Nepal is a largely patriarchal society with a hierarchical caste system. But fixing old problems and creating equitable government structures does not have to be an uphill battle. Initiatives such as Gov-HER-nance, a pioneering campaign initiated by Accountability Lab Nepal (ALN) in collaboration with female local government representatives in Nepal’s Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city, brings in new voices and finds solutions to issues of gender equity, local development, and open government. Contrary to what citizens commonly believe, we have found that government representatives can be eager to collaborate with community members to drive change, and to work towards a shared vision of ‘samrachana sabaika laagi’ or ‘system for everyone.’ In this discussion, we share key lessons around the role civil society organizations (CSOs) in supporting inclusive policy making processes.
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Civic Action Teams: Creative Convening and Community Mobilization
Ashmita Sharma was involved in various youth-led organizations prior to joining Accountability Lab Nepal. Since 2014, she has been leading the Integrity Icon Campaign at the Lab which has now become a global movement to celebrate, encourage and connect honest government officials who demonstrate exemplary integrity in their work. She has completed her Masters in Gender Studies and is passionate about gender issues. She is a strong advocate for gender equality.
Prekkshya Bimali have a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health. As she is passionate about working closely with the communities on the ground she gained a lot of experience through volunteering in teaching, article writing, translating and research before her engagement with the Accountability Lab Nepal. She is interested in gender, health governance, and accountability. At the Lab, she is leading a team of Inclusion Fellows who are working towards building a gender-friendly society.
Ganga has completed her Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Master’s in Sociology. She has worked with the local media channels and collected more than 5 years of experience in journalism. Ganga along with her team of fellows lead and carry out activities to advocate for the inclusion and equality in her community in Dhangadhi. She has been able to reach marginalized communities and bring out many inspiring unheard stories. Currently, she also runs a local radio program focused on the access of justice to women.