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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.
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Biratnagar, Nepal
26.4524746
87.27178099999999
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Budhiganga, Nepal
26.565957926038692
87.305154217132
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Itahari
26.6646381
87.27178099999999
Nepal
Project duration
2021 - 2024

The Project

The Step Up project improves existing support services in the employment ecosystem and facilitates entrepreneurship and self-employment in thriving economic clusters.

 To this end, it provides capacity building of existing public and private labour market insertion providers, especially regarding the provision of timely and relevant information on job, business, and demand-based training opportunities.

To improve jobseekers’ access to entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities the project strengthens business platforms and networks such as the Chambers of Commerce and industry associations. With their networks and industry-based knowledge, they can support jobseekers to seize self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities within thriving economic sectors.

Lastly, the project strengthens business development support services and business incubators that help entrepreneurs to start, improve and sustain their businesses.

The project aims to benefit jobseekers in the project areas with a particular focus on women, returned migrants and those who have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Project Goals

  1. Public and private labour market insertion service providers deliver more effective services.
  2. Training providers offer demand-based trainings that increase the employability of the unemployed.
  3. Local business platforms provide technical knowledge and market information to jobseekers and support them to seize self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities within thriving economic sectors.
  4. Entrepreneurship support service providers effectively support micro, small and medium enterprises to start, sustain and scale up their businesses.

 Project Partners

  • Public and private labour market insertion service providers
  • Training service providers
  • Chamber of commerce and industry associations
  • Business development service providers

Expected Results

  • 4 500 jobseekers (50% women) access improved labour market insertion services.
  • 930 people (50% women) are wage-employed, self-employed or take up entrepreneurial activities and increase their income.
  • 150 jobs are created.

Financing partner

The StepUp project is financed by the Happel Foundation, among other donors. It is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.

Downloads

STEP UP - Factsheet - Shramsansar- A labour market Information System
378 kB
STEP UP - Factsheet - Engaging Private Sector to Strengthen Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
445 kB

News

View all news from Step Up - Improving labour market access for unemployed
Nepal
Labour market insertion
15.04.2025
Sharing and Review of the Step Up Project
On 11 March 2025, Swisscontact hosted a ‘Sharing and Review Event’ to mark the closure of the Step Up Project (2021–2024). Hon. Sharat Singh Bhandari, Minister, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) attended the event as the Chief Guest, joining a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from local government, the private sector, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, and the International Labour Organization (ILO). This event provided an opportunity to reflect on the project’s achievements, share lessons learnt, and identify ways to sustain its impact with the public representatives on how policies can be more inclusive for young people to increase their employability and support their entrepreneurial vision.
Learn more
Nepal
Labour market insertion
12.03.2025
A Milestone for Nepal’s Labour Market: MoU Signed for National Expansion of Shramsansar
With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Swisscontact and the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security (MoLESS) for the nationwide expansion of Shramsansar, an integrated Labour Market Information System, Nepal is set to achieve a major milestone in the development of its labour market. The MoU was formalised on 10 March during the Fifth National Labour and Employment Conference 2025, marking a crucial step towards the digitalisation of Nepal’s public employment services.
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Nepal
Labour market insertion
29.12.2024
Creating Opportunities for Youth in Koshi Province through Employment Fair and Shramsansar
The Biratnagar-Itahari industrial corridor in Koshi Province, Eastern Nepal, has great potential for economic growth and youth employment. While province industries promise jobs and prosperity, a staggering 18.8 percent of young people aged 15-24 in Koshi Province are trapped in a cycle of unemployment. The province’s need for more awareness about existing job opportunities and their prerequisites among the youth has hindered it from fully realising this potential.

To address this gap, Swisscontact’s Step Up Project supported the organisation of Koshi Province’s first-ever employment fair in March 2024. Following its success, Biratnagar Metropolitan City hosted the second edition of the employment fair at Eco Fun Park from 16–17 December 2024.
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