Development projects in Nepal

A $300,000 Window 3 grant from Bangladesh-Ministry of Agriculture to IRRI for Bangladesh Unrestricted Grant

Organization

ICRC Nepal

Budget

USD 4K

Timeline

Jan 1, 2016 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

A $270,000 Window 3 grant from China-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to IRRI for CAAS Unrestricted Grant

Organization

ICRC Nepal

Budget

USD 3K

Timeline

Jan 1, 2016 → Dec 31, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

A $11,000,000 Bilateral grant from India-Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to IRRI for Establishment of IRRI South Asia Regional Center (ISARC)

Organization

ICRC Nepal

Budget

USD 1.8M

Timeline

Aug 2, 2017 → Aug 1, 2022

Coverage

Nepal

A $1,172,000 Bilateral grant from FAO-Food and Agriculture Organization to IRRI for Coordination of the Design and Development of the Global Information System on PGRFA Project (Loan of an Expert to FAO)

Organization

ICRC Nepal

Budget

USD 15K

Timeline

Sep 7, 2015 → Jan 31, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

A $573,000 Window 3 grant from China-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to IRRI for CAAS-IRRI Joint Laboratory on Genomics-Assisted Germplasm Development

Organization

ICRC Nepal

Budget

USD 7K

Timeline

Jan 1, 2017 → Dec 31, 2024

Coverage

Nepal

A $205,000 Window 3 grant from China-Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to IRRI for China Attribution

Organization

ICRC Nepal

Budget

USD 3K

Timeline

Jan 1, 2012 → Dec 31, 2021

Coverage

Nepal

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face numerous challenges to their development and growth. Given the importance of the MSME sector to Nepal’s economy, the government has implemented numerous innovation support programs to encourage the creation and growth of enterprises. Access to finance, appropriate technology, and training are examples of support services provided by the government and international donors. The government is also relying on these programs to advance social development goals such as reducing poverty and creating employment for youth, women, and marginalized communities. However, there are few robust studies demonstrating what works well and why, and whether the intended beneficiaries are indeed benefiting. This project, led by the Nepal Development Research Institute, will implement a three-prong study that will assess the impact of two innovation support programs and pilot a third intervention to test whether follow-up training can accelerate the growth of MSMEs and promote inclusive innovation. The research will focus on the Micro-enterprise Development Programme for Poverty Alleviation managed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Youth and Small Self-employment Fund managed by the YSEF Secretariat. Additionally, the team will develop and implement a training program for firms benefiting from these programs to test the effect of additional training in supporting firm growth. The findings will contribute to both scholarly and public policy debates. Specifically, the team will devise evidence-informed recommendations on how these programs could be improved from an equity, diversity and inclusion perspective and what services benefit micro and small firms on the one hand, and firms with growth potential on the other. This project received Stage 1 funding through the 2020 Evidence for Innovation open competition and a Stage 2 grant in 2022.

Organization

International Development Research Centre

Budget

USD 332K

Timeline

Mar 1, 2023 → Jun 1, 2026

Coverage

Nepal

Women’s empowerment and gender analysis is one of the key priorities for IDRC. Yet, most projects supported by the Centre lack common methods and indicators to measure how they are contributing to women’s empowerment. It has been a challenge to measure how well different types of projects or project-implementation strategies contribute to empowering women. This synthesis will examine twelve recent IDRC-funded projects in the agriculture and food security sector, all of which have a strong gender focus, to assess two major tools: the Women Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI) and the Women in Livestock Empowerment Index (WELI). The synthesis is expected to generate results and lessons on the projects’ achievements, and on the use of the tools, with key recommendations for their effective use in other programs. The information will also feed directly into the work at the CGIAR (formerly the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) on women’s empowerment indices and their application across various projects and initiatives.

Organization

International Development Research Centre

Budget

USD 14K

Timeline

Jan 1, 2022 → Oct 28, 2025

Coverage

Nepal

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more than 41 percent of women in Nepal have lost their jobs compared to 28 percent of men. Although entrepreneurship and women-led enterprises in agriculture and forest product value chains are considered an important avenue for women’s economic empowerment in the country, enterprises led by women entrepreneurs/farmers in the rural areas remain excluded from the government’s economic relief packages. While past research has addressed the role of entrepreneurship in promoting women’s economic empowerment, linkages between gender, entrepreneurship, and climate have not been widely explored. Further, resilience-building of businesses that includes multiple factors such as disasters, climate change, and dynamic markets and prices has not been thoroughly applied in Nepal. This project will examine how climate change plays a role in enabling or disenabling women’s economic empowerment in agriculture and forestry. Using participation action research approaches, researchers will co-produce with farmers, enterprise leaders, local women’s groups and champions, local and provincial government, private-sector actors and associations, and financial service providers a model of support for women entrepreneurs that will encourage the adoption of low-carbon practices in the agriculture and forestry sectors. This model will be disseminated through a number of scientific, policy, and media-based outputs. The elements of the model will range from digital and climate-smart technology, financial services, management and marketing training, training on high-potential value-addition activities and more, with the intention of increasing business resilience to climate change. Project interventions include promoting plantations in community forests and private lands by mobilizing community forest user groups and women’s groups. The research team will facilitate the uptake of such practices at the national level by engaging in national/provincial-level dialogues with relevant stakeholders.

Organization

International Development Research Centre

Budget

USD 654K

Timeline

Nov 1, 2021 → Oct 30, 2025

Coverage

Nepal

Forest-based entrepreneurship is considered an important vehicle to respond to the growing impacts of accelerating climate change. Innovative businesses and entrepreneurship for non-wood forest products will offer low-carbon solutions through locally available technological innovations primarily aimed at sustainable forest management and locally processed forest products. Nepal’s new Forest Act emphasizes the importance of business-oriented forest management that can play an important role for women’s economic empowerment, as it offers a stable source of income. However, empirical evidence is lacking in terms of how women’s economic empowerment can be achieved within the context of nature-based solutions and a low-carbon development agenda. Much of the knowledge on women’s economic empowerment is informed through development programs on micro-credit and community savings programs. The project aims to develop business models and scalable solutions to increase women's access to and control over forest resources and forest-based enterprises, enabling them to make economic decisions for themselves and their households. Through various skill-oriented interventions and support to encourage self-employment, the project further aims to strengthen women’s agency by enabling them to take charge of their life decisions and influence forest management decisions in their favour and in favour of the environment. The project will engage in policy dialogues to ensure women’s representation and leadership in forest management and forest-based enterprises. This will lead to increased sensitivity and accountability of forestry stakeholders to address existing power relations and enhance equity in benefit sharing. It will also allow for women’s knowledge of sustainable forestry management to gain prominence. Project outputs will include research reports, policy briefs, and journal articles on topics of women’s economic empowerment and engagement approaches for inclusive, low-carbon, nature-based solutions. Women’s agency will be supported to sustainably manage forests and run forest-based businesses. The project will ultimately enhance capacities of women’s networks, producer organizations, and forest federations.

Organization

International Development Research Centre

Budget

USD 568K

Timeline

Oct 1, 2021 → May 21, 2025

Coverage

Nepal

) Agriculture - FAO as lead agency - Objective: to assist flood-affected farmers in the rapid resumption of crop production for the upcoming planting season, in order reduce their dependence on food aid. Beneficiaries: 3 000 farmers Expected results: enhanced food security, improved crop practices

Organization

Sida / Sweden

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Oct 1, 2008 → Oct 28, 2010

Coverage

Nepal

Assessing the impact of the global crisis on the agriculture and food security situation in Nepal

Organization

UN Pooled Funds

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Feb 6, 2017 → Dec 31, 2030

Coverage

Nepal

This project is part of CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP contributes to the YES by providing a large spectrum of Canadian graduates with valuable international development work experience abroad.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 65K

Timeline

Mar 5, 2013 → Mar 31, 2014

Coverage

Nepal

Government and stakeholders have strengthened capacity to improve entrepreneurial potential and skills in the informal economy while facilitating the transition to formality

Organization

ILO Nepal

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Jan 1, 2020 → Dec 31, 2021

Coverage

Nepal

The program aims to promote the cooperative model to support economic growth and improve food security in communities. The expected results are: (1) viable co-operatives provide timely, relevant and gender-sensitive programs and services to members; (2) government decision-makers are influenced by co-operative sector; (3) increased social and economic empowerment of women and men; and (4) effective participation of Canadians in promoting gender equitable sustainable economic and social growth in participating countries. These results are expected to contribute to strengthening specific areas of expertise, including human resource development, governance training, business planning, marketing training, and technical assistance.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 416K

Timeline

Apr 4, 2011 → Sep 30, 2015

Coverage

Nepal

This project is part of CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP contributes to the YES by providing a large spectrum of Canadian graduates with valuable international development work experience abroad. The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (i) increased awareness among female and male Canadian youth of the equal possibility of working internationally; (ii) enhanced equal employability of female and male IYIP interns in Canada and in the field of international development; (iii) improved capacity of female and male IYIP interns to contribute to international development in a gender sensitive way.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 91K

Timeline

Jan 4, 2011 → Nov 21, 2013

Coverage

Nepal

This project is part of CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP contributes to the YES by providing a large spectrum of Canadian graduates with valuable international development work experience abroad.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 59K

Timeline

Jan 4, 2011 → Mar 31, 2014

Coverage

Nepal

This project is part of CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), funded by the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES). The IYIP contributes to the YES by providing a large spectrum of Canadian graduates with valuable international development work experience abroad.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 47K

Timeline

Mar 10, 2010 → Jun 13, 2013

Coverage

Nepal

The purpose of this project is to establish a small community-based not-for-profit business led and operated by women, to cultivate, harvest, weave, laminate, and distribute low-cost corrugated bamboo roofing sheets. The roofing sheets are used by the Habitat for Humanity International - Nepal (HFHI-Nepal) Save and Build microfinance housing program for low-income families. The project aims to make housing more affordable for the lowest-income families by reducing the material cost of roofs and ensuring a continuing supply of roofing sheets for HFHI-Nepal. The project also aims to create income-generating opportunities for low-income families involved in each step of the fabrication process. This is one of two components of a project valued at $493,080. The first component has been completed.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 51K

Timeline

Nov 22, 2007 → Oct 15, 2010

Coverage

Nepal

Thopal Khola Multipurpose Cooperative and Homlund Agriculture/v. Per Østergaard

Organization

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Budget

USD 138K

Timeline

Dec 1, 2013 → Feb 11, 2016

Coverage

Nepal

Thopal Khola Multipurpose Cooperative and Homlund Agriculture/v. Per Østergaard

Organization

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 1, 2013 → Feb 11, 2016

Coverage

Nepal

DBP Nepal Fertliser Industries and Biosa ApS

Organization

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 1, 2013 → Sep 15, 2017

Coverage

Nepal

The component will support commercialisation of selected value chains in the Eastern Nepal. It will also support the enterprises on access to finance.

Organization

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Budget

USD 183K

Timeline

Jun 16, 2015 → Jul 26, 2019

Coverage

Nepal

North South Seed Ltd. is part of the Lal Teer group in Bangladesh. This company started in 1995 with the breeding and production of hybrid and high yielding vegetable seeds together with Dutch owned East West Seed International. Over the last few years they have exported their hybrid seeds through their Nepalese partner CG Seeds and Fertilizer Pvt. Ltd.. Demand for hybrid seeds in Nepal is high and growing, but there is no local, commercial production of hybrid seeds. The two partners aim to set up a joint venture that will be the first Nepalese seed company that will produce hybrid seeds (vegetables, rice and maize) To this effect, 200 seed growers will be contracted and trained and a seeds processing plant will be established. Furthermore, a network of seed traders will be developed in the main agricultural regions of Nepal.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture will develop a corporate social responsibility policy during the inception phase of the project ensuring good working conditions and preferred recruitment of women and people from underprivileged minorities (Dhaliths). They will ensure fair prices for the seed growers.Impact• Employment and working conditionsThe project will create 102 direct jobs (47 basic-level, 55 medium-/high-level), increased to 111 (49 basic-, 62 medium-/high-level) after follow-up investments. Salaries will be at least 10% above minimum wage.• Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThis project will transfer knowledge of hybrid seed production of five vegetable and two cereal crops, including processing, storage quality control and sales and marketing. Hybrid seed production is new in Nepal.• Chain effectsThis project will improve the incomes, knowledge and livelihoods of 200 contracted seed growers. It is estimated that seed growers can increase their earnings four times if they move from OPV to hybrid seed production. In addition, it will create 11 indirect jobs for distribution and sales agents.• Position of womenAt least 20% women will be employed by the joint venture, including medium/high-level positions. 40% of the outgrowers will be female.

Organization

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Budget

USD 917K

Timeline

Jul 1, 2011 → Dec 19, 2018

Coverage

Nepal

With six climate zones, where a range of 7,000 different herbs grow, Nepal is a unique location for the processing of herbs. The basic rationale for this project stems from the increasing demand for herbs and herbal products in international markets (EU in particular).The applicant, Biosynergy A/S (Skaro, Denmark), has been involved in Nepal's herb sector since 2003. Together with Chaudhary Biosys Nepal Pvt. Ltd, they want to develop a new organic herbal supply chain in Nepal, involving 220 outgrowers and collectors of wild herbs. The project will obtain FairTrade certification and introduce FairWild certification in Nepal. In addition the company will become ISO 22000 certified.The joint venture will setup a processing facility in Kailali district (Far Western Region) and organise outgrowers en collectors in the surrounding districts. Processing fresh herbs into (semi)finished goods for export, will add value in Nepal, ensuring a better price for farmers/collectors in some of the poorest communities in Nepal.Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)The joint venture will be certified under the ISO 22000 standard, all extracts will be certified organic and FairTrade/FairWild. In addition, the joint venture will extent the CSR activities of CBN in the local communities where they source the raw materials.Salaries will be at least 10% above minimum wage and 10% of the company's profit will be deposited for the benefit of the employees.Impact• Employment and working conditionsThe project will create 37 direct jobs (fourteen basic-level, 23 medium-/high-level), increased to 59 (21 basic, 38 medium/ high) after follow-up investments. Salaries will be at least 10% above minimum wage. Working conditions will be up ISO 22000 standards.• Innovation / Transfer of knowledgeThis project will transfer knowledge in these areas of expertise: herbal extraction, supply chain management, marketing in EU market. More importantly, 220 farmers and collectors will be trained in sustainable growing and harvesting of natural resources, while informing them on what is a fair price for their goods.• Chain effectsThis project can be a catalyst in involving other (private sector) players to become active in an important niche of Nepal: herbs. With the ISO 22000 certification and FairTrade/FairWild practices, this project can be an inspiring example.• EnvironmentThe impact on the environment will be positive, as the project promotes sustainable harvesting to prevent degradation of natural resources (organic and FairTrade/FairWild certifications).• Position of womenAt least 6 women will be employed in medium-/high-level positions. Cultivation and collection of herbs is traditionally being done by women. This project and the FairTrade/FairWild certification will be beneficial for their empowerment.

Organization

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Budget

USD 790K

Timeline

Jul 1, 2011 → Mar 19, 2019

Coverage

Kailali, Sudurpashchim

May 2015 - On April 25, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal, with the epicentre 81 km northwest of Kathmandu. The earthquake has affected over 8 million people, displaced 2.8 million, and has left more than 3.5 million Nepalese in need of food assistance. To date, the Government of Nepal has confirmed over 8,600 deaths and 16,800 injured. On May 12, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, northeast of Kathmandu, and near its border with China. This aftershock caused additional damage and loss of life, including throughout many areas already impacted by the April 25 earthquake. With DFATD's support, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is helping to meet the food security and livelihood needs of up to 1,000,000 earthquake-affected people. Project activities include: (1) provision of seeds and other agricultural inputs to protect and rehabilitate livelihoods of vulnerable households; (2) distribution of light livelihood infrastructure, such as livestock shelters, seed stores, and processing plants to facilitation the resumption of agriculture livelihoods; and (3) provision of training on improved agricultural practices.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 1.6M

Timeline

Jul 28, 2015 → Nov 8, 2016

Coverage

Kathmandu, Bagmati

This project is implemented under the PDP IV programme by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). FIND's mission is to ensure equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world, from early Research & Development (R&D) to implementation.

Organization

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Budget

USD 835K

Timeline

Dec 1, 2022 → Dec 1, 2027

Coverage

Nepal

The project aims to reduce poverty through agriculture-based micro-enterprise development for men and women from poor, socially excluded and marginalized groups in 18 districts of Nepal. Potential entrepreneurs are trained in business management and provided with the necessary skills and tools to enable them to improve their productivity and more effectively market their produce. At the same time, the project works with the government to improve policies to create a more conducive environment for agro-based micro-enterprise development.

Organization

Global Affairs Canada

Budget

USD 1.2M

Timeline

Mar 28, 2011 → Oct 10, 2013

Coverage

Nepal

The project's primary objective is to enhance the prominence of the Netherlands in the deliberations held within the WTO, and to increase awareness among Dutch businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, about the significance of the WTO.Additionally, this initiative will provide valuable strategic insights into the ongoing multilateral discussions at the WTO, encompassing topics such as e-commerce, Joint Statement Initiatives, and WTO reform.This project will enable a comprehensive understanding of the legal and political implications of the forthcoming cases to be addressed by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body in the upcoming months.

Organization

Netherlands Enterprise Agency

Budget

USD 277

Timeline

Sep 1, 2019 → Sep 24, 2020

Coverage

Nepal

The National Rural and Renewable Energy Programme (NRREP) will support renewable energy in rural areas through renewable energy technologies such as, solar, micro hydro, biogas and improved cooking stoves. The objective is to reach 1.5 mio households with special focus gender equality and social inclusion. NRREP has a clear emphasis on effectively reaching out to the more remote and poorest part of the country, it will apply demand led approaches actively involving beneficiaries in decision making, and support use of energy for productive purposes leading to income and employment increase in rural areas. Structure: the programme has two national partners and consists of three components. The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) is the executing agency for two of the components: Technical Suppoort Component and the Business Developmnt for Renewable Energy and Productive Energy Use Component. Central Renewable Energy Fund (CREF) is the other national partner and the establishment of the Fund is an independent component. NRREP is a single programme modality, which means that no other programmes within renewable energy in Nepal are to be funded outside NRREP to avoid duplication and lack of coordination. The immediate objective of the Central Renewable Energy Fund Component is to institute the CREF as the core financial institution responsible for the effective delivery of subsidies and credit support to the renewable energy sector. The immediate objective of the Technical Support Component is to accelerate renewable energy service delivery with better quality, comprising various technologies, to remote rural households, enterprises and communities, to benefit men and women from all social groups, leading to more equitable economic growth. The immediate objective of the Business Development for Renewable Energy and Productive Energy Use Component is to contribute to an increase in income and employment generation potential for MSMEs in rural area.

Organization

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Budget

— · not reported

Timeline

Dec 12, 2012 → Feb 2, 2021

Coverage

Nepal