On September 12-13, 2024, the Yunus Center AIT team participated in the "Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2024" in Kathmandu. The summit brought together over 300 global experts to discuss sustainable infrastructure development with a focus on key areas such as energy, transportation, and urban growth. The event centered around strategies for fostering partnerships and implementing regulatory reforms to support sustainable infrastructure advancements.

 

Key Discussions:

Throughout the summit, participants explored innovative approaches to addressing infrastructure challenges in Nepal and the region. The emphasis was placed on partnerships between public and private sectors, alongside regulatory changes that could accelerate development while ensuring sustainability.

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On September 13, 2024, the summit featured a panel titled "Creating Opportunities for Women in the Infrastructure Space," moderated by Prof. Faiz Shah, the Executive Director of Yunus Center AIT. Prof. Shah discussed the significant barriers that women face in pursuing careers in infrastructure, particularly pointing out career breaks due to family responsibilities. He highlighted the difficulties women experience when re-entering the workforce after such breaks and stressed the importance of structural reforms to ensure women’s sustained mobility in their careers.

 

The panelists included:

- Kavitha Kasynathan,  Head of Development for the Australian Embassy in Nepal

- Nirvana Chaudhar, Vice President, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI)

-Prof. Faiz Shah, Professor, AIU Center of Excellence for Socio-Economic Development & Innovation Executive Director, Yunus Center AIT. President, Yunus Foundation Thailand

- Prof. Mini S. Thomas,  Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, JMI, India, Former Director, NIT Tiruchirappalli, Past President, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI)

- Prof. Paula Banerjee,  Professor, IDRC Endowed Research Chair, Gender & Development Studies, Director, Center on Gender and Forced Displacement Asian Institute of Technology

- Usha Khatiwada, Objective Lead, USAID Urja Nepal Program

- Shivani Manaktala,  Director, Palladium, Team Leader, South Asia Regional Infrastructure Connectivity (SARIC)

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These experts delved into issues surrounding gender inclusivity in the infrastructure sector, workplace harassment, and the lack of women in leadership roles. They called for systemic reforms that would make infrastructure careers more accessible and equitable for women.

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The Nepal Infrastructure Summit 2024 concluded with a call for strategic partnerships aimed at aligning Nepal’s infrastructure development with global sustainable development goals. The discussions underscored the importance of inclusivity, gender equality, and resilience in shaping the future of infrastructure growth. This collaborative approach was seen as essential for advancing sustainable development in Nepal and beyond.