The 1999 review of WEP concluded that the program had already had a measurable impact on all three dimensions of women's empowerment. At the intermediate result level achievements are clear. 56,000 women began or expanded a microenterprise in 1999 and end of program totals should significantly exceed the planned target for this indicator. By September 2001, WEP expects that approximately 40,000 women will efficiently operate approximately 1,500 village banks throughout southern Nepal. In this model, women learn to read and write and save their own money before they form banks and begin to borrow.
Women are in charge throughout the process.
It will also serve as an innovative model for countries with conditions similar to those in Nepal. The initial results indicate that WEP's three components combined have a significantly greater overall impact than the individual components. The resulting behavioral change reflects true empowerment. WEP has already begun to demonstrate nationwide impact. At the request of the GON, the WEP team has provided lessons learned and technical advice for this new national program.