Nepal stands at a pivotal moment in its digital journey. With 132 percent of cellular mobile phones proliferating and with 55.8 percent of online penetration expanding even into remote corners the question is no longer if the country will transform, but how that transformation can be guided toward equity and inclusion. Central to this is the role of girls and young women: from coders and entrepreneurs to engineers and digital-diplomacy leaders, they represent an enormous reservoir of talent that remains largely untapped. In a country where digital strategies have been drafted to accelerate progress on health, education and economic development, Nepal cannot afford to leave half its population on the sidelines.
As we marked the International Girls in ICT Day 2025 last month under the theme “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation,” this article explores what that transformation could and should look like for Nepal. We examine the current landscape, shed light on both barriers and opportunities and chart a possible roadmap to ensure every girl in Nepal can confidently claim her place at the digital table.
Every year on April 24, the global community unites to celebrate Girls in ICT Day, shining a spotlight on the critical role that girls and young women play not just as technology users, but as innovators, creators and leaders of our digital future.
The celebration is rooted in a powerful historical parallel. Thirty-six years ago, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched, an achievement made possible in no small part by Nancy Roman, often called the “mother” of Hubble. Roman faced early resistance: she was told astronomy and the vastness of space was no place for a woman. Undeterred, she persevered, securing legislative approval and funding that transformed human understanding of the universe. Her story is a testament to the fact that when women are given the opportunity to lead, the boundaries of possibility expand exponentially.
In Nepal, the year’s celebration featured hackathons, ideathons, AI exposure workshops and digital safety training. These events witness the enthusiastic response from the young participants but their urban-centric nature definitely leaves countless curious girls in rural and marginalized communities disconnected from the celebration.
The big picture
Nepal’s digital transformation journey, as outlined in the 16th Periodic Plan, is focused on modernizing governance, enhancing service delivery and integrating technology across key sectors. The government has prioritized faceless service delivery through tools like the Nagarik App, supporting Digital Nepal Framework 2.0, which seeks to expand digital infrastructure, broadband connectivity and cybersecurity measures. Education and healthcare systems are also undergoing digitization, with plans to implement digital learning platforms and an integrated health information system to improve accessibility.
Gender inclusivity is embedded in the transformation efforts, with targeted programs aimed at expanding digital literacy among women and marginalized communities. Policies emphasize increasing technology access and affordability for women, children, gender minorities and individuals with disabilities, ensuring equitable participation in Nepal’s evolving digital economy. Employment initiatives like IT-based job programs for youth further aim to bridge gaps and provide digital employment opportunities. Fintech solutions such as IME Pay, Khalti and eSewa have empowered women-led businesses, offering financial inclusion and digital banking services to underserved communities. These structural changes indicate that Nepal’s digital transformation, if effectively implemented, has the potential to bridge the gender divide and economic disparities for a more inclusive future.
But challenges still persist.
Women in ICT in Nepal
Nhasala Joshi, the co-founder of Women Leaders in Technology (WLiT), recalls how, in professional settings, people often assumed she was an assistant when she attended meetings alongside her male employees. This seemingly small but deeply rooted assumption speaks volumes about the gender disparity in Nepal’s ICT sector, where women still struggle for recognition in leadership and technical roles. It reflects a larger societal pattern, one shaped by entrenched biases, systemic exclusion and a biological deterministic attitude that diminishes women’s professional agency.
According to a Women in Information Technology (WIIT) study, women constitute only 7.88 percent of the workforce in Nepal’s ICT companies, particularly in core technical roles, and an even lower 0.51 percent in ICT-enabled firms. These figures stand in stark contrast to 42 percent female tech representation in the Philippines, 34 percent in India and 22 percent in Indonesia, underscoring Nepal’s lag in gender-inclusive digital employment. The UN Women’s Gender Snapshot Report (2022) warns that this exclusion could cost Nepal Rs 15bn by 2025, reinforcing the economic urgency of closing the digital gender gap.
Women in Nepal’s digital landscape face systemic barriers that limit their full participation in ICT. Deep-seated biases in hiring, restricted access to digital literacy programs and weak cybersecurity protections perpetuate gender disparities. Key challenges also include limited mentorship opportunities, financial barriers to accessing education and training, and inadequate support for work-life balance, making it difficult for women to return to the workforce after career breaks.
Despite increasing internet accessibility (with women making up 43.6 percent of Nepal’s total social media users) this connectivity does not equate to equal opportunities in the digital economy. Many women continue to face online harassment, cyber threats and limited exposure to tech-driven employment, reinforcing their marginalization in Nepal’s digital transformation. Furthermore, Nepal’s policy framework lacks explicit mandates for gender equity in ICT, offering insufficient legal protections for digital safety and empowerment. Without deliberate action, these gaps will widen, leaving women on the periphery of Nepal’s digital progress rather than at its center.
The way forward
Despite the stark differences, the same study shows that the ICT sector is gradually becoming more inclusive for women, offering signs of progress toward equality. Encouragingly, wage disparity appears less pronounced in Nepal’s ICT sector, with 87.9 percent of surveyed women reporting no compensation differences compared to male counterparts. Women are also recognized for their strong ethical professionalism, effective customer relations and innovative thinking, underscoring their potential to shape the industry. Much remains to be done to ensure meaningful participation for women in digital transformation.
For Nepal’s digital transformation to be truly inclusive, efforts must begin with investing in girls in ICT from an early stage. Strengthening digital literacy programs in schools, communities and workplaces is essential to ensuring that young girls not only understand technological tools but can also envision career opportunities in ICT. Nepal must also push for stronger cybersecurity laws and workplace inclusivity policies to safeguard women’s participation in the sector without fear of harassment or discrimination. Investment in women-led tech initiatives can accelerate progress by providing funding, mentorship and incubation opportunities for female entrepreneurs in technology. Additionally, shifting cultural narratives is crucial—society must actively encourage young girls to pursue digital careers and showcase female tech leaders as role models.
Digital transformation in Nepal is more than a technological shift—it is a structural reimagining of economic, infrastructural and social development. As Nepal embraces digital tools to modernize public service delivery, governance and economic opportunities, ICT emerges as the essential enabler of this transition. However, for this transformation to be truly impactful, it must be inclusive, ensuring that women, who make up nearly half of the nation's population, are active contributors rather than passive beneficiaries.
