Women's participation and empowerment in Nepal : an evaluation of rural-urban partnership program | |
| Author | Adhikari, Leena |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-01-14 |
| Subject(s) | Women in development--Nepal Women in rural development--Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-01-14 |
| Abstract | In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate Rural-Urban Pa1inership Program (RUPP) for its effectiveness in gender responsive programming and to assess its impact on increasing women's empowerment. Based on woman beneficiaries' retrospective responses on their own comparative status before and after participating in RUPP's activities, women's empowerment positioning has been analyzed in three dimensions, viz., i. Intra-household Status, ii. Socio-political Status, and iii. Economic Status. Out of total 12 program implemented market zones nationwide, this study has covered two namely, Biratnagar Market Zone and Dhankuta Market Zone situated in Eastern Development Region of Nepal. Required primary information, quantitative and qualitative, has been generated through sample survey, in-depth interview, FGD and informal discussion with the women beneficiaries currently participating in RUPP, their husbands and mothers-in-law and some key informants. Women's participation in various activities in grass-root level was quite encouraging, however RUPP has not met its officially pronounced gender sensitive objective of ensuring at least 50 per cent participation by women in its each of the activities. Moreover, males occupy most of the managerial positions including the chief of the program in central level, and officers in market zones. However, appointing female as its gender advisor, majority of female among the community mobilizers, emphasizing women's groups for potential TLO members, taking women as target beneficiaries, provision of credit without any collateral are some positive indications towards its gender sensitive policies and programmmg. Disregarding the program participation, women beneficiaries in the study area are very poor. However, RUPP's activities have induced some positive changes in regards to women's position and recognition within household and in the community, access and control over resources and benefits and involvement in decision making process, though the extent of change is not too high. Involvement in income generating activities under the credit support from RUPP without any collateral has enabled poor and marginal women to generate own savings and thereby to have better access to basic needs, economic autonomy, especially in decision-making regarding their personal needs and interest, to deserve better recognition and self-esteem and to make important contribution to household and community decision making. Lack of regular funding, poor coordination among partner organizations, unstable government and political interference, insufficient supervision and monitoring, high interest rate, poor access to marketing facilities reported to be some of the challenging problems threatening to RUPP's sustainability. Despite of various shortcomings and problems embedded, RUPP has demonstrated its overall positive impact on women's empowerment, so the concerned authorities should give due attention to ensure its sustainability. |
| Year | 2001 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-01-14 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Earth, Barbara; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko;Thapa, Gopal B. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Japan ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |