Swisscontact and Social Welfare Council signs project agreement for Step Up Project

Labour market insertion
14.01.2022
On 14th January 2022, Swisscontact and The Social Welfare Council (SWC) signed an agreement to implement the "Step Up" project in Nepal.

In Nepal, challenges to find gainful employment for the unemployed is amplified by lack of information on jobs and jobs requirement, lack of appropriate skills and networks, and inadequate employment and entrepreneurship support services. "Step Up" intends to address these challenges by working with both public and private sector to strengthen labour market information systems, labour market insertion services, and entrepreneurship support services to increase opportunities for employment and income for the unemployed. Step Up aims to benefit jobseekers especially women, returned migrants, and those who have recently lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Biratnagar, Duhabi, and Itahari municipalities of Province 1.

"Step Up" will lay emphasis on job creation and employment through entrepreneurship and in increasing the employability of unemployed youths by supporting training service providers to offer demand-based trainings.

As part of the Swisscontact Development Programme and co-financed by SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA), Step Up will be active until 2024.

2021 - 2024
Nepal
Labour market insertion, Migration
Step Up – Improving labour market access for unemployed
Nepal faces enormous employment challenges that were 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.