Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco, the United Nations agency UN Women's representative for Nepal, has pointed out the need for economic inclusion of women in Nepal and the cooperation of all parties is necessary. In the 'Ring the Bell' program for gender equality in the financial sector, she opined that although Nepal has achieved progress in women's literacy, initiatives are still needed in financial inclusion.
In a program jointly organized by UN Women, Global Compact Nepal, International Finance Corporation and Nepal Stock Exchange on Thursday, the speakers expressed their views on the challenges, necessary strategies and possibilities for empowerment of women entrepreneurs. In the discussion session, Pratibha Pandey, founder of Herbeda Botanicals shared her experience about the financial challenges faced by women entering entrepreneurship.
Global Equity Fund Deputy CEO Ashish Dhakal opined that women-led organizations can contribute significantly to sustainable economic development. Director of Nepal Rastra Bank Arya Joshi opined that when it comes to gender equality in the financial sector, not only credit facilities but also insurance and remittances are important. Cécile Riviere, the program manager of the Swiss Embassy, said that existing gender inequality in the financial sector creates problems for the entire economic ecosystem. The participants present at the
program collectively rang the symbolic bell as part of the 'Ring the Bell' programme, pledging their commitment to gender equality and economic inclusion. The organizers hope that this will convey the message that cooperation from all sectors is necessary for women's empowerment. The 'Ring the Bell' campaign has been promoting the principle of women's empowerment (WEPS) and has been continuously advocating for equal access to economic opportunities.
