03/09/2026
From learning to leadership: Women organized into networks to raise their voices
Surkhet, September 3-2026: The Leadership and Advocacy Classes organized by Women Association for Marginalized Women (WAM), Surkhet, have been successfully completed. The classes were conducted under the WRF/Increasing access to policymaking through women empowerment project, implemented in partnership between Oxfam in Nepal and WAM. The classes aimed to strengthen the leadership capacities of marginalized women, enhance their participation in decision-making processes, and develop their skills to advocate for women’s rights and issues affecting their communities.
Under the project, three Leadership and Advocacy Classes were conducted in Narayan Municipality of Dailekh and Birendranagar Municipality of Surkhet. Six sessions were conducted for each class, with a total of 18 sessions completed across all three classes. The class conducted with women from Wards 3, 4, 5, and 10 of Narayan Municipality, Dailekh, has been transformed into a "Women Advocacy Network (WAN)". Similarly, the class conducted with women from Wards 10, 11, and 13 of Birendranagar Municipality, Surkhet, has been organized as the "Women (Nari) Leadership Network-NLN" Another class conducted with women from Wards 1, 2, and 9 of Birendranagar Municipality has been organized as the "Uniformity (Ekarupata) Women Network- EWN."
The classes covered topics including the concept and styles of leadership, effective communication and coordination, decision-making processes, the concept and process of advocacy, community participation, advocacy planning, and collective action to raise community concerns. The sessions followed participatory and practical learning approaches, using methods such as group discussions, experience sharing, practical exercises, role plays, and action-plan development.
With the completion of the classes, the participating women have not been left merely as training participants; rather, they have been organized into three functional women’s networks. The Women’s Advocacy Network, Women (Nari) Leadership Network, and Ekarupata Women’s Network are expected to identify women’s and community issues, coordinate with relevant stakeholders, engage in dialogue with local governments, and collectively advocate on issues requiring attention and action.
These networks are expected to play an important role in increasing women’s meaningful participation in local-level planning and decision-making processes, raising community concerns and issues, and promoting women’s leadership in their respective communities. WAM will continue to coordinate with, facilitate, and provide necessary support to all three women’s networks in the coming days, with the aim of further strengthening their leadership and advocacy capacities.
https://wam.org.np/stories/from-learning-to-leadership-women-organized-into-networks-to-raise-their-voices/
