Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal

A case of Women Entrepreneur of Pokhara

Submitted By: Sabita koirala MBA 3rd semester Novel Academy

Introduction
Among the many business leaders, executive directors, entrepreneurs there are only a few women entrepreneur in Nepal. Many of the women entrepreneur of Nepal are simply selfemployed and limit the scale of their enterprise to meet the requirements of household consumption.

 Women entrepreneurship, opportunity driven and enhancing economic development, is a relatively recent phenomenon in Nepal. The number of women engaging in this type of entrepreneurial activity is too low to have an impact on the economic system. Women in Nepal have a low status in family, community and public life, with significant disadvantage in the formal economy and in accessing to education, health, justice and politics. In the Global Gender Gap Report 2012 published by the World Economic Forum, Nepal ranked at 123 among altogether 136 countries in terms of overall gender gap index.

 The literacy rate for women is estimated at less than 40 per cent in rural areas. Literacy is key to the programmes that foster entrepreneurship. It is a requirement to access the free training, some funding and marketing assistance, offered by Nepals government and by non-governmental organisations. when women in Nepal are hugely underrepresented within the entrepreneurial population, mostly socio-cultural barriers are to be blamed. The challenge faced by the government is choosing the right policies and legislative measures that will strengthen the entrepreneurial framework conditions and instill a mindset favorable to women entrepreneurs, enabling them, against all odds, to translate their vision into a successful business enterprise

About 3 Sisters
Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri, three Nepalese sisters, are pioneers in the field of female trekking guides. Since 1994, they have worked towards empowering women in Nepal. In the early nineties no one would have dreamed of a Nepalese woman guiding a trek.

 Lucky, Dicky and Nicky: "In 1993 we were running a restaurant and a lodge in Pokhara. We had the opportunity to meet women from all over the world. We came across some unhappy and frightened solo women travelers who had had bad experiences with their male guides. Upon hearing these stories, we felt sad and decided to do something immediately. With urging from our friends, we gathered up all our courage and entered into this uncharted territory."

 Years earlier, during a field visit to the far west, Lucky saw the harsh lifestyles of the women. With their husbands and brothers gone to India, women were abandoned in the dry, uncultivated landscape of western Nepal.

Lucky: "I dreamed of working to support them. Our female trekking agency helped me realize that dream. Remembering these hard working women, I recognized that rural women would be ideal candidates for female trekking guides and porters. This opportunity could offer them choices in, what looked like, an inevitably bleak future."

 To include these women in the trekking industry, the 3 sisters created a training program to provide them with the necessary skills. The early success of these first women inspired others. After a few years, women from all over the country were attracted to the program for training and job opportunities. Some were low caste women whom society looked down upon, others were socially disadvantaged and facing challenges in life.

 Lucky, Dicky and Nicky: "We have encouraged and motivated other Nepalese women from all backgrounds to enter into the tourism industry. Our aim has been, and continues to be, to empower and develop women through tourism and to encourage sustainable tourism in remote areas where there is little hope for the future. It is not easy to break down social barriers within a few years. Women trekking guides is a new concept for Nepalese society. It has been a great challenge to bring women into this industry, since society doesn't condone women working as guides, but after a long struggle we have proven ourselves. Women can also work as a guide if the opportunity is provided to her. We have demonstrated that women are mentally, physically and emotionally as strong as men."

Awards
Nominated for the Leading Women to the Top of the World in Impact Award 2012 organized by Global Womens Leadership Network Gold Trophy, Global Sports Forum Barcelona -2011

Best Women Entrepreneur in Tourism 2011

Siddhi Setuli Smriti Award -2011

Ambassador Peace Award- Universal Peace Federation (UPF)- 2010

Winners of Nike and Ashokas Game Changers competition 2009

3 Sisters honoured by Chhetri Samaj Nepal 2008 2008 Travel and Leisure Global Vision Award on Economic Development Winner of the 2008 National Geographic Geo-Tourism challenge competition

Best Trekking Agency of Pokhara 2007 Awarded by Ministry of Nepal Culture and Tourism
First Prize Sustainable Tourism Development 2007 for the project Development of Eco-Tourism in Mugu District Les Sommets du TourismeChamonix Mount-Blanc, France.

 Woman Entrepreneurs of the Year 2006 awarded by Rotary Club of Pokhara Mid-Town Woman Social Entrepreneur in Tourism 2006 awarded by Pokhara Lady Jacees Ashoka Fellowship 2004: The Global Association of Leading Social Entrepreneurs

Clinton Global Initiative fellow Membership 2008

Lucky, Dicky and Nicky Chhetri

THANK YOU