Women LEAD Nepal believes in the political empowerment of young Nepali women, achieving gender equality through strengthening the knowledge of political leadership and enabling their capacity to work as active mediators of social change and politics. Women LEAD Nepal’s Young Women’s Political Leadership Course (YWPLC) is a year-long program that introduces young women to the basics of politics and women’s leadership. The program will recruit 20 young women (aged 18-25) across diverse backgrounds as YWPLC Fellows. 

1. POLITICS INSTITUTE (PI): November 1- November 14: The program starts with two weeks of skill-building workshops, where participants will gain foundational knowledge about Nepal’s democratic system and the political processes in the country. This is a great opportunity for participants to meet and hear inspiring leaders of Nepal who bring their unique experiences and perspectives to the sessions.  

2. MENTORSHIP: Each participant is paired with an alumni mentor who acts as a support system during the program and gives one-on-one guidance, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

3. INTERNSHIP: The internship period will provide participants with experiences by allowing them to work under any political party or women leaders in government. This ensures that participants can apply the knowledge they gained from the Politics Institute (PI) in a real-world environment. The internship organizations are selected to promote further understanding of politics and women’s leadership. Each fellow is required to intern for a month, and they get to choose between three months’ options.  

4. FIELD VISIT: YWPLC Field Trips are designed to introduce fellows to the structure and functions of local government, its roles, responsibilities, and the stories of women in political leadership. Fellows interact with local leaders, politicians, government officials, community members, and stakeholders like students, journalists and entrepreneurs to develop a broader perspective on socio-political and economic realities shaping Nepal.

5. FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS: Once a month, fellows will have a follow-up session on diverse issues such as Challenges of Nepali democracy and leadership. 

6. ADVOCACY PERIOD: During this period, fellows will be introduced to the basics of advocacy, project design, planning and execution. This training equips them to develop impactful, community-based advocacy projects.

7. FELLOW-LED PROJECT: Fellows will get to collaboratively design and implement an advocacy project, to facilitate change and development during Women’s History Month. 

8. FELLOWS’ GROUP ADVOCACY PROJECT: Fellows will develop and lead advocacy projects that reflect their individual or group passions, helping to advance political and social change.

9. GRADUATION: The program will conclude with a graduation ceremony and fellows who maintain a minimum attendance rate of 90% or more will receive a certificate for completing the program. 

Program Duration: One Year.
Program Capacity: 20 seats 

Program Fee: NPR 10,000/- payable in lump sum only after being selected for the Young Women’s Political Leadership Course. The fee covers all course materials, unlimited access to our resource center, a certificate, free lunches, and exclusive access to WLEAD events.

Please DO NOT let financial concerns stop you from applying—partial and full scholarships available to anyone who needs financial assistance. We are committed to selecting the best applicants regardless of their financial situation. Scholarship forms will be given out after being selected for the interview.

APPLY NOW !

PROGRAM OUTLINE

The very first module, Politics Institute (PI), ensures that the participants gain a foundational understanding of Nepal’s political landscape, political history, and women in politics and leadership. The Politics Institute runs for two weeks (10 days). 

The Mentorship Module enables participants to benefit from their assigned mentors’ knowledge, skills, and experiences. YWPLC alumni serve as mentors. Alumni who apply to be mentors receive a two-day training to prepare them to support their mentees throughout the mentorship period. With the learnings from Mentorship Training, the mentors provide guidance, encouragement, and constructive feedback to participants.

During the Internship, each fellow is placed in a pair or group of three interns with an assigned organization. The time commitment for each internship ranges from 75 to 150 hours. The internship is designed to help participants learn and apply the knowledge they gained during the Politics Institute (PI) in a real-world setting. The internship organizations are selected in a way that deepens fellows’ understanding of politics and women's leadership.

This module offers a week-long immersive experience with "local representatives- including deputy mayors, mayors, and women politicians from various political parties. The Field Visit offers fellows broader exposure by allowing them to observe and engage with local women leaders, gaining firsthand insights into their work, challenges, and leadership beyond the Kathmandu Valley.

This module ensures that participants learn the basics of advocacy, project design, and implementation. It further encourages them to reflect upon the changes they hope to achieve through their projects. The training aims to instill a sense of civic responsibility and inspire them to actively embrace their role as youth leaders. They receive a week-long training, followed by a month for project inception, and another month for project implementation.

The Follow-up module ensures that the participants consolidate and share their understandings of contemporary Nepali politics, foreign affairs, geopolitics, analysis of women's representation in provincial elections, among other topics. Participants learn to amplify their voices and celebrate their accomplishments. Follow-up sessions play a pivotal role in ensuring the lasting impact and continuous growth of participants in YWPLC. These sessions allows participants to revisit and reinforce key concepts, discussions, and lessons learned during the course, so their understanding can be effectively applied in real-world contexts.

The program concludes with a Graduation ceremony where fellows celebrate their accomplishments with family, friends, mentors, and political experts involved in the program. Upon graduation, fellows join the Women LEAD alumni community.

Eligibility

This is an equal opportunity program—young women from all castes, ethnicities, backgrounds, religions, abilities and sexual orientations are encouraged to apply. The basic eligibility criteria are as follows:

  • Have completed their +2 and be between the ages of 18-25
  • Comfortable communicating in both English and Nepali (written and spoken)
  • Attend all modules of the program. A detailed breakdown of the program structure can be found in the application form

Scholarships

Women LEAD Nepal provides full and partial scholarships for those in need of financial assistance. We are committed to selecting applicants based on merit regardless of their economic status. Scholarship forms will be handed out during the one-on-one interviews and by Women LEAD representatives.

Skills obtained after participating in YWPLC

Political Analysis and Awareness
Public Speaking and Communication
Advocacy
Leadership and Teamwork
Networking and Relationship Building
Civic Engagement and Community Organizing

Application Process

  • Applications are due August 31, 11:59 PM. Selected applicants will be invited for a 40-minute in-person interview at the Women LEAD office in Bakhundole. Those selected for an interview will be informed by the end of the first week of October and notified via phone call and email.