Nepalese women breaking gender stereotypes, and other news (2 Oct 2018)

Every Tuesday we highlight some of the international development stories from across the globe that have caught our attention.

• Women in Nepal are learning building skills to help rebuild homes destroyed in 2015 earthquake. As many men leave the country to look for work elsewhere, recovery efforts in Nepal have slowed. Besides learning new skills, masonry has helped women earn income of their own and reshaped traditional gender roles. Read more at the Thompson Reuters Foundation.

• More than 830 people have died following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The international community has offered help with disaster response and relief. Read more at The Jakarta Post.

• While bamboo plants are common in Jamaica, they are rarely used to its full potential. Jamaican Government is looking to boost bamboo industry in the country, and worldwide, by starting to produce range of consumer items, such as kitchen towels, diapers, and bed sheets. Read more at the Jamaica Observer.

• Value for money evaluations are becoming more important, especially in the international development field, where they are deployed to boost accountability and improve resource allocation. In his blog, Steve Powell discusses new approach to VfM. 

Photo: Oguz Dikbakan / Shutterstock.com