Turning Challenges into Strength: Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Power of Nepal’s Left-Behind Women

 

In rural Nepal, many families rely on money sent home by men working abroad. These remittances pay for everything—from school fees and healthcare to daily household expenses. But behind this financial support is a woman—a mother, wife, daughter, or sister—who manages everything alone in the man’s absence.

These women are more than just caretakers. They are quiet financial managers, making daily decisions that keep their households running. In fact, remittances make up nearly a quarter of Nepal’s entire economy. But what if this money wasn’t just used for getting by? What if some of it could help women build something more—like a small business, a new skill, or a better future?

Thousands of women across Nepal face the emotional and financial burden of waiting—waiting for money, for news, for stability. They juggle rising costs while raising families alone. But these same challenges also build resilience. Their ability to survive with limited resources and uncertain futures is a lot like the mindset of an entrepreneur.

These women don’t just deserve help—they represent a missed opportunity. With proper training and support, they could become business owners, community leaders, and role models. Investing in them is not just the right thing to do; it’s smart for Nepal’s economy.

Hidden Potential

Right now, most remittances are used for basic living costs. But the women managing these funds have already shown great financial responsibility. If given access to business training and local markets, they could become drivers of change in their communities.

Research shows that when women control finances, they invest more in their children’s health and education. Many of Nepal’s “left-behind” women already show confidence and leadership in running households. With entrepreneurial training, they can grow into powerful social and economic influencers.

The Missing Link

Nepal already has several programs supporting women’s entrepreneurship—run by organizations like IOM, CARE Nepal, and UNDP. But most of these efforts focus on young people or returning migrant workers. The women left behind, who are holding their families together, are often ignored.

They don’t lack potential—just visibility and opportunity.

Building Generational Impact

Economist and Nobel Prize winner Esther Duflo has shown that when women are empowered, it benefits entire communities. Empowered women invest in their children and inspire the next generation. This pattern is true worldwide—from Brazil to Bangladesh to parts of Africa—and it can be true in Nepal too.

Going Digital

Technology can help make this happen. In 2023, Nepal had more mobile subscriptions than people, and more than 65% of rural women used mobile phones. About 40% used the internet for banking or small business activities.

With apps like eSewa, Khalti, and WhatsApp, women can now run businesses from their homes, access training, and reach new markets. They are already using these tools in daily life—it’s time to help them use them for business too.

What Needs to Change

To truly support these women, we need to:

• Recognize “left-behind women” as a distinct group in entrepreneurship programs.

• Offer basic training in business and digital literacy.

• Build support networks, mentorship, and local leadership opportunities.

• Adjust national policies to include and invest in them.

This is not just about fairness—it’s about recognizing a valuable but overlooked group of potential entrepreneurs.

A Vision for the Future

Picture a woman in Nawalparasi. Her husband works in the Gulf and sends money home. She uses part of it to start a small tailoring business. She employs three other women and trains others. She markets her services through her mobile phone. Her children grow up watching her strength, learning from her example.

Nepal has long sent its workers abroad. But in doing so, it has also created a generation of women who’ve become experts at managing money and surviving hard times. These women aren’t just “left behind.” They are businesswomen waiting for a chance to shine.

Let’s stop seeing them as victims of migration and start seeing them as leaders of change.