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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

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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. 

News

View all news from Step Up - Improving labour market access for unemployed
Nepal
Labour market insertion
02.09.2024
Bridging Employment Gaps through Digital Innovation in Koshi Province
In Eastern Nepal, Koshi Province is witnessing a remarkable transformation in its labour market-insertion services. This change is spearheaded by Shramsansar, a Labour Market Information System (LMIS) developed with support from the Step Up Project. Launched initially in Biratnagar Metropolitan City, Duhabi Municipality, and Itahari Municipality, Shramsansar aims to tackle high youth unemployment rates in the province by bridging critical information gaps in the labour market.
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Nepal
Labour market insertion
12.08.2024
Supporting Youth Ventures in Nepal: Stories of Small Transformations
Nepal currently enjoys a demographic window of opportunity, with a larger working-age population compared to the non-working-age population (National Planning Commission, 2017). To fully capitalise on this demographic window, it is crucial to invest in youth. The Step Up Project, financed by the Happel Foundation, among other donors, addresses this need by promoting entrepreneurship and self-employment to reduce youth outmigration for labour work in Koshi Province. This blog explores the stories of young entrepreneurs who have transformed the way their business functions and have contributed to local economic growth while also shedding light on the challenges often encountered by young people to run and sustain a business.
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Nepal
Labour market insertion
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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