Socio-Material Regeneration: Ensuring Women’s Land Rights and Participation in Post-Disaster Reconstruction in Nepal

Abstract

The 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal exposed the deep entanglement of gender inequality and material vulnerability within disaster contexts. This interdisciplinary study examines how women’s land rights and participation influence socio-material regeneration; the joint rebuilding of infrastructure and social relations; in post-earthquake Nepal. “Socio-material regeneration” is here defined as the interconnected rebuilding of physical infrastructure and social relations in post-earthquake Nepal. Drawing exclusively on secondary sources including peer-reviewed journals, government documents and NGO reports, the paper examines the gendered dimensions of land tenure, ownership and participation in reconstruction. Despite progressive constitutional provisions guaranteeing equal property rights, women in Nepal continue to own only about one-fifth of the nation’s land. This disparity critically restricted their access to housing grants and reconstruction aid, as property documents and citizenship certificates were prerequisites for compensation. Meanwhile, women were central actors in the recovery; leading community rebuilding, organizing relief and entering construction trades traditionally reserved for men. Through a thematic synthesis of existing literature, the study reveals that post-disaster reconstruction policies often acknowledged gender equity rhetorically but failed to institutionalize women’s ownership and decision-making power. The paper argues that genuine socio-material regeneration requires embedding gender justice into every layer of reconstruction; from legal frameworks and land registration systems to participatory planning and skill development. Strengthening women’s land rights, promoting joint land ownership and ensuring meaningful female participation are identified as pivotal for building not just safer structures but more equitable and resilient communities in post-disaster Nepal.