Registration of WoMEF groups in agriculture department of respective municipalities (Jan 2022)

Under the “Strengthening gender-responsive local governance in Nepal” project funded by UNDEF, 32 WOMEF (Musahar Women Empowerment Forums) were formed with the main objective to create a platform to discuss about the barriers of women leadership and possible solutions to increase their leadership role and enhance their representation in the local decision making process. All 32 of WOMEF has been registered in agriculture department of their respective municipalities with the main objective to ensure sustainability of these WoMEF groups beyond the project period. It is anticipated that on registration of WoMEF groups in agriculture department, these groups would be recognized by the local bodies and will eventually benefit from the agriculture services provided by the state. However, to get the registration in the agriculture department was not an easy task and WoMEF groups had to face various challenges. The agriculture department had provision to register only those groups who has land ownership. Majority of Musahars being landless, this provision prevented them from benefiting from all agricultural services of state. Hence, the project coordinator along with the Musahar Association created pressure to the local government for registration of the WoMEF group in agricultural department through various meetings with local government representatives. By January 2022, all 32 WoMEF groups has been registered in the agriculture department of their respective municipalities with total of 1546 members.