections is one of the customized training of BRIDGE, especially design for women, indigenous (Janajatis) and oppressed (Dalits), marginalised as well as backward community and differently abled population of the country.

Both the workshops were officially inaugurated by commissioners of the Election Commission of Nepal.

Gender and social inclusion is a cross cutting subject and the issues related to this needs to be highlighted and prioritised in election process and even the stakeholders should be familiar with election related matters. Hence, the objective of this module is to bring various cross cutting issues into one platform with a view of imparting basic knowledge of contemporary issues on the subject matter and have common understanding between election commission and its stakeholders. The contents of the training was customized from the BRIDGE Foundation Models and other modules such as Gender and Elections, Civic/Voters Education and Access to Electoral Processes.

objectives of workshops

The main objective of this three-day BRIDGE workshop on Gender, Inclusion and Elections were:

1. Highlight the importance of gender and inclusion in the electoral process and discuss the ways/strategies of advancement of their participation in the electoral process with a view of making similar understanding among the various stakeholders and the Commission.
2. Discuss methods and tools of analysis from the prospective of gender and social inclusion in political participation of women, indigenous communities, oppressed community and differently abled persons.
3. Initiate interaction and collect suggestions/strategies for easy access of political participation for women, indigenous and oppressed communities, and differently abled persons from the organizations working for them.

To materialize above stated objective Election Commission of Nepal and BRIDGE partners designed Gender and Social Inclusion in Elections workshop. The customised course was designed and inline with the course the handouts were prepared and distributed to the participants.

Some topics were taken from BRIDGE Module and some were about Election Commission, Nepal and its developments.

Both the training programs were conducted following BRIDGE methodology. The workshops were activity-based and catered as per the needs of the participants.

The workshop on Gender and Social Inclusion in Elections was conducted by a team of two fully accredited local BRIDGE facilitators and 2 semi accredited local BRIDGE facilitators. The BRIDGE facilitators contributed in the workshop were Surya P. Aryal, Executive Director of Electoral Education and Information Centre (EEIC), ECN, Nikila Shrestha- EEIC Coordinator, UNDP/ESP, and Semi facilitators Laxmi Devi Homagain, Under Secretary, and Tol Raj Upadhaya -District Election Officer of Baglung.

The workshop on Gender, Social Inclusion and Elections was conducted by a team of three fully accredited national BRIDGE facilitators. The BRIDGE facilitators contributed in the workshop were Ram Govinda Aryal, Senior Computer Officer, ECN, Nikila Shrestha, National EEIC Coordinator, UNDP/ESP and Radhika Regmi, National Training Officer, IFES. Semi Accredited Co-facilitator, Bishaksen Dhakal, Under Secretary, ECN.

Participants at Baglung Workshop

A total of 26 participants (female 18 and male 8) attended the training program. The participants were invited from various civil society organizations representing women organizations, Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, NGO Federation, Dalit Rights related organizations and Differently Abled People’s organizations of 5 districts Mustang, Myagdi, Baglung and Parbat of Dhawalagiri Zone and Kaski district of Gandaki Zone.

Participants at Dhangadi Workshop

A total of 24 participants (female 11 and male 13) attended the workshop. The participants were invited from various civil society organizations representing women organizations, Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, NGO Federation, Dalit Rights related organizations and Differently Abled People’s organizations of 5 districts – Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Baitadi and Dadheldhura – all belonging to Far Western Development regions of Nepal .