Nepal

Through its groundbreaking Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign, The Carter Center partners with city leaders worldwide to raise awareness about women’s right to access information and to help cities reach women with valuable information and essential municipal services. 

Access to this information empowers women with a stronger voice, enabling them to participate in public life, utilize public services, and make more informed decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities. In Nepal, the project has collaborated with the city of Kathmandu.

We observed three landmark elections that transformed Nepal’s political landscape:

2008 Constituent Assembly Election

• Monitored Nepal’s historic transition from monarchy to republic
• Deployed 62 observers from 20+ countries
• Found remarkably peaceful voting despite pre-election violence concerns

2013 Constituent Assembly Election

• Observed the replacement election after the 2012 assembly dissolution
• Led by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
• 66 observers from 31 countries monitored 336 polling centers
• Achieved over 70% voter turnout despite boycott attempts

2017 Federal and Provincial Elections

• Monitored Nepal’s first elections under the 2015 Constitution
• Deployed 64 observers from 34 countries across all seven provinces
• Visited 282 polling centers in 32 districts
• Found 97% of polling centers conducted positive voting procedures

Lasting Impacts
Our decade-long election monitoring helped Nepal successfully transition from monarchy to federal democratic republic. By maintaining an international presence through postponements and challenges, we helped ensure the credibility of each historic vote, ultimately contributing to Nepal’s constitutional development and the strengthening of its democratic institutions.

Our Work

From June 2009 to 2013, we deployed teams to monitor the peace and constitution-drafting processes, providing impartial information to political and civil society leaders.

Our approach included:

• Deploying teams of three (two international, one national) to all five regions
• Meeting with local officials, civil society leaders, and citizens
• Producing 20+ public reports on security, federalism, identity politics

Lasting Impacts
Our reports were widely distributed and reported in local and international media, helping keep stakeholders informed and accountable. The monitoring helped ensure marginalized groups’ participation in the peace process and constitutional development.

Our Work

Beginning in 2004, we engaged in mediation efforts between various factions during Nepal’s civil conflict.

Our approach included:

• Meeting with royal, government, and national organization representatives
• Conducting conflict resolution training for political party representatives
• Facilitating bridge-building sessions with Maoist representatives

Lasting Impacts
Our sustained engagement helped create space for dialogue between conflicting parties, contributing to the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. This foundational work evolved into our long-term democracy support as Nepal’s political dynamics transformed.