सूचक

• The Constitution of Nepal (2015) and associated national policies provide an overarching framework for social equity . These commit the State to the protection, empowerment and development of Indigenous Peoples, Dalits, Madhesis, Muslims, minorities and marginalised communities, and inform sectoral policies and programmes in the forest and climate sectors, including REDD+.
• The Forest Act (2019) and Forest Regulation (2022) include provisions that promote inclusive forest governance and social equity. These require at least 50 202fpercent women 2019s representation in Community Forest User Group (CFUG) Executive Committees and recognise FUGs as collective institutions representing local communities, including Indigenous Peoples and marginalised groups, thereby supporting equitable participation in decision -making and benefit access.
• The Ministry of Forests and Environment's (MoFE) Forest Sector Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy (2009) addresses gender inequality as well as social inclusion of Indigenous Peoples, Dalits, Madhesis and other marginalised, forest -dependent communities. The Strategy guides inclusive participation, equitable benefit -sharing and representation of socially excluded groups across forest sector programmes, including REDD+.
• The Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan for the Climate Change Sector (2021-2030) provides a cross‑cutting framework for integrating gender equality and social equity into climate‑related programmes. It recognises differentiated vulnerabilities and capacities among women, Indigenous Peoples, Dalits, persons with disabilities, and poor and forest‑dependent households, and applies to REDD+ as part of the climate change response.
• The Government's Gender Equality Policy (2021) and its Implementation Plan (2023) apply across sectors and require mainstreaming of gender equality, non‑discrimination and social equity in public programmes.

Data Sources:

• Gender and social inclusion risks related to REDD+ were assessed through the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) conducted during preparation of the National REDD+ Strategy (NRS, 2018-2022). The SESA analysed potential social impacts of REDD+ implementation, including risks of exclusion of women, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalised groups, inequitable participation in decision -making, unequal access to benefits, and risks of elite capture within forest governance structures. The assessment identified mitigation needs related to inclusive participation, gender -responsive engagement and equitable benefit -sharing.
• Findings from the SESA informed the development of safeguard measures subsequently applied in REDD+ planning, including requirements for gender -responsive consultations, attention to socially differentiated impacts, application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the need for targeted measures for Indigenous Peoples, women and vulnerable groups.
• During the review of the NRS conducted in 2024 to inform the updated NRS (2025-2034), a further assessment of REDD+ implementation experience was undertaken. This review assessed progress in addressing gender equality and social inclusion and identified remaining gaps, including limited awareness of safeguards among rights -holders, inconsistencies in applying FPIC, and uneven participation of women and marginalised groups across forest regimes. The review findings reinforced the need for strengthened measures related to gender inclusion and social equity, including improved safeguards monitoring and guidance for sub -national implementation.

Data Sources:

• Gender and social inclusion risks are also addressed in the Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal (BRCN) project, supported through the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The BRCN applies social and environmental risk screening and management procedures that explicitly consider gender equality, Indigenous Peoples, vulnerable communities and differentiated impacts of forest-and land-use interventions.
• For the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) ER Program in the Terai Arc Landscape, gender and social inclusion risks were identified through the SESA undertaken during development of the NRS (2018-2022). The SESA analysed risks related to exclusion of women, Indigenous Peoples and other marginalised groups, unequal access to benefits, and weak participation in forest governance, and proposed mitigation measures to strengthen gender and social inclusion. These findings were subsequently applied to the design of the FCPF ER Program.
• The LEAF ER Program is based on Nepal's NRS (2018, 2025), which was assessed through the SESA (2014) and the NRS review conducted in 2024. The ER Program also follows Nepal's national safeguards framework and specific procedures, such as the National Guidelines on FPIC for REDD+. These national assessments and frameworks form the basis for identifying and managing gender and social inclusion risks under the Program.

Data Sources: