FWEAN - Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal

Women constitute 51 percent of the total population of 26 million in the Kingdom of Nepal. Overcoming gender inequality remains one of the greatest development challenges in Nepal, as only 42% of Nepali women are literate compared to 65% of men. Though the Nepal Government has committed to reserve 33% of all positions in all state bodies for women less than 1% of high- level government decision makers are women.
Despite these challenging circumstances, women have over the past two decades made substantial headway in entrepreneurship development, both at the grass root and urban levels with significant contribution to the national economy.
Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) is a not-for-profit organization aiming at representing the collective efforts of Women Entrepreneurs in the economic progress of the nation and decision making at national and international levels. FWEAN is the central body of WEAN established in 1989 and looks at establishing subsidiary WEAN chapters in all 74 districts of Nepal thus involving 10% of the 500,000 self employed women (MSMEs). Based in Kathmandu, FWEAN is a focal point for interaction not only with the government, but also the various national and international women\\\'s organizations.
The Federation ultimately seeks to redefine the perspective of women entrepreneurship – from contribution to economic growth and poverty alleviation towards participation of women at all levels in the socio economic sectors.