In partnership with UN Women, GovLab is implementing this programme to strengthen gender-responsive and inclusive governance (GRIG) systems. Working with local governments, WROs, and youth leaders, the programme addresses both institutional constraints and social norms that limit women’s leadership, while promoting collaboration between duty-bearers and rights-holders.

The programme adopts a Gender and Governance Transformative Approach (GGTA) that combines evidence-driven strategies, dual leadership pathways, and practice-based learning to institutionalize GRIG practices. Key interventions include:

• Executive Policy Leadership (EPL): Builds the capacity of local government officials to apply inclusive, accountable governance practices.
• Gender Policy Leadership (GPL): Equips WROs and youth leaders to engage effectively in local governance, advocacy, and monitoring.
• Gender and Governance Fellowship (GGF): Places young women in partner LGUs to support gender-responsive planning, budgeting, and applied research.
• Governance Learning Series (GLS): Facilitates policy dialogues, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving among stakeholders, addressing issues like digital harassment and social backlash.

Implemented across four phases - Preparation, Shape, Implement, and Institutionalize, the programme integrates leadership development, fellowship deployment, policy dialogues, and accountability mechanisms.

Expected outcomes include stronger local government capacity to apply gender-responsive and inclusive governance principles, enhanced leadership and advocacy skills among WROs and youth fellows, safer and more enabling spaces for women’s participation, and improved collaboration between duty-bearers and rights-holders.

GovLab’s role includes technical leadership, evidence-based tools, capacity development, and facilitation of multi-stakeholder engagement, supporting sustainable, gender-responsive reforms at the local level.

Compiled by: Samhita Rana, Governance Manager; Rakshya Silwal, Sr. Governance Coordinator; Srijana Shrestha, Dinance and Administrative Coordinator