Lamkichuha, Kailali | 11 December 2025

Validation workshops for the co-designed public spaces in Wards 3 and 5 of Lamkichuha Municipality were successfully conducted as part of the Cities 4 Women project, engaging over 50 participants in each ward. The workshops brought together elected representatives, municipal officials, local leaders, senior citizens, women’s groups, youth, people with disabilities (PWDs), students, and other community members to review and validate Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for selected public spaces.

The workshops were held at ward offices of Ward No. 3 and Ward No. 5 on 10 and 11 December 2025. These events marked an important milestone in the community-driven planning process, providing a platform to review, refine, and validate the co-design outcomes developed through extensive community engagement. The validation workshops aimed to present preliminary co-design concepts and gather feedback from community members, municipal representatives, and stakeholders and validate design elements to ensure alignment with community vision, cultural identity, and environmental considerations.

The validation workshop in Ward No. 3 was chaired by Mr. Love Bahadur Shahi, Ward Chairperson, while in Ward No.5, Ms Maya Bista chaired the workshop. Ms. Aruna Thapa, Project Coordinator facilitated an overview of the project objectives, followed by a presentation of the proposed designs and DPR by Mr. Prabal Dahal, Urban Planner. Visual materials, including photographs and layout plans, were displayed to support informed discussion. Participants engaged in in-depth and interactive discussions on the overall design of the public open spaces in both wards, focusing on: Intended use and functionality; Operational and management arrangements; Safety and women-friendly features.

Community members actively shared their experiences, perspectives, and recommendations. All feedback was carefully documented, with a shared understanding that it would be incorporated into design refinements and the implementation process to ensure the public spaces are inclusive, practical, and responsive to local needs.

The validation workshop concluded with a strong consensus that the proposed design of the well-managed open spaces of both wards, being practical, effective, and women friendly. The design and Detailed Project Report (DPR) were unanimously approved by participants.

3D Design of Lamkichuha Municpality Ward 5, Narmada Health Center Public Space

Ward Chairpersons Ms. Maya Bista (Ward No. 5) and Mr. Love Bahadur Shahi (Ward No. 3) expressed gratitude to the Cities 4 Women team and reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable and inclusive urban development. Ms. Bista highlighted the value of inclusive planning, while Mr. Shahi emphasized community ownership, stating: “These workshops have given our community the chance to share their ideas and take ownership of how our public spaces are developed.” Further, he expressed satisfaction with the successful completion of the validation program and commended the quality of the proposed design. He emphasized the importance of initiating construction of the organized public open space at the earliest possible time.

3D Design of Lamkichuha Municpality Ward 3, Public Space

Organized under the Cities 4 Women Project, the validation workshops strengthened local participation, transparency, and community ownership. By providing an open platform for dialogue and collective decision-making, the program laid a strong foundation for the effective and inclusive implementation of the project in the next phase.

These events underscore the power of collaborative, community-led approaches in advancing sustainable urban development and ensuring that public spaces truly reflect the needs and aspirations of local communities.