Background

International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed globally every year on 8 March. The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023 is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”. 

The United Nations Observance of IWD recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education. IWD 2023 will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities. The event will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.

Bringing women and other marginalized groups into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality. Their lack of inclusion, by contrast, comes with massive costs: as per UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2022 report, women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved $1 trillion from the gross domestic product of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade—a loss that will grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action. Reversing this trend will require tackling the problem of online violence, which a study of 51 countries revealed 38 per cent of women had personally experienced.

A gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can increase the awareness of women and girls regarding their rights and civic engagement. Advancements in digital technology offer immense opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges, and to achieve the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. Unfortunately, the opportunities of the digital revolution also present a risk of perpetuating existing patterns of gender inequality. Growing inequalities are becoming increasingly evident in the context of digital skills and access to technologies, with women being left behind as the result of this digital gender divide. The need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education is therefore crucial for a sustainable future. The proposed hashtags for social media are #IWD2023, #InternationalWomensDay, #BreakTheBias, #GenerationEquality #DigitALL.

Every year UNDP Nepal organizes several events and programmes to mark IWD drawing together people from diverse backgrounds to celebrate global achievements, agitate for change and raise social awareness for equality for the women and girls around the globe. This year UNDP Nepal will observe IWD through National and Provincial Poetry Competition (Fourth Edition) under the theme, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, by involving the students from grade VIII to XII standard from all seven provinces of Nepal. The primary target students are from the government/public schools and schools led by women Principals.

Objectives

The main objective of the competition is to conscientize the young students and children to create opportunities for them to speak their mind and recognize the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education and raise issues on safe digital space for women and girls by addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.

• To reflect on the status of women and girls and express opinions and concern in digital space and innovation
• To raise their awareness regarding the leadership role played by women and girls specifically on transformative technology and digital education
• To counter online harassment and creating safe digital space for women and girls
• To encourage students to creatively express their ideas through poems
• To develop oratory and creative skills amongst the students

Key Events

UNDP Nepal will organize National and Provincial level Poetry Competition (Fourth Edition) under the IWD 2023 theme i.e., “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.

(Possible Topics: Women in Innovation & Technology, Digital Gender Gap, Women and Girls on Digital Space, Online Gender Based Violence, Digital World and Women, Digital Technology, Women and Sustainable Development Goals etc.)

Provincial Level Poetry Competition

The public schools which are identified either as model schools by the Government of Nepal, or other schools led by women Principals from all seven provinces of Nepal. They will be encouraged to allow their students[1] from grade VIII to XII to submit their poems in accordance with the specific objective and theme of the competition. The interested schools to participate in the competition must fill the online registration and the organizer will select ten schools on first come, first serve basis. Accordingly, the invitation and concept note will share to the participating schools.

The participating schools will be responsible to provide the name of the one best poet from grade VIII to XII from their respective schools to the respective UNDP Field Offices, to participate in the virtual Provincial level Poetry competition.

The Provincial Level poetry competition will be organized by UNDP Field office ( Dhangadi, Surkhet, Butwal and Janakpur) virtually on 24th February 2023 from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours (tentatively). The three best poets (1st, 2nd & 3rd) from each province will be selected, and one of the best poets (1st poem/winner) recommended by the jury from each province will enter to National level Poetry Competition. 

National Level Poetry Competition

The National level poetry competition will be organized by UNDP Nepal in virtual/hybrid modality on Wednesday, 8th March 2023 from 10:00 hours to 13:00 hours (tentatively). 

Rules for Poetry Competition

• Poetry will be based on self-composed content.
• Languages for poetry can be any preferred language (Nepali, English, mother language)
• Each candidate will be allotted 5 minutes.
• Decision criteria will be based on provided the students poetry recitation on the topic given:

1. Content of the poem
2. Expression and body language
3. Articulation
4. Diction
5. Delivery & style
6. Innovation

• Jury’s decision will be final and binding all candidates.

Jury

The possible jury members could be the representatives from the Ministry, Women Mayors & Deputy Mayors/ Leaders, Poets, Authors, technologists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and gender equality activists etc.

• UNDP Nepal will have sole discretion on the selection and appointment of judges for the poetry competition.

Child Protection

The participating schools should ensure that

1. The participating students who are minors will need at least 1 parent/legal guardian to sign a permission slip related to the submission of private data.
2. The students over 18 years must provide consent for themselves on issue of data privacy.
3. A Code of Conduct for judges.
4. For the code of conduct of debaters, their parents will have to sign as well.
5. Use of Image / Livestream Consent form for the students and judges.
6. Scanned copies of a form of ID of a parent from each debater who is considered a minor in their respective countries.

Language

The participant can choose any preferred language i.e., Nepalese, or mother language

Participants

The Provincial & National Level Poetry competition is only open to the students from grade VIII to XII of Nepal from the public model schools or other public schools that have been identified by educational professionals and are led by women principals. The interested participants should provide duly filled online form given below.

APPLY

Please register in the following link by 12 February 2023.

https://forms.office.com/e/qqSrH1f92v

Upated as of 11 February: DEADLINE EXTENDED till 16 February 2023. Apply soon!

Update as of 23 February

Registraton link is below: