Report on WIIT Research Dissemination Event

“Barriers to Breakthroughs: Women in Nepal’s Information and Communication Technology Landscape”

The Women in Information and Technology (WIIT), with financial and technical support from The Asia Foundation (TAF) under the UK-funded Data for Development (D4D) program, organized a research dissemination event to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025. The event aimed to shed light on the challenges and opportunities for women in Nepal’s ICT sector, bringing
together 116 participants, including policymakers, industry leaders, and experts, to engage in meaningful discussions on advancing gender inclusivity in technology.

Event Proceedings

• A Report Overview & Findings Presentation by Ms. Minu Pradhan, Project Lead, and Ms. Elisha Rajbhandari, Lead Researcher from WIIT.
• A Report Review by Dr. Pratima Pradhan, Director of Kathmandu Engineering College, who provided valuable insights into the study’s implications.

Keynote Speech

• Ms. Sunita Dangol, Deputy Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC)
• Ms. Radhika Aryal, Secretary of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MoCIT)
• Mr. Krishna Bahadur Raut, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies (MoICS)

Panel Discussion: “Way Forward to Encourage More Women in ICT”
A panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Amrita Sharma, facilitated an insightful exchange among distinguished panelists on strategies to enhance women’s participation in the ICT sector. The panelists included:

• Mr. Asgar Ali, IT expert designated to Hon. P.M. K.P. Sharma Oli
•  Prof. Dr. Manish Pokharel, Dean, Kathmandu University
•  Ms. Sunaina Ghimire Pandey, President, CAN Federation

Closing Session & Networking
The event concluded with closing remarks from:

• Ms. Sneha Shah, Senior Program Officer at The Asia Foundation (TAF)
• Ms. Dibyaswori Dali, EC Member of WIIT