We only use your email address to send you the newsletter and to see how many people are opening our emails. A full privacy policy can be viewed here. You can change your mind at any time and update your preferences or unsubscribe.

Nepal

Download the GAGE Nepal overview

 

Our research: In Nepal, we are following approximately 1,000 adolescent girls in Nuwakot, Tanahun and Morang districts.

The context: Nepal is a small, mountainous country situated between China and India. One of the world’s poorest countries, and still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2015, about one-quarter of its citizens are adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19.1

Education and learning: Nepali girls are now more likely than boys to be enrolled in both primary and secondary school. However, boys are more likely to complete secondary school and pass the school leaving exam than girls.2 This is driven by parents’ preference for – and greater investment in – sons. Boys are more likely to be sent to higher-quality private schools and are given more time to do homework.3

Bodily autonomy, integrity and freedom from violence: Child marriage has been declining rapidly in recent years, but 40% of young women between the ages of 20 and 24 were married before the age of 18.4 While historically these child marriages were arranged by parents, in some regions of Nepal child-driven child marriages are becoming more common. Research with adult women has found that sexual harassment and gender-based violence are extremely common – but little is known about girls’ experiences.5

Health, nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health: Taboos surrounding sexuality in general – and girls’ sexuality in particular – are strong in Nepal. Adolescents have little access to the comprehensive sex education that would help them understand puberty before they experience it 6 and girls face a variety of restrictions related to menstruation (e.g. in some regions of Nepal girls suffer from chaupadi where they are confined to separate rooms in their homes – or even huts and animal sheds – while they are menstruating).7 Adolescent girls’ access to contraception is also limited, even after marriage, due to a need to prove fertility.

Psychosocial well-being: Nepali girls tend to have more limited mobility and smaller social networks than their male peers.8 Girls are more likely to be sad and depressed than boys, probably because social norms limit their control over their own lives.9

Voice and agency: Nepali parents’ preference for sons limits girls’ lives from birth. Many have little opportunity to express their opinions or make decisions in their childhood homes, their marital homes, their schools or their communities.10 Married girls are often silenced not only by their husbands, but also by their mothers-in-law.11

Economic empowerment: From childhood, girls work more than boys. Among younger adolescents (aged 12–14), 18% of girls work more than 14 hours a week (compared to 12% for boys) and 10% work more than 28 hours a week (compared to 3% for boys).12 Among those aged 15–17, 64% of girls work less than 43 hours each week and 3% work more than that amount (versus 58.5% and 2% for boys).13 Girls and young women have limited access to financial decision-making and are largely excluded from economic empowerment programmes, which tend to favour either boys or older women.

The evidence base: Our Evidence Mappings found that the literature on Nepali adolescent girls’ capabilities covers a range of areas, with the greatest evidence on education, child marriage and physical health – and the gender norms that shape them.14 However, most of what we know focuses only on older girls, and sometimes only older girls who are married.15

Related publications

Toolkits and survey instruments
03.04.23
GAGE Bibliography
Education and learning
Bangladesh | Ethiopia
Read more
03.04.23 | Education and learning | Toolkits and survey instruments | Bangladesh
GAGE Bibliography
Read more
Toolkits and survey instruments
29.09.22
Participatory research with adolescents and youth in the Middle East: a toolkit to explore how social, economic, environmental and political crises shape young people’s well-being
Across GAGE capabilities
Jordan | Lebanon
Read more
29.09.22 | Across GAGE capabilities | Toolkits and survey instruments | Jordan
Participatory research with adolescents and youth in the Middle East: a toolkit to explore how social, economic, environmental and political crises shape young people’s well-being
Read more
Reports
23.09.22
Crisis within crisis: The psychosocial toll of Lebanon’s economic and political turmoil on Syrian refugee adolescents
Voice and agency
Lebanon
Read more
23.09.22 | Voice and agency | Reports | Lebanon
Crisis within crisis: The psychosocial toll of Lebanon’s economic and political turmoil on Syrian refugee adolescents
Read more
Reports
23.09.22
Adolescents in the abyss of Lebanon’s worst economic crisis: A focus on Lebanese and Palestinian adolescents’ education, and voice and agency
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
23.09.22 | Education and learning | Reports | Lebanon
Adolescents in the abyss of Lebanon’s worst economic crisis: A focus on Lebanese and Palestinian adolescents’ education, and voice and agency
Read more
Reports
12.07.22
‘Each one of us had a dream’: An exploration of factors supporting gender-responsive education and economic empowerment pathways for refugee youth in Lebanon
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
12.07.22 | Education and learning | Reports | Lebanon
‘Each one of us had a dream’: An exploration of factors supporting gender-responsive education and economic empowerment pathways for refugee youth in Lebanon
Read more
Policy briefs
14.03.22
Adolescent lives in Lebanon: what are we learning from participatory evidence?
Across GAGE capabilities
Lebanon
Read more
14.03.22 | Across GAGE capabilities | Policy briefs | Lebanon
Adolescent lives in Lebanon: what are we learning from participatory evidence?
Read more
Journal articles
10.02.22
‘We Have No Hope for Anything’: Exploring Interconnected Economic, Social and Environmental Risks to Adolescents in Lebanon
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
10.02.22 | Education and learning | Journal articles | Lebanon
‘We Have No Hope for Anything’: Exploring Interconnected Economic, Social and Environmental Risks to Adolescents in Lebanon
Read more
Reports
19.10.21
Adolescents in protracted displacement: exploring risks of age- and gender-based violence among Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and the State of Palestine
Bodily integrity and freedom from violence
Jordan | Lebanon
Read more
19.10.21 | Bodily integrity and freedom from violence | Reports | Jordan
Adolescents in protracted displacement: exploring risks of age- and gender-based violence among Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and the State of Palestine
Read more
Reports
20.09.21
The effects of covid-19 on the lives of adolescent girls and young women in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Across GAGE capabilities
Nepal
Read more
20.09.21 | Across GAGE capabilities | Reports | Nepal
The effects of covid-19 on the lives of adolescent girls and young women in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Read more
Journal articles
31.08.21
Changing Patterns of Commercial Sex Work Amongst Adolescent Girls in Nepal: The Role of Technology
Across GAGE capabilities
Nepal
Read more
31.08.21 | Across GAGE capabilities | Journal articles | Nepal
Changing Patterns of Commercial Sex Work Amongst Adolescent Girls in Nepal: The Role of Technology
Read more
Policy briefs
30.06.21
Capturing adolescents’ agency, voice and confidence through innovative research tools
Voice and agency
Nepal
Read more
30.06.21 | Voice and agency | Policy briefs | Nepal
Capturing adolescents’ agency, voice and confidence through innovative research tools
Read more
Reports
19.05.21
Child Marriage in Humanitarian Crises: Girls and Parents Speak Out on Risk and Protective Factors, Decision-Making, and Solutions
Bodily integrity and freedom from violence
Bangladesh | Ethiopia
Read more
19.05.21 | Bodily integrity and freedom from violence | Reports | Bangladesh
Child Marriage in Humanitarian Crises: Girls and Parents Speak Out on Risk and Protective Factors, Decision-Making, and Solutions
Read more
Reports
17.12.20
Through their eyes: exploring the complex drivers of child marriage in humanitarian contexts
Bodily integrity and freedom from violence
Bangladesh | Jordan
Read more
17.12.20 | Bodily integrity and freedom from violence | Reports | Bangladesh
Through their eyes: exploring the complex drivers of child marriage in humanitarian contexts
Read more
Journal articles
10.11.20
Intersecting vulnerabilities: the impacts of COVID‑19 on the psycho‑emotional lives of young people in low‑ and middle‑income countries
Psychosocial well-being
Ethiopia | Lebanon
Read more
10.11.20 | Psychosocial well-being | Journal articles | Ethiopia
Intersecting vulnerabilities: the impacts of COVID‑19 on the psycho‑emotional lives of young people in low‑ and middle‑income countries
Read more
Reports
10.11.20
The gendered experiences of adolescent girls working in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
Nepal
Read more
10.11.20 | Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) | Reports | Nepal
The gendered experiences of adolescent girls working in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Read more
Policy briefs
10.11.20
Use of digital technology among adolescents in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)
Nepal
Read more
10.11.20 | Health, Nutrition and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) | Policy briefs | Nepal
Use of digital technology among adolescents in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Read more
Toolkits and survey instruments
20.10.20
GAGE Nepal: overview
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
20.10.20 | Education and learning | Toolkits and survey instruments | Nepal
GAGE Nepal: overview
Read more
Toolkits and survey instruments
20.10.20
GAGE Lebanon: overview
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
20.10.20 | Education and learning | Toolkits and survey instruments | Lebanon
GAGE Lebanon: overview
Read more
Policy briefs
29.07.20
Adolescent girls’ experiences of cross-border and international migration in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Economic empowerment
Nepal
Read more
29.07.20 | Economic empowerment | Policy briefs | Nepal
Adolescent girls’ experiences of cross-border and international migration in the adult entertainment sector in Nepal
Read more
Journal articles
29.06.20
Creation of the gender-equitable school index for secondary schools using principal components analysis
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
29.06.20 | Education and learning | Journal articles | Nepal
Creation of the gender-equitable school index for secondary schools using principal components analysis
Read more
Evidence reviews
29.06.20
Adolescent boys and youth in Lebanon: a review of the evidence
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
29.06.20 | Education and learning | Evidence reviews | Lebanon
Adolescent boys and youth in Lebanon: a review of the evidence
Read more
Policy briefs
19.05.20
Double crisis: effects of a pandemic and economic crisis on Lebanon’s most vulnerable adolescents
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
19.05.20 | Education and learning | Policy briefs | Lebanon
Double crisis: effects of a pandemic and economic crisis on Lebanon’s most vulnerable adolescents
Read more
Policy briefs
25.03.20
A tale of contradictions: understanding the impact of social norms on Nepali men and boys
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
25.03.20 | Education and learning | Policy briefs | Nepal
A tale of contradictions: understanding the impact of social norms on Nepali men and boys
Read more
Policy briefs
21.11.19
Intergenerational capabilities development in mothers and adolescent daughters in Nepal
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
21.11.19 | Education and learning | Policy briefs | Nepal
Intergenerational capabilities development in mothers and adolescent daughters in Nepal
Read more
Policy briefs
20.11.19
A gender-equitable school index for secondary schools in Nepal and beyond
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
20.11.19 | Education and learning | Policy briefs | Nepal
A gender-equitable school index for secondary schools in Nepal and beyond
Read more
Policy briefs
10.12.18
Policy and legal analysis notes: a review of the National Adolescent Health and Development Strategy in Nepal
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
10.12.18 | Education and learning | Policy briefs | Nepal
Policy and legal analysis notes: a review of the National Adolescent Health and Development Strategy in Nepal
Read more
Reports
03.12.18
Gendered experiences of adolescents: baseline findings from World Vision's Rupantaram adolescent lifeskills curriculum
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
03.12.18 | Education and learning | Reports | Nepal
Gendered experiences of adolescents: baseline findings from World Vision's Rupantaram adolescent lifeskills curriculum
Read more
Reports
02.12.18
Supporting girls' education: emerging baseline findings from an evaluation of 'Room to Read' in Nepal
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
02.12.18 | Education and learning | Reports | Nepal
Supporting girls' education: emerging baseline findings from an evaluation of 'Room to Read' in Nepal
Read more
Reports
24.06.18
Building social cohesion in conflict affected communities: a retrospective research study with refugee and host community adolescents in Lebanon
Voice and agency
Lebanon
Read more
24.06.18 | Voice and agency | Reports | Lebanon
Building social cohesion in conflict affected communities: a retrospective research study with refugee and host community adolescents in Lebanon
Read more
Evidence reviews
21.12.17
Adolescent girls' capabilities in Nepal: a synopsis of the evidence
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
21.12.17 | Education and learning | Evidence reviews | Nepal
Adolescent girls' capabilities in Nepal: a synopsis of the evidence
Read more
Evidence reviews
21.12.17
Adolescent girls' capabilities in Nepal: the state of the evidence on programme effectiveness
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
21.12.17 | Education and learning | Evidence reviews | Nepal
Adolescent girls' capabilities in Nepal: the state of the evidence on programme effectiveness
Read more
Evidence reviews
21.12.17
Adolescent girls' capabilities in Nepal: the state of the evidence
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
21.12.17 | Education and learning | Evidence reviews | Nepal
Adolescent girls' capabilities in Nepal: the state of the evidence
Read more
Reports
10.10.17
Exploring Nepali adolescents' gendered experiences and perspectives
Education and learning
Nepal
Read more
10.10.17 | Education and learning | Reports | Nepal
Exploring Nepali adolescents' gendered experiences and perspectives
Read more
Evidence reviews
02.10.17
Adolescent girls in Lebanon: the state of the evidence
Education and learning
Lebanon
Read more
02.10.17 | Education and learning | Evidence reviews | Lebanon
Adolescent girls in Lebanon: the state of the evidence
Read more
Toolkits and survey instruments
02.08.17
Adolescent perspectives on services and programmes in conflict affected contexts
Education and learning
Jordan | Lebanon
Read more
02.08.17 | Education and learning | Toolkits and survey instruments | Jordan
Adolescent perspectives on services and programmes in conflict affected contexts
Read more