Benificiaries M/F: 128 / 1272 Municipalities: 2 Households: 1400
Benificiaries M/F: 175 / 766 Municipalities: 4 Households: 941
Benificiaries M/F: 138 / 730 Municipalities: 5 Households: 868
|
PROJECT LOCATION |
Karnali province (Surkhet and Salyan districts), Sudur Paschim Province (Kanchanpur district)Province 7 |
|
PROGRAM STAFF |
3 |
|
SUPPORT STAFF |
6 |
|
NAME OF CLIENT/DONOR |
BMZ |
|
START DATE (Month/Year) |
1st November 2019 |
|
COMPLETION DATE (Month/Year) |
29th February 2024 |
|
APPROX. VALUE OF SERVICES |
Euro 685,322 |
|
NAME OF ASSOCIATION FIRM, IF ANY: |
Welthungerhilfe(WHH) |
| NAME OF THE FOCAL PERSON AT CEAPRED HEADQUARTER | Mr. Keshab Datta Joshi, Sr. Program Advisor |
NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT:
Skill Up! Strengthening Skills Development, Creating Future Perspectives was a development initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by CEAPRED in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH). As part of the global Skill Up! programme, the project aimed to foster inclusive economic development in Nepal's less-developed regions by promoting employment, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. The project was implemented from 1 November 2019 to 29 February 2024 in Surkhet and Salyan districts of Karnali Province and Kanchanpur district of Sudurpashchim Province.
The project focused on enhancing the employability and economic prospects of youth through market-oriented technical and vocational skills development. Particular emphasis was placed on women, Dalit communities, and disadvantaged ethnic groups to ensure their meaningful participation in economic activities and access to livelihood opportunities. In addition, the project promoted inter-provincial learning, knowledge exchange, and evidence-based policy advocacy to support the transition towards a green and inclusive economy.
Project Approach
A comprehensive labour market and feasibility assessment was conducted to identify skills and occupations with strong market demand. Based on the findings, eight market-driven green trades were selected, and corresponding curricula and training materials were developed in coordination with the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT). The project delivered skills training through accredited technical institutions and community-based learning platforms, while also strengthening the capacity of training providers and promoting entrepreneurship among graduates.
The project worked in close collaboration with municipalities, provincial governments, cooperatives, private sector actors, and technical institutions to create an enabling environment for skills development, enterprise promotion, and employment generation.
Key Results and Achievements
The project successfully trained 3,249 youths, including 2,789 women, through two complementary approaches. A total of 533 unemployed youths, of whom 408 were women, received vocational skills training through three partner green colleges. In addition, 2,716 youths, including 2,381 women, participated in Sustainable Integrated Farming Systems (SIFS) and Farmer Field School (FFS) programmes designed to strengthen agricultural skills, productivity, and household resilience.
The project generated significant livelihood outcomes. Among the trained participants, 2,496 youths (2,163 women) became self-employed through farm and non-farm enterprises, while more than 350 graduates established micro and small enterprises in their respective trades. These achievements contributed to increased household income, enhanced economic resilience, and improved employment opportunities for rural youth.
To improve the quality and sustainability of vocational education, the project provided technical and laboratory support to three green colleges, enabling them to deliver practical and market-responsive training programmes. The project also embraced digital innovation by supporting the development of an online platform that facilitated 556 youth registrations and hosted more than 50 webinars and mentoring sessions, expanding access to information, networking, and business development support.
Food and nutrition security remained a central component of the project. Through the promotion of Sustainable Integrated Farming Systems, more than 90 percent of participating households adopted the cultivation of crops representing five major food groups, contributing to improved dietary diversity and household nutrition.
The project maintained close engagement with local and provincial governments to institutionalize successful approaches and facilitate scaling up. A notable achievement was the collaboration with the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC), Karnali Province, in promoting and institutionalizing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for vegetable certification. This marked the first implementation of PGS-based vegetable certification in Karnali Province and laid the foundation for promoting safe and quality agricultural products through locally managed certification mechanisms.
The project also supported policy dialogue and advocacy related to skills development, green entrepreneurship, and sustainable agricultural practices, contributing to greater recognition of youth employment and green economy initiatives within provincial development agendas.
Center for Environmental and Agricultural Policy Research, Extension and Development (CEAPRED)
