Facilitating gender equality and social inclusion in market systems development

This paper captures the Nepal Agricultural Market Development Programme (NAMDP) – Phase II’s approach, experiences and lessons in mainstreaming Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) within a MSD framework.

Its purpose is to document how integrating GESI principles throughout the project cycle can strengthen inclusion and sustainability in agricultural market systems.

The paper highlights how NAMDP applied GESI-sensitive strategies, including de-risking inclusive business models, supporting women-led and disadvantaged group-led SMEs, improving access to finance, and embedding GESI in public policies and procedures. It identifies key lessons such as the need for long-term monitoring of mechanisation impacts, stronger public-sector engagement, and balancing gender-sensitive and transformative approaches.

The document concludes with a practical framework for integrating GESI into each stage of an MSD programme’s design, implementation, monitoring and adaptation to promote equitable economic growth.