Indigenous women of Nepal face multiple forms of discrimination. Indigenous women, being indigenous peoples, face racial, linguistic, religious, cultural, economic, political discrimination and exclusion. Also, indigenous women, being women, face gender discrimination. Thus, indigenous women are victimized by ideologies, policies and practices of Bahunbad (Brahmanism) and patriarchy.
Empowerment and strengthening of indigenous women is a must to end all forms of racial and gender discrimination, exploitation, suppression and oppression against indigenous women. Acceptance of multi-caste and ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural reality of Nepali society by the people’s movement of 1990 has indeed paved a way for non-governmental organizations to contribute for empowerment and strengthening of indigenous peoples, women and other excluded groups and communities. There was growing realization for a need of organized efforts by indigenous women to make development programs for women and indigenous peoples successful, to organize and empower indigenous women from local to national levels on common issues of women, and to work for equity and equality by having common objectives on women’s common issues. It was in this backdrop that the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) was founded in 1998.
There are not only common problems and issues of indigenous women and other women and also of indigenous women and indigenous men but also distinct problems and issues that are unique to indigenous women. Therefore, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) was established to support and raise awareness of indigenous women, to intensify advocacy for securing rights of indigenous women and indigenous children, and to run programs with focus on advocacy, training, discussion, interaction, study, and research as needed.
National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), with the support of MADRE, distributed educational materials including school uniforms, shoes, bags, stationery, and rice to three Indigenous girl students at Bishambhara, Ward No. 5 of Shankharapur Municipality, Kathmandu. Ms. Suni Lama, Chairperson of NIWF, handed over the materials to the recipients under the Indigenous Girls Opportunity Fund (IGOF).
National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) with the support of MADRE, provided educational scholarships to two Thami girls from Kalinchok Rural Municipality, Dolakha. The support included school uniforms, shoes, school bags, notebooks, pens, and pencils. The scholarship recipients, currently studying in Grades 4 and 8, received the materials during a distribution event held on Wednesday in Sundrawati, Ward No. 9.
The scholarship is part of the Indigenous Girls Opportunity Fund (IGOF), which was established in 2023. Since its inception, the Fund has been awarding annual scholarships to diligent and economically marginalized Indigenous students through NIWF. In addition to the educational supplies, the scholarship also covered the full tuition fees for the academic year for both students ensuring they can continue their education without financial barriers.
On 13th May 2025, the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF) organized a meeting titled “Challenges Faced by Indigenous Women and Girls in Nepal and Bangladesh Due to Climate Change” in Ward No. 6 of Bhumlu Rural Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk. This meeting served as a cross-border exchange of experiences, perspectives, and strategies between Indigenous women leaders from Nepal and Bangladesh, with a focus on how climate change disproportionately affects Indigenous communities especially women and girls. The program brought together the Indigenous women’s group from NIWF’s Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal (CLAN) project, two youth volunteers from Bangladesh, the team from the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC), and NIWF staff. The diverse representation at the meeting allowed for an engaging and reflective dialogue on shared challenges, grassroots resilience, and the urgency of strengthening climate leadership among Indigenous women and girls.
The Chairperson of Bhumlu Rural Municipality also joined the session and delivered remarks underlining the vital role of Indigenous communities in climate action. He emphasized the importance of supporting community-led initiatives and empowering Indigenous women to take leadership roles in climate adaptation and decision-making. He also acknowledged NIWF’s efforts in strengthening local capacities and expressed the municipality’s willingness to collaborate more closely on such inclusive and transformative projects. The meeting fostered mutual learning and solidarity between the participants, affirming that although the specific geographic and cultural contexts may differ, the systemic challenges faced by Indigenous women due to climate change are strikingly similar. Participants agreed on the need for continued cross-border dialogue, greater investment in Indigenous-led solutions, and stronger advocacy to ensure Indigenous voices are heard in national and international climate policymaking spaces.
National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), with financial support from MADRE, organized a school supplies distribution program in Hadikhola, Manahari Rural Municipality Ward 4. A total of 49 children from Grades 1 to 8 received school uniforms, shoes, bags, and essential stationery items. Among the recipients were 22 children from the endangered Bankariya community, 25 from the Chepang community, and 4 from the Tamang community. The distribution was officially carried out by Ward Chairperson Mr. Prakash Thapa. In addition to these items, educational materials were also distributed to 51 children. These included 56 dozen notebooks, 15 packets of dot pens, 5 boxes of pencils, 15 boxes of sharpeners, 15 boxes of erasers, and 50 record files. The program is part of the Santoshi Project, which also supports the operation of tuition classes for one year. With MADRE’s financial assistance, the project aims to enhance the academic performance of children from marginalized Indigenous communities. Since 2015, Santoshi Bankariya has been conducting tuition classes for Bankariya and other Indigenous children in the area.
The event was organized by NIWF's Field Coordinator Ms. Sanila Lama, staff member Ms. Rukmini Shrestha, Bangladeshi volunteers Ms. Eliza Baske and Ms. Afsana Ani. Mr AshokSujan Shrestha from Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Journalists (FoNIJ) was also present in the program as guest and news coverer.
From April 22 to 25, 2025, SALASAN Nepal, in collaboration with the National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), successfully conducted a four-day Project Implementation Guideline Training in Kathmandu for the recipients of the Innovative Climate Initiative Fund (ICIF). The training brought together 50 Indigenous Women leaders and representatives from Bhumlu, Indrawati, Chaurideurali, and Balefi Rural Municipalities to build their capacity to implement and address climate related issues faced by the indigenous women and other community members in the CLAN project area of 4 Rural Municipalities. The Climate Leadership and Action for Indigenous Women in Nepal is designed to enhance the capacity of Indigenous Women’s groups by equipping them with essential knowledge and practical tools for effective project planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting—ultimately empowering them to lead sustainable, community-driven climate and development initiatives.
Divided into two focused phases, the first two days covered the planning and execution of construction-based climate initiatives, while the latter two days centered on plantation-related projects. A key highlight of the training was the coming up with detailed work plans by all 25 climate groups demonstrating strong community ownership, inclusive planning, and a results-oriented approach. These presentations showcased their commitment to transparency, accountability, and local engagement in driving climate resilience. In addition to technical skills, the training also focused on building participants’ capacity in financial management. Participants learned practical approaches to managing project funds transparently and efficiently, including the importance of collecting at least three quotations before purchasing materials—ensuring fair pricing and accountability. They were also introduced to basic auditing practices, helping them understand how to maintain proper financial records, prepare documentation for audits, and uphold financial integrity throughout the project cycle. These skills are essential for fostering transparency and trust within their communities and with funding partners. By strengthening the leadership and technical skills of Indigenous women-led groups, the training has laid a strong foundation for impactful climate action at the grassroots level—led by the very communities most affected by climate change.
On April 24, 2025, National Indigenous Women Forum (NIWF), with the support from MADRE, organized a Tunnel Plastic Distribution Program in Bhalukharka, Namobuddha Municipality-11, Kavrepalanchowk. The program aimed to support Indigenous Women farmers by providing tunnel plastic materials to enhance climate-resilient agricultural practices. A total of 20 women farmers from the Bhalukharka Indigenous Women Farmers IPM Group received the materials along with certificates of participation. The event also marked the successful completion of a 20-week Climate-Adaption Agricultural System training focused on climate-resilient farming systems.
This training, facilitated by Mr. Om Krishna Shrestha and supported by MADRE, provided hands-on knowledge to Indigenous women on sustainable agriculture methods tailored to their local environment. Mr. Shankar Prasad Bhattarai, Ward Secretary of Namobuddha Municipality-11, and Ms. Suni Lama, Chairperson of NIWF officially handed over the tunnel plastics and certificates to the 20 women farmers. Their presence highlighted the collaboration between local authorities and Indigenous organizations in promoting agricultural resilience. Other attendees included Ms. Basanti Tamang, Chairperson of the Bhalukharka Indigenous Women Farmers IPM Group, Ms. Sanila Lama, Field Coordinator of NIWF, and social worker Mr. Gyan Bahadur Tamang. The program was facilitated by Ms. Sumina Tamang, Secretary of the IPM Group, while Ms. Rasmila Talim delivered the welcome remarks. Special thanks were extended to Mr. Om Krishna Shrestha for his committed facilitation throughout the training period. His role was crucial in ensuring the participants gained practical skills to apply in their daily farming activities. This initiative reflects NIWF’s ongoing efforts to empower Indigenous women through sustainable agriculture and community-based climate adaptation.
