Indigenous Women in Action: Reviving Traditional Water Mills in Mustang

Home to Indigenous communities such as the Thakali, Gurung, Loba, and Magar, Mustang’s livelihoods largely depend on tourism and agriculture, both increasingly affected by climate change. While Indigenous women play a strong role in household decision-making, their participation and influence in community-level planning and governance have historically remained limited. At the same time, traditional knowledge and technologies have been steadily declining due to changing livelihoods and the rapid growth of tourism, with women’s specific needs and knowledge largely absent from local development processes.

To address the gaps, IUCN Nepal in partnership with Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, implemented the Project, supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). The project is focused on strengthening Indigenous women’s leadership, decision-making, and implementation capacity—particularly in community-level climate action and conservation initiatives. Through structured capacity-building, women were supported to identify priority needs, plan pilot activities, make collective decisions, and lead implementation.

Photo: Local women at action during water mill restoration 

During this process, the women identified the restoration of a traditional water mill as their top priority. The intervention aimed to conserve Indigenous knowledge and skills, reduce women’s workload caused by long-distance travel for grain grinding, and promote climate adaptation through renewable energy use and water source conservation. A fully women-led execution committee was formed, responsible for every aspect of the initiative—from design and operation schedules to maintenance, financial management, documentation, and ensuring equitable access.

The restored water mill has already delivered tangible benefits. Women no longer need to walk long distances to grind grain, saving time, money, and physical effort. Households now have reliable, year-round access to milling services for barley, buckwheat, millet, and maize. On average, families save around USD 15 per season in travel and related costs. The intervention currently benefits 165 households, covering a population of 568 people, including 313 women and 255 men.

Photo: Pramila Gurung, a community member using the mill

“For the first time, I felt that my voice and decisions mattered,” said Pramila Gurung, a 42-year-old Indigenous woman from Jomsom. Through her role in the users’ committee, she gained confidence in administrative and financial procedures, documentation requirements, and engagement with local government institutions. “Now, I know what documents and processes are needed to seek services and ensure our voices are heard and respected,” she added.

With reduced workload and cost savings, Pramila now actively participates in women’s group meetings, community planning discussions, and household responsibilities. She noted that the initiative has shifted community perceptions, recognizing women not only as household providers but also as knowledge holders, planners, and decision-makers.

Photo: Local women at the restored mill for griding maize

Echoing this sentiment, women’s group member Bhuwan Sherchan shared that earlier attempts to restore the mill had failed due to perceived limitations in resources and technical capacity. “We proved that with opportunity, planning, and collective effort, women can successfully lead community infrastructure work,” she said.

Local leaders have also taken note. Jamuna Thapa, Vice Chairperson of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, stated that the women’s group completed the restoration in less than one month—while similar projects typically take at least six months when implemented by conventional, male-dominated groups. “Their work is truly commendable”, she said. Rajesh Gupta, Conservation Officer at the ACAP Jomsom Office, added that this was the first time in Mustang that community infrastructure restoration had been carried out entirely by a women-led group.

Photo: Joint monitoring of restoration of mill by Local Government Officials, IUCN Nepal Representatives and local stakeholders 

Today, Indigenous women in Jomsom are sharing their knowledge with younger generations, reinforcing the relevance of traditional technologies for climate adaptation, workload reduction, and cultural continuity. Recognized by local leaders and media alike, the initiative stands as a strong example of women-led, community-based climate action delivering social, economic, and environmental benefits.