KATHMANDU, Nepal – inDrive, a global mobility and delivery platform, has concluded the first cohort of its inDrive Driving Naari Nepal programme, an initiative creating equal opportunities for women to pursue driving as a profession.

The programme culminated in a certification ceremony in Kathmandu, where ten women were recognised for completing three months of training designed to equip them with the skills, confidence and resources to pursue safe and independent livelihoods through two-wheeler driving.

Launched in April 2026, inDrive Driving Naari Nepal was developed to help women from underserved communities access economic opportunities in the mobility sector, while addressing the social and practical barriers that discourage women from entering traditionally male-dominated professions.

Safety at the centre of the curriculum
Road safety was treated as a core professional competency during the training. Participants completed road safety guidance alongside their practical riding instruction, and were supported through the formal licensing process. Each participant received a safety kit: a protective helmet, a first-aid and medical kit.
Personal safety was addressed separately. Advanced self-defence training was delivered in partnership with FightBack Nepal, helping participants build awareness, confidence and practical skills to respond to potential safety concerns.

Representing the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, DSP Sunil Jung Shah said, “Road safety is a shared responsibility, and every driver has an important role to play. We encourage the participants to follow traffic rules, stay alert and continue learning as they gain experience on the road. We congratulate them and wish them a safe and successful journey as professional drivers.”

Widening access to mobility
For the women in this cohort, a licence represents access as much as income, the ability to reach work, education, healthcare and markets on their own schedule, without depending on public transport timetables or on other household members.
Two-wheeler ride-hailing reaches narrow lanes and last-mile destinations that four-wheeled vehicles cannot serve, at fares that are typically lower. A driver base that better reflects the population it serves also widens the range of choices available to passengers.

Certification Ceremony
The ceremony brought together partner organisations, government stakeholders, media and distinguished guests. Certificates, safety kits and tokens of appreciation were presented to all ten participants by inDrive representatives alongside Swastima Khadka, Brand Ambassador for inDrive Nepal. The event featured a video documenting the ten participants’ journey through the programme.

As part of the celebration, one participant won an electric scooter, three received smartphones and six received smartwatches to support them as they begin their professional driving journeys.

“In market after market, we see the same imbalance, many of the people requesting rides are women, and almost none of the people giving them are,” said Shaerine Irwina Kaur, Communications Manager for Southeast Asia at inDrive. “That was never about whether women want this work. It was about whether a route into it existed. Nepal’s first cohort shows what happens when training, licensing and platform access come together as one pathway. We will be building on this in other markets too.”

“Skills training is only part of the work. Social stigma matters just as much, and so does the ecosystem a woman steps into once she starts riding,” said Manjeeta Gurung, Communications Manager at inDrive Nepal. “inDrive Driving Naari Nepal is built to support women on every front: the licence, the confidence, the conversation at home, and the earning. And as more women take this up, passengers gain something too: more choice about who drives them.”

Sunita Jeemi Rai, Senior Driver Operations Specialist at inDrive Nepal, said, “inDrive Driving Naari Nepal is a real step towards a more supportive environment for women drivers. As more women take the wheel, they are helping steer Nepal towards a more inclusive future.”

Swastima Khadka, Brand Ambassador for inDrive Nepal, said, “inDrive Driving Naari Nepal reflects inDrive’s commitment to challenging injustice and creating change in communities. I am proud to be part of an initiative that puts people and fairness at the centre.”

 

About inDrive
inDrive is a global mobility and delivery platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 400 million times, and has been named the second most downloaded ride-hailing app. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of services, including intercity transportation, delivery, and financial services. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm.
inDrive operates in over 1200 cities in 48 countries. Driven by its mission to challenge Injustice through fair choices, inDrive is committed to having a positive impact on people’s lives. It pursues this goal both through its core business, which supports local communities via a fair pricing model; and through the work of its impact programs.
For more information visit www.inDrive.com