Women’s Political Participation and Influence in Post-Conflict Burundi and Nepal

The report analyzes women's political participation in post-conflict Burundi and Nepal, finding that while affirmative action quotas significantly increased numerical representation in legislatures, entrenched patriarchal norms and party cultures continue to limit women's actual influence. It highlights the critical role of women's civil society organizations in advocating for rights and legal reforms, while noting that these organizations are often hampered by fragmented coordination and a heavy dependence on short-term international funding.

• Affirmative action mechanisms, such as quotas, successfully increased the number of women in formal political institutions in both countries. In Burundi, the 2005 Constitution mandated a minimum of 30% female representation in government, the National Assembly, and the Senate. In Nepal, the 2008 elections resulted in women holding approximately one-third of the 601 seats in the Constituent Assembly.
• Despite high numerical representation, women's actual influence in political decision-making remains limited due to patriarchal political cultures. In both Burundi and Nepal, decisions within political parties are often made by small groups of men behind closed doors, and women are frequently viewed as 'tokens' used to fulfill legal quotas rather than as legitimate political agents.
• Women's civil society organizations have been a primary driver for political mobilization and legal reform. In Burundi, organizations like CAFOB and Dushirehamwe lobbied for the 30% quota and laws against sexual violence. In Nepal, networks such as WAPPDCA and WATCH pushed for gender equality in the new constitution and laws against human trafficking and domestic violence.
• Deeply ingrained gender inequality and socio-economic barriers continue to hinder women's political advancement. These include a lack of economic independence to fund expensive electoral campaigns, disproportionate domestic burdens, and limited access to the education and political experience necessary for effective policymaking.
• International funding is essential for the operation of women's organizations but creates significant vulnerabilities. The prevalence of short-term, project-based funding leads to instability, forces organizations to align their agendas with donor priorities rather than local needs, and can undermine the legitimacy of these groups in the eyes of national policymakers.
• Women were systematically excluded from the formal peace negotiations in both countries. In Burundi, women were initially rejected from the peace table and only later granted permanent observer status. In Nepal, the peace negotiations were described as a male-dominated and exclusive process where no women served as mediators, participants, or signatories.

APA

Falch, Å. (2010). Women’s Political Participation and Influence in Post-Conflict Burundi and Nepal. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/60c1669c-af34-463f-8617-6b0c091d01e7/Womens-Political-Participation.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Falch, Åshild. Women’s Political Participation and Influence in Post-Conflict Burundi and Nepal. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2010. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/60c1669c-af34-463f-8617-6b0c091d01e7/Womens-Political-Participation.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Falch |first1=Åshild |title=Women’s Political Participation and Influence in Post-Conflict Burundi and Nepal |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=May 2010 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/60c1669c-af34-463f-8617-6b0c091d01e7/Womens-Political-Participation.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{falch2010womens, author = {Falch, Åshild}, title = {{Women’s Political Participation and Influence in Post-Conflict Burundi and Nepal}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/60c1669c-af34-463f-8617-6b0c091d01e7/Womens-Political-Participation.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }