Celebrating Women in Tech: Suravi Bhandary

This series of portraits celebrates women working with the openIMIS Initiative from across the world in diverse technical roles. Women make up less than a third of the global tech workforce, with even fewer women at senior levels. In line with BMZ’s Feminist Development Policy, openIMIS actively seeks to address this gender gap.

Country: Nepal
Title & Organisation: Social Protection Consultant and Business Analyst, currently working with the World Bank and International Labour Organization (ILO) in Nepal.
Education: Masters of Public Policy (MPP), and BA in International Relations.

A little background…
In Nepal, women’s participation in the workforce has grown over the past decades, but in recent years progress has slowed. Their presence in the technology and data sectors is particularly limited. While more young women are now studying coding, engineering, and data science, many find their career paths held back by cultural expectations, unequal access to resources, and limited opportunities. Change, however, is underway. New initiatives and communities are beginning to open doors, creating room for women to thrive in tech. Among them is Suravi Bhandary, a business analyst working in the social protection sector. 

How did you become interested in working in IT?
“I have always enjoyed breaking down complex ideas and processes into clear, explainable components. After completing my Master’s degree in Public Policy, I worked in the social protection sector, carrying out institutional assessments for various Nepali organizations. My move into tech happened almost by accident. In 2021, I was a National Project Coordinator at the International Labour Organization (ILO) office in Nepal for a project providing support to Nepal’s Social Security Fund (SSF), which provides contribution-based social security. The SSF requested ILO’s support to deploy openIMIS.”

“I then undertook a very detailed review of the SSF business processes in preparation for the deployment, identifying entry points for openIMIS. Right now, we are still in the testing phase, but the new program is due to ‘go live’ later this year. So you could say that openIMIS provided the entry point for me.”

“Nowadays, I really see my role as making sure technology is used in ways that help social protection organizations deliver on their mandates more effectively, and in a more human-centred way. For example, I support institutions in designing and delivering programmes that are easier to manage and access for those who are not tech-savvy. I am the intermediary in this process, helping both sides understand each other better.”

Are there areas where women are underrepresented in Tech?
“When I started working in this area, it was immediately obvious to me that there is a huge challenge related to the under-representation of women in technology, both in Nepal and globally. In Nepal, data show that women hold fewer than 10 percent of roles in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and even fewer women advance to leadership roles which are overwhelmingly held by men.“

“The good news is that we have a number of emerging programmes in Nepal that are building skills for girls and women in STEM. For example, the female-led social enterprise Smart Cheli works with girls aged 10 to 18 to create gender balance in STEM, and the Centre for Natural and Applied Sciences (CENAS) maintains a Women in STEM Nepal database. The Women in STEM Club Nepal provides a platform for networking, mentoring, and supports the development of leadership skills. These and other organizations also advocate for gender-sensitive policy development which is critical for Nepal.”

What are the challenges and advantages of being a woman working in digital tech in your country? 
“I was lucky; the ILO provided me with a space to advance in this area, and being associated with such a prestigious organization really helped, giving me kudos I might otherwise have lacked.”

“But even with this experience, I am sometimes hesitant to speak up and take on public speaking roles due to lack of confidence. When I worked with SSF, I was usually the only woman around the table. The lack of female role models and Nepal’s deep-rooted cultural and social norms combine to position IT as a career for men, limiting both girls’ early exposure to IT and denting their confidence to consider IT as a potential career.”

What do you find most inspiring about your work?
“Coming from a non-tech background, I feel I bring a different perspective and can more fully appreciate the power of technology to simplify and to drive progress in social security programmes. It is not only about building systems but creating pathways for dignity and inclusion. I like the idea that tech can be used to promote more equitable systems in addition to more efficient systems – I find this very inspiring.”

What are you most proud of?
“Earlier this year, I was part of the team which organized an international study tour to Nepal. Despite our small size, Nepal is the first country to successfully adapt openIMIS on a national scale to support the management of its contribution-based social security programmes. Representatives from the health insurance agencies of Ethiopia, Senegal and Zambia came to Nepal to see how this works in practice. My role was to facilitate discussions and to help delegates identify and agree on the common business processes that can provide the basis for future customisations of openIMIS. This tour was a great success, and I am very proud to have played a role in this.”

“openIMIS has also provided me with the opportunity to work outside Nepal, when I undertook a review of business processes for the Moldovan government’s social security support to seasonal workers.”

How could openIMIS better support women working in the digital space?
“openIMIS is already doing something important in showcasing the stories of women working in tech. I have been following this series on their website and through LinkedIn and I have found this very inspiring. I think these stories would also be very encouraging for girls and young women in the digital space, so openIMIS could think of collaborating with local initiatives and organizations that work to empower younger women in partner countries who might not use LinkedIn.”

“Knowing that by collaborating with this portrait, I am also helping other women is a source of great pride for me. Being invited to the openIMIS community and being engaged in the workshops and other events helps to build my confidence.”