While gender inequality remains extreme in Nepal, Oxfam’s Raising Her Voice (RHV) programme on women’s empowerment is contributing to and reinforcing an ongoing long-term shift in gender norms, driven by a combination of urbanization, migration, rising levels of literacy and access to media; all of which have combined to erode women’s traditional isolation. That shift has produced some important windows of opportunity, including ‘implementation gaps’ on which RHV seeks to build.

To do this, RHV has set up around 80 Community Discussion Classes, bringing women together to share experiences, enhance their knowledge of local decision making, and build their communication, advocacy and leadership skills. Facilitators of the groups come from the communities themselves and are chosen by RHV’s programme partners. Women have seen tangible progress in their homes, communities, and broader social and political role on issues such as violence against women (VAW), political representation and the right to be heard.

This case study evaluates the Raising Her Voice Nepal programme in order to explore how change happens and inform future programme design and ways of working. This publication forms part of a series of Active Citizenship Case Studies.