National Launch and Consultation on “Catalyzing Women Entrepreneurship” in Nepal

To support member States to enhance women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship as a strategy for poverty reduction, social wellbeing and sustainable economic growth towards the realization of SDG 5 on Gender equality, ESCAP is implementing a five-year (2019-2023) regional programme on “Catalyzing Women’s Entrepreneurship – Creating a Gender-Responsive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” funded by the Government of Canada.

The project was launched in Nepal on 25 August 2019. It aims to increase the capacity of public and private sector stakeholders to integrate gender and ICT considerations into financial inclusion measures and entrepreneurship development at all levels. A National Consultation took place after the project launch, and served as a platform for policy dialogue, capacity building and networking for key stakeholders from the public and private sectors in Nepal.

During the national consultation, APCICT facilitated a session on “Leveraging the power of ICT for women entrepreneurship”. The panel discussion addressed the way digital solutions can help advance women’s entrepreneurship and the measures that are needed for women to effectively utilize ICT in their businesses. It also discussed the role of policymakers in creating an enabling environment for ICT-empowered women entrepreneurship and examined the challenges and opportunities in deploying ICT tools and digital solutions.

The event brought together 50 government leaders and policy makers from key ministries and agencies in the areas of gender equality, SME development, trade, ICT, planning and economy and finance, as well as representatives from the private sector, NGOs, Women Business associations and donor agencies.

For more information, please visit: https://www.unescap.org/events/catalyzing-women-s-entrepreneurship-nepal-national-consultation