Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA) Programme  2017-2018

Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer (NEST) with the deep coordination with respective Rural Municipalities in Kaski has been implemented MEDPA with the funding and technical support from District Cottage and Small Industry Office in Kaski during this fiscal year. Programme has been executed in 6 wards of two Rural Municipality Machhapuchhre and Madi benefitting 200 new disadvantaged by creating different enterprise; and technology and scale up training support to 200 additional people – who already have established enterprise earlier days and producing and marketing different product and services in local market. The MED model is adopted to facilitate programme activities ranging from participatory rural appraisal to skill base training and technology/ marketing support. The main objective of the programme is to support disadvantaged people in rural community to plan, initiate, manage, implement micro-enterprise and raise income for their improved livelihood and well-being. During the period, 201 new entrepreneurs were trained assisted for business plan formulation and product/service marketing. Further, 200 former entrepreneurs were assisted for technology and material support as well as refresher training to scale-up and grow business. The major micro-enterprise established are related to agriculture, tourism, forest, and livestock in community. The programme activities were supervised and monitored by District Enterprise Development Committee in Kaski.

Major Outputs 

• 9 events of SIYB training for 217 people 
• 4 events of long duration (90 days) Skill Training for 60 people
• 4 events of medium duration (45 days) Skill Training for 60 people
• 6 events of short duration (15 days) Skill Training for 81 people
• 6 events of Scale-up Skill Training for 80 people and Technology support to more than 100 people.

Micro-Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA) 2075/76

NEST signed a cooperation agreement with Cottage and Small Industry Office Kaski to implement Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA), a project owned by the Provincial Government Gandaki Province Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment and implemented by the Cottage and Small Industry Office Kaski. NEST, as a business development service provider, implemented this project in 2075/2076 in all 5 local levels. The MEDPA program created 372 new entrepreneurs and provided rational based scaled-up support (training and technology support) for 222 already trained graduates.

Activities:

1. Hiring of EDFs (8 EDFs)
2. Conducted orientation for all 5 local levels
3. Conducted Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA)
4. Conducted SIYB (Start and Improve Your Business)
5. Conducted skill training
6. Established linkage between graduates and potential micro-finance institutions
7. Monitored project activities on a regular basis
8. Scaled up graduates through providing rational based training
9. Scaled up graduates through providing rational based technology
10. Investigated the transition of the MEDEP/MEDPA graduates trained in last 2-3 years
11. Completed narrative and financial reporting in a timely manner

Challenges and Lessons Learnt:
Through the comprehensive process approach in its implementation, the project has brought transformative changes in the lives of its targeted groups through livelihoods, self-employment, and salaried employment. In the implementation of this MEDPA, board members, its dedicated budget, NEST staff, local levels, and all identified stakeholders played wonderful roles. Thank you all at this point. However, despite the honest and worthy efforts made by all, the whole team faced certain obstacles during its full 4-month project life and learned valuable lessons. We will definitely improve in the days to come.

Achievements:
In fiscal year 2075-2076, the MEDPA project created 372 new entrepreneurs and scaled up 222 trained graduates, enhancing their capacity through Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training and providing systematic skill training, including a number of business development services such as access and linkages to markets, access to micro-finance, and provision of improved and appropriate technologies including advocacy.