Workforce diversity and reservation policy in Nepal: A strategic approach to strengthening women’s voice and visibility in formal employment sector

While the private sector in Nepal, although expanding, is still small to generate adequate employment opportunities, government public service, UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies, and INGOs remain important hubs for employment. Started in 2007 initially focusing on the civil service, a reservation policy in Nepal has emerged as a key policy for employing women in the public service. Development agencies and INGOs working in the country have also developed workforce diversity policies to facilitate the recruitment of staff from marginalized groups including women. The role of such polices in promoting workforce diversity is little understood. This paper analyses workforce diversity and inclusion policies of governmental and non-governmental agencies and explores the importance of such policies for enhancing women’s visibility and voice in the formal employment sector which would contribute to inclusive and sustainable development and policy making.