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On the occasion of Global Recycling Day, which is observed every year on March 18, South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) representatives inaugurated a Material Recovery Factory (MRF) in Kapan, Kathmandu. According to general secretary of CREASION Sujata Koirala, this facility is designed to bale 60 MT of scrap PET bottles collected from informal waste workers, which will then be recycled at the PET Recycling Facility in Bharatpur, Chitwan, as part of Project CAP. "This is more than just an opening; it is the first step towards closing the loop in sustainable plastic waste management," Koirala said.

Gyan Raj Subedi, Director General of the Department of Environment, said during the inauguration program, "I am delighted to see such progress towards reducing plastic pollution. This is also a positive initiative because it has created numerous job opportunities for marginalised communities by transforming waste into a circular and green economy."

Similarly, Anjalie Devaraja, SACEP's Project Director, stated, "It is an honour to be here and to inaugurate this facility, as many people came together to make it grand and rewarding to fight this battle against plastic pollution." Aanand Mishra, Founder and President of CREASION, emphasised that the collaboration has been both challenging and rewarding. "We were extremely cautious about ensuring health and safety for continued and successful collaboration." “Furthermore, this is not just a project for us; this is our emotion, and we have worked with various collaborators and contributors,including marginalised communities schools and children. Not one, but every single person helped make it a grand success,” he added.

In collaboration with Tewa and the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), a report titled “Elected Women’s Access to Leadership in Local Governance” was launched, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for women representatives at the ward level. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and key stakeholders to discuss the report's findings and implications.

Swarnim Wagle, Chairperson of IIDS, opened the program with his remarks, emphasizing how the report resonated with him, particularly in its insights on token representation and the systemic barriers that elected women face in leadership roles.

A panel discussion followed, moderated by Arjun Thapa, featuring distinguished panelists Sumana Shrestha, Sharu Joshi Shrestha, Mamata Mahato, and Minendra Rijal. The discussion focused on policy interventions, societal perceptions, and strategies to strengthen women’s leadership in local governance. Sumana Shrestha, a Member of Parliament, emphasized, “To challenge the dominance faced by women, they need to be active and participate in every sector.” Sharu Joshi Shrestha, a gender and social inclusion expert, stressed the importance of selecting well-informed and educated candidates. She highlighted the need for training programs to equip candidates with a clear understanding of their responsibilities and roles. Mamata Mahato, Vice-chairperson of Paterwa Sugauli Rural Municipality, pointed out the challenges women face in re-entering leadership roles. She noted that since most higher-ranking officials are male, it is difficult for women to voice their needs and concerns effectively. Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya, chief election commissioner emphasized electoral reforms to enhance women’s political impact in Nepal. Despite increased representation, systemic barriers like restrictive ticket distribution and inadequate capacity-building hinder progress.

MAK Lubricants marked International Women’s Day by organizing a women’s riders meet and two-wheeler rally under the theme ‘Accelerate Action: Her Day, Her Way’. The event, aimed at empowering female riders and promoting MAK’s high-quality lubricants, saw enthusiastic participation from women across various fields. The rally began at Sipradi Trading’s office in Thapathali, Kathmandu, and concluded at the Satdobato Swimming Complex, Lalitpur. Sipradi Trading, the sole authorized distributor of MAK Lubricants in Nepal, facilitated the event in collaboration with Bharat Petroleum.

The rally was flagged off by Sipradi Trading’s CEO Rajan Babu Shrestha, COO Rajesh Prasad Giri, Vice-president Saurav Raj Thapaliya, Head of Lubricants Department Dinesh KC, and Bharat Petroleum’s Country Head Mihir Jyoti Dutta. Popular female riders and influencers Surakshya KC and Barsha Basnet joined the event, alongside other passionate riders. The program featured games, recreational activities, and awareness sessions on MAK products, including MAK 4T Scootech NXT and MAK 4T NXT, which enhance engine performance and efficiency. The rally concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants and winners of various competitions held during the event.

More than 100 men took to the streets of Lalitpur, demonstrating their commitment to ending violence against women and girls. The ‘Men’s March: Men Against Violence Against Women and Girls’ was organized to mark International Women’s Day. The rally commenced from Jawalakhel and passed through Pulchok, Gabahal, and Mangalbazaar before culminating in a large gathering at Patan Durbar Square. A significant number of women also joined the concluding assembly, reinforcing the message of collective responsibility in addressing gender-based violence.

Addressing the gathering, Surendra Basnet, Executive Vice-president of the National Youth Council, emphasized that true awareness and empowerment come from rejecting discrimination and ensuring dignity and equality for women. Bam Bahadur Baniya, Vice-president of the National Child Rights Council, highlighted the importance of instilling gender equality in children from an early age through school education. Dharma Raj Rimal, President of Yuwalaya, the coordinating organization, noted that Yuwalaya has been leading such initiatives for the past decade, underscoring men’s solidarity with women on International Women’s Day.