GEDSI policy for forestry and environment sector launched

By Pragati Dhakal, Kathmandu, March 1: The Gender Equality, Disability-Friendly, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Strategy and Action Plan for the forestry and environment sector, covering the years 2082–2091, has been officially released.     

The Ministry of Forests and Environment has launched this initiative to promote gender equality, disability inclusion, and social inclusivity within the forestry and environment sectors.     

This decade-long strategy and action plan aims to ensure that government entities, community organizations, the private sector, and development partners at all levels—federal, provincial, and local—are inclusive and accountable in their policies and practices.     

The primary goal of the strategy is to allocate at least 35 percent of the benefits derived from the forestry and environment sector towards enhancing women's skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, and improving livelihoods, adhering to the principles of proportional inclusion.     

Additionally, the strategy outlines a commitment to invest at least 15 percent of the sector's benefits in developing the skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, and livelihoods of marginalized groups, including Dalits, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and Madhesis.     

In line with the strategy, a review of existing policies, acts, regulations, and guidelines concerning forests, environment, biodiversity, and watersheds will be conducted through a gender and socially inclusive lens. All relevant agencies are mandated to formulate and execute action plans to support this initiative.     

Furthermore, the strategy stipulates that at least 50 percent of decision-making positions within institutional frameworks must be held by women, promotes inclusive hiring practices, and ensures proportional representation of marginalized communities.     

A provision has been made to ensure at least 50 percent women's participation, including leadership positions, in community forest user groups and other community-based committees.     

It is stated that there must be female representation among the chairperson or secretary, as well as the vice-chairperson or treasurer.     

There is a strategy to implement social mobilisation programmes for women leadership development, workload reduction, and gender role transformation, and to manage beneficiary data in a disaggregated manner based on gender and social criteria.     

Similarly, there are plans to provide seed capital to marginalised communities and promote forest-based enterprises based on prosperity stratification and social analysis.     

Zero tolerance on gender violence at work place     

The strategy has made it clear that all government, non-governmental, community, and private institutions in the forestry and environment sector will adopt a zero tolerance policy against gender-based violence and sexual harassment.     

The strategy mentions that each institution will form an internal grievance committee and appoint a gender focal person.     

Focus on gender and disability-friendly infrastructure     

The objective is to ensure facilities that are friendly to women, sexual minorities and persons with disabilities when constructing offices, housing, toilets and other infrastructures. The strategy prioritises the provision of breastfeeding rooms, childcare rooms and menstrual-friendly toilet management.     

Monitoring and implementation     

The responsibility for implementing, monitoring and evaluating the monitoring and implementation strategy will be borne by the relevant ministry. It will be reviewed and necessary revisions will be made every five years.     

It is stated that the federation, province, local levels and forest user groups will make provision in the budget for implementation and, if necessary, collaborate with development partners.     

The new strategy is expected to make the forestry and environment sector inclusive, secure and equitable in the coming decade.     

To have positive impact on livelihood of rural women     

Manju Ghimire Subedi, the gender focal person of the Forestry Research and Training Centre, stated that the GESI strategy is expected to have a positive impact on the livelihoods of rural women.     

"When 50 percent representation is ensured in the decision-making process, women will be able to influence the use of forests and natural resources, enhance their income generation, and budget allocation according to their needs and priorities," she said, adding that initiatives that ensure fair distribution of resources and benefits, promote traditional knowledge and skills, and connect them with the market will increase women's income and self-reliance.     

Ghimire stated that proportional inclusive representation has been made mandatory to ensure that benefits reach marginalised communities, including single women and women with disabilities, among the most disadvantaged groups.     

Sunita Ulak, Secretary General of NFA Nepal Forest Technical Association, has commented that the public release of the Gender Equality, Disability-Friendly and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy and Action Plan 2082–2091 for the forestry and environment sector is a positive step.     

Parbata Gautam, General Secretary of the Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN), highlighted that good participation of women in community forests positively impacts leadership and employment, emphasising that the GESI strategy should be effectively implemented in practice.     

According to her, currently 50 percent of women’s active participation is ensured in community forest groups.     

She mentioned that although there is money in various community forest user groups, there is no clear guidance on where and how to spend it, and efforts are also being made to raise awareness among members for the effective implementation of the policy.(RSS)