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UKaid Nepal Skills for Employment (सीप) Monthly Bulletin: January 2021

Funded by the U.K. Government, UKaid सीप, since 2019, is brokering transformational partnerships with the private and public sector to propel growth of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in priority sectors – commercial agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, ICT, and construction – primarily in Province 2 and Lumbini Province. सीप uses an innovative Challenge Fund to expand market-aligned skilling, affordable financial products, and ethical migration services linked to gainful livelihoods for Nepali youth – especially migrant returnees, women, and other socially and economically excluded groups – and industry growth.

सीप uses an innovative Challenge Fund to expand market-aligned skilling, affordable financial products, and ethical migration services linked to gainful livelihoods for Nepali youth – especially migrant returnees, women, and other socially and economically excluded groups – and industry growth.

सीप Partner Highlights

Market-Creation Underway at the Palpali Dhaka Association to Sustain Training-based Livelihood Expansion. With international market insights from partner Label STEP, the nine Dhaka-producing entrepreneurs who co-founded PDA with support from सीप, have continued to sharpen their understanding of the foundationstrengthening steps required to successfully access emerging markets. To optimize training for weavers, PDA and STEP are undertaking the following: i) exploring use and sourcing of high-quality natural/recycled yarn; ii) innovating and standardizing in design and colour, including by mixing different raw materials (e.g. silk, wool, cashmere, hemp, nettle); iii) developing standardized color palettes, product catalogues, and price lists; iv) building stronger story-telling and marketing capability; and v) implementing fair-trade practices at the firm level. With support from STEP, PDA also received a shipment of recycled nylon yarn from Aquafil in Italy. While exploring these options, PDA also continues to strengthen its supply chain linkages within Nepal with the Triveni Spinning Mill in Birgunj.

Genese Solution Expands Agreements with Colleges, Employers, and Job Placement Providers to Reach Scale and Strengthen Local Systems. The British College, Institute of Engineering, Madan Bhandari College, and the Lord Buddha Education Foundation are the latest in a string of colleges to now offer Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Computing as elective courses, along with certification, to build employability of students. With a total of 44 MoUs signed with colleges, primarily in Provinces 3, 2, 5, and 4, Genese continues to introduce courses from AWS and Microsoft to increase accessibility for thousands of students and to build teacher capability. Similarly, to improve job placement service, Genese has brokered cooperation with firms like Talent Connects, Mero Job, OnlineKaam and Talent Curators; and with nearly 500 employers. In December-January, Genese placed 450 students in jobs...( View More )