A Knowledge Exchange Event “Innovation for Strengthening GESI Intervention” organized by Learning Innovation and Knowledge Exchange (LIKE) Lab was held on 28th June, 2023 at Hotel Tarai Inn, Chapur, Rautahat District. There were 18 people in total, 12 of whom were female and 5 of whom were male.
The event began with an opening remark and welcome by Mr. Aswin Poudel, the Community Mobilization Expert of the project titled “Effectiveness and Scalability of Programs for Children Who Are Out of School and at Risk of Dropping Out in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.” This project is supported by the Global Partnership for Education Knowledge & Innovation Exchange (GPEKIX) and the International Development Research Center (IDRC).
The event provided an opportunity for organizations to come together and share their research, interventions, and innovative programs in the field of education and GESI. Representatives from various organizations, including Rural Development Center (RDC), People in Need (PIN), Mandawi, Social Organization District Coordination Committee (SODCC), Saptaranghi Nepal, Blue Diamond Society, and Aasaman Nepal, participated in the event and presented their work and interventions aimed at promoting quality education and addressing overall GESI. gender-related issues.
The focus of the event was on sharing innovative programs and solutions for strengthening gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) interventions in Rautahat District. Participants engaged in workshops and discussions, shared their interventions and identified key stakeholders, challenges, and mitigation measures. The representatives highlighted the gaps related to GESI and the challenges they faced in the field, such as miscommunication, lack of local-level engagement, policy implementation issues, training gaps, political and social barriers, and lack of ownership. They emphasized the importance of collaboration between organizations and local-level authorities to bridge these gaps and ensure the effective implementation of programs. They also suggested the need for a platform where organizations can regularly engage with local authorities to discuss their work, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration.
During the event, Ms. Regina Rajbansi, Research Fellow, shared the importance of the GESI illustrative posters in promoting aspects of GESI in education. In addition, she shared about the motive of curated pamphlets outlining a comprehensive list of capabilities for children in rural public schools. The workshop was skillfully facilitated by Ms. Situ Shrestha, Research Fellow, who fostered valuable discussions. The event exemplified the combined endeavors and initiatives dedicated to advancing gender equality and education in Rautahat District, highlighting the significance of collaboration and communication in creating positive impacts within the community. In her closing remarks, Ms. Shreda Shrestha, the Project Coordinator, expressed gratitude to all the representatives for their active participation in the knowledge exchange event and revealed plans for more engaging and fruitful events in the future.
