Empowerment

As Nepal strives to meet global Sustainable Development Goals, stories like hers illuminate both the entrenched problems and the pathways to change.

Transformation also requires partnerships. Governments, research institutions, financial institutions, civil society organizations, CSR initiatives, and the private sector each have a vital role in building an ecosystem where smallholders can thrive.

At a unique event held recently in Tehri district, women of Bugala village were honoured as chief guests by their community at the traditional harvest festival known as Ropani.

In a sobering assessment released this week, the United Nations has painted a complex portrait of Afghanistan under Taliban governance, where a dramatic increase in security incidents coincides with fragile stability, devastating cross-border violence with Pakistan, and a deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis.

The UN experts concluded that ending forced conversions and child marriages is essential for safeguarding human rights and ensuring equal protection under the law for all citizens, regardless of religion.

The international community’s response – through statements, potential aid conditions, or sanctions – will be critical in determining whether such crackdowns face meaningful consequences.

Experts and officials note that the convergence of these schemes – financial inclusion, basic services, and skill enhancement – has created a multiplier effect.

Experts suggest the Eid address serves multiple purposes: rallying domestic support, discouraging dissent, and messaging the international community ahead of potential future talks. With Akhundzada rarely appearing publicly and operating primarily from Kandahar, his sermons remain key vehicles for policy direction.