Nepal

Projects

Sahaj - Nepal Agricultural Market Development Programme

In 2017, agriculture contributed around 27.04 per cent to Nepal's GDP. Agriculture is a major source of livelihood in the country. However, the agriculture sector is still in a nascent stage as far as technology and modern cultivation methods are concerned. Agriculture mainly engages smallholder farmers who continue to use traditional methods of...

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Step Up – Improving labour market access for unemployed

Nepal faces enormous employment challenges that are exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Difficulties to find gainful employment for the unemployed include lack of information on jobs and business opportunities, appropriate skills and access to networks and support services such as career guidance or counselling. In addition, business support services that provide entrepreneurs with services to start, sustain and improve their businesses are weak or even missing. The project aims to address these deficiencies in the current employment ecosystem and contribute to the Government of Nepal’s efforts to increase job creation and the employability of its labour force.

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Quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training for youth (QualiTY)

Quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for Youth (QualiTY) Project aims to help Nepali youth, including those from disadvantaged groups, benefit from quality education and better employment prospects.

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Nepal Vocational Qualifications System (NVQS)

Youths entering the labour market in Nepal are compelled to remain unemployed or underemployed and work in low-pay jobs due to a lack of skills, and lack of certification and recognition of the skills they have. To provide wider opportunities and to enable Nepali youth without formal vocational training and education, and those who have gained skills through work experience to enter the labour market with recognized certificates for better employability and career path, the Government of Nepal (GoN) has initiated a National Vocational Qualifications System (NVQS) with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to be implemented.

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Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness Programme

The project aims to involve smallholder farmer businesses sustainably in agricultural value chains, thereby improving their living conditions and economic situation. By building inclusive agricultural systems, smallholder farmers will have improved access to markets, information, and means of production. Additionally, the project emphasizes...

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News

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22.04.2024

Transforming Labour Markets

In 2023, Nepal saw economic improvements, including a surplus in the balance of payments, increased foreign currency reserves and tourist arrivals, among others. Despite these positive indications, the Economic Survey for Fiscal Year 2022-23 reported a modest 2.16 percent economic growth rate. To boost growth, the government introduced the Digital Nepal Framework (DNF), aimed at enhancing digital literacy and advancing adoption of technology across the economy. The DNF comprises eight categories - digital foundation, agriculture, health, education, energy, tourism, finance, and urban infrastructure.

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28.03.2024

Empowering Farmers and Ensuring Food Security in Sindhuli: A Dairy Success Story

Among the 3.8 million farming households in the country, 95% have dairy animals because of the key role they play in household subsistence and nutrition. However, most of these households primarily produce milk for their own consumption, with occasional sales during peak production seasons. Only about 14% of milk producing households are both producers and sellers.

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19.03.2024

Biratnagar Metropolitan Hosts its First-Ever Employment Fair in Collaboration with the Step Up Project

In the Koshi Province of eastern Nepal, the Biratnagar-Itahari corridor is a thriving economic hub witnessing promising growth in entrepreneurship and small business ventures. Despite its potential, the region faces significant unemployment challenges due to limited awareness about existing job openings and their prerequisites. To bridge the gap, Mayor Nagesh Koirala and Deputy Mayor Shilpa Nirala Karki of Biratnagar metropolitan recently led one notable initiative by organising a Metropolitan Employment Fair in collaboration with the Step Up project from March 15 to 16.

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Country Director

Sanjay Karki

Swisscontact in Nepal

Swisscontact Nepal focuses on strengthening the competencies of people and improving their employability through upskilling and reskilling, initial vocational education and training, and labour market insertion. We engage with private sector enterprises to increase their competitiveness to achieve impact and scale. We also work towards sustainable agriculture development through commercialisation and agricultural markets development.

Swisscontact Nepal implements projects in a pragmatic way to address complex development challenges, which is participatory, inclusive, and sensitively adapted to local conditions. The approach helps in empowering local actors to develop capabilities and networks to overcome existing barriers. Addressing equal access for women and men, as well as disadvantaged groups, are critical aspects to any initiative we at Swisscontact Nepal do it in all levels.

Our partners

Swisscontact South Asia has been successfully working with partners below for implementing projects.

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