: Nepal is predominantly a patriarchal society; there are high levels of gender disparity, and women lag behind
men both socially and economically. The Jyapu people (a sub-caste of the Newar ethnic group) constitute one of the
largest ethnic groups in the Kathmandu Valley. This study explores the economic and social status of Jyapu women by
examining their productive/economic roles, their social/community engagement, and their involvement in decisionmaking
processes, with a particular focus on water use and the conservation of stone spouts and traditional wells. The
study reveals that Jyapu women are not sufficiently empowered economically to play a major role in wider decisionmaking
processes but that their involvement in community-based activities (including water conservation) and economic
entrepreneurship is critical at the domestic and community levels. The study demonstrates that Jyapu women are the
major users of traditional water resources and play an important role in the conservation process, possessing longstanding
knowledge for climate-change adaptation practices.