Excerpts of the podcast with Radhika Regmi Pokharel

How did you get involved in the field of governance and election?

I have a background in chemistry but I realized that I could bring changes through politics. I had observed social injustices during my childhood which motivated me to work in the social sector.

What is the BRIDGE program that you have been a big part of?

The BRIDGE program is a teaching program where we have resources regarding election and governance. Our curriculum includes topics such as disability inclusion during elections, campaign financing, and election operations. We felt the need to spread such knowledge not just from Nepal just internationally as well. Many organizations like the UN have found the BRIDGE curriculum useful. It is customizable for anyone.

In your experience, how has the election process and participation of women in Nepal changed over the years?

Universal suffrage for women was quite late in Nepal. The 1990 constitution finally promised to be focused on women in politics and that slowly prompted them to come into politics. The 33% women reservation has been implemented, however, women are still demoted to "uppa" (deputy position). They are regarded as the second sex, a mere quota to fulfill. And so, they face extra barriers to reaching positions of power. They can only be successful if they have enough financial backing from their family or if they come from a political dynasty. Money is still a big factor if they want to be up for nomination.

Why do you think political parties are hesitant to nominate women for positions of power?

Well, again finances are important. Elections are expensive and it is a big investment. Our elections involve spending money on winning and dining voters and colleagues. Women do not have the resources or connections to engage in these activities. They also do not have parental property, and their community/family might not want their wives/daughters to be active outside the house. This makes parties more hesitant to have faith in women. Also, there are no women within the nomination committees and so there is a lack of motivation every step of the way. However, women candidates have higher chances of winning regardless of the low nominations according to data. Sometimes, women may have their family's support and financial abilities but the party might still not choose to give them a ticket. In my opinion, no party has fully committed to including 33% of women as per our law.

You mentioned finances being a problem for women candidates. What can government bodies do to reduce financial disparity for women?

Candidates have to spend more money than ever these days on their campaigns. Our IFES study shows that candidates have many invisible expenses that cater to the voters. Women cannot afford this in comparison to men. While urban voters do not get impressed by money, voters all around the country should be alert about this and question candidates about their finances. Public funding for candidates should be audited. Public funding should be established to encourage women, especially marginalized women, to join politics.

What can be done to create a more meaningful experience for marginalized women in politics?

We first need to tackle issues with finances and overcome caste discrimination. Parties should be mindful of these problems. Marginalized women are often tokenized for the quota requirement while their own opinions are not valued.

What can institutions do to improve the situation?

Women should be encouraged to go for non-deputy roles. Quotas for women are still necessary while women face discrimination. Researchers, voters, and other social institutions should put pressure to bring holistic changes.