Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN) successfully concluded a transformative initiative under the USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) project, entitled “Women Initiatives in Ecotourism Training: Enhancing Climate Change Awareness”. The project spanned for five months, from May to September 2024, which was based in Nepal’s scenic Kaski District, an area rich in natural beauty but facing increasing environmental challenges. The project sought to strengthen community cohesiveness and bridge the gap between economic empowerment and climate resilience by providing local women with leadership, conservation, and sustainable tourism skills training.
Bridging Economic Empowerment with Environmental Stewardship
The project’s primary aim was to empower women to become stewards of ecotourism and environmental preservation, addressing urgent issues such as climate change and sustainable tourism development. Through interactive and practical training sessions, EWN worked with women from diverse backgrounds to teach them how to harness the potential of ecotourism for sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation. The initiative aimed to build a network of environmentally conscious women ready to take active roles in both tourism and community leadership, fostering a culture of conservation and climate awareness.
Targeted Training across Key Locations in Kaski District
The 14 events were held which included 7 events on Ecotourism Training and 7 events on Capacity Building on Homestay Management Training in seven distinct locations within Kaski District. Among these 7 locations, Madi-1, Sikles, Madi-2, Tangting, Annapurna-4, Bhadaure Annapurna-10, Ghandruk and Machhapuchhre-1, Khumai Danda are already a popular tourist destination and Machhapuchhre-4, Lahachowk, and Pokhara-23, Chapakot are emerging as a ample potential for tourism. Each training session was tailor-made to suit the specific needs of each location, equipping women with important skills in sustainable tourism practices, food hygiene, and climate change awareness. Additionally, thematic areas of protection of biodiversity and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion were being taken on board to instil a holistic approach that supported an all-encompassing approach that advances inclusivity and environmental stewardship beyond mere business savvy.
Empowering Women with Sustainable Tourism and Leadership Skills
In total 548 local women participated in 14 training events where they gained knowledge and skills on sustainable practices that would be undertaken in homestays, tea houses, and small tourism businesses. Also given this fact practical and hands-on sessions enabled the women to handle eco-friendly businesses, be community leaders, and take part in environmental protection. Beyond economic empowerment for women, the project aimed to address major environmental challenges in the Annapurna region, where tourism and climate change have started to leave their impact on the region’s natural environment. Besides this, participants learned sustainable practices like the use of alternative sources of energy, waste management systems, and participation in reforestation programs. The development of such practices has contributed to the conservation of critical natural resources and an important long-term promotion of biodiversity in this area.
Fostering Inclusivity and Social Cohesion
A unique strength of this project was its inclusive approach. The program brought in women from marginalized groups, indigenous communities, Dalits communities, and persons with disabilities. By encouraging inclusiveness in the tourism sector, it encouraged social cohesion and helped in strengthening the local economy. This created not only economic opportunities for the diversified category of women but also provided a platform where participants from different quarters shared insight, supported one another, and built strong communities. The project made sure to create a meaningful contribution by women at all levels of life towards tourism and conservation.
Ensuring Long-Term Impact through Follow-Up and Mentorship
Beyond the training sessions, EWN remained dedicated to making a lasting impact of the training. In order to track how participants were using their newly acquired abilities and to offer continuing mentoring, follow-up activities were carried out and also the guidance was provided to each participant’s needs through on-site visits, addressing obstacles they had when putting sustainable methods into practice and utilizing the training ideas. This hands-on approach gave the women a chance to get specific advice, build confidence, and grow in their commitment to eco-friendly tourism and conservation.
Overcoming Challenges of the Monsoon Season
Even though the project was successful, there were still difficulties, particularly during Nepal’s monsoon season, which is a prime time to cultivate rice in those regions so many participants had to balance their training with domestic farming duties. Besides this frequent travel disruptions and logistical issues caused by heavy rains and landslides. Additionally, the monsoon’s role in supporting local rice cultivation sometimes pulled participants away, affecting attendance. However, participants showed resilience, adjusting schedules and overcoming these hurdles to ensure that the project objectives were met.
Paving the Way for a Sustainable Future in Nepal
This initiative is an excellent example of how focused training may create resilient, sustainable communities as it has built a step further on the foundation for a sustainable future in the Kaski district by giving women a leading role in ecotourism and environmental conservation. These women will continue to set an example for others, and their activities will go beyond the issues of economic growth and creating an environmentally conscious culture and socially cohesive society. EWN remains committed to furthering this mission, ensuring that women throughout Nepal have the opportunity to shape a brighter, more sustainable future for themselves and their communities.
