Kathmandu, March 30, 2026 - UWS Nepal has successfully concluded its three-year UK Aid Match Round 5 (UKAM R5) project, marking the milestone with a national-level closing event held at Hotel Himalaya. The event brought together government officials, local representatives, educators, community members, and development partners to reflect on achievements and discuss the future of inclusive girls’ education in Nepal.
Implemented from April 2023 to March 2026 with support from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the UKAM R5 initiative focused on improving access to quality and inclusive education for girls in remote and marginalized communities across Nepal and Cambodia.
Reaching Remote Communities
In Nepal, the project directly supported 4,909 girls across 71 schools in districts including Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Taplejung, Gulmi, and Tanahun. The initiative targeted communities where geographical barriers, socio-economic challenges, and gender disparities have historically limited educational access for girls.
The program adopted a holistic and systems-based approach, addressing multiple dimensions of education through:
Girls’ education and retention strategies
Gender-responsive teacher training
Inclusive WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities
Community ownership and accountability
Collaboration with local governments
Reflecting on Progress and Challenges
Opening the event, Country Director Avinash Jha highlighted both achievements and ongoing challenges. He stressed that while progress has been made, girls in rural Nepal still face significant barriers to accessing and continuing education. He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening inclusive education systems and ensuring long-term impact.
Presentations during the event outlined how the project extended beyond infrastructure to strengthen the entire education ecosystem. By engaging schools, teachers, local governments, and communities, the initiative aimed to create safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments.
Key Policy Insights
A panel discussion on inclusive education reforms underscored critical gaps and priorities. Participants noted that although supportive policies exist, implementation remains inconsistent, particularly in remote areas.
Key Takeaways Included:
The need for targeted and equitable support to improve retention
Resource constraints at the local government level
The importance of community awareness and engagement
The role of data and evidence in guiding decisions
The need for flexible, context-based solutions
The importance of multi-sectoral collaboration
Stakeholders emphasized that sustainable progress requires long-term system strengthening and coordinated action among schools, families, communities, and governments.
Recommendations for the Future
The event also presented actionable recommendations aimed at sustaining and scaling the impact of inclusive education initiatives. These included:
Strengthening local government ownership
Institutionalizing gender-responsive teacher training
Expanding inclusive WASH infrastructure in public schools
Enhancing community accountability mechanisms
Leveraging partnerships to mobilize resources and scale impact
Launch of “Education Plus”
A key highlight of the event was the launch of “Education Plus,” an initiative integrating the Zero Education Poverty (ZEP) approach. Building on lessons from previous phases, the initiative signals a forward-looking strategy to ensure that children in marginalized communities are not left behind.
The initiative aims to move beyond project-based interventions toward long-term systemic change in Nepal’s education sector.
Regional Collaboration
Simultaneous closing events were also held in Cambodia, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing inclusive education for girls across both countries.
About UWS Nepal
Founded in 2015, UWS Nepal is a pioneering organisation working to improve access to quality education in some of Nepal’s most remote and climate-vulnerable communities. The organisation partners with local governments and communities to strengthen education systems, train teachers, and create sustainable learning environments, guided by the belief that education is key to breaking cycles of poverty.
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