A two-day dissemination workshop on “Promoting Innovation and Inclusion in Growth Potential Enterprises: Evidence from Nepal” was held on 28th and 29th January, 2026 (Magh 14–15, 2082) at Hotel Himalaya, Kupondol, Kathmandu, organized by Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI) in collaboration with International Development Research Institute (IDRI), Canada.
The event was graced by Dr. Prakash Kumar Shrestha, Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission, as the Special Guest. The NDRI research team shared the key findings, experiences, and lessons from a three-year study, focusing on what is working, what is not, and what needs improvement in the government-initiated enterprise development programs. The study highlighted that both Micro Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation (MEDPA)
and Youth and Small Entrepreneur Self-Development Fund (YSEF) initiatives led by the government have contributed to new enterprise creation and employment; however, long-term sustainability remains a challenge. While MEDPA has supported entrepreneur production, further improvements are needed to ensure sustainable businesses. Similarly, YSEF demonstrated relatively effective investment and loan recovery; however, it has not yet fully achieved its objective of encouraging youth to become entrepreneurs within Nepal and reducing foreign employment.
The workshop brought together Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-chairpersons from local governments, provincial and federal ministry officials, YSEF representatives, loan facilitators, Chairperson of Agro Enterprise Centre, and representatives from the National Agriculture Modernization Project. Dr. Shrestha emphasized that the evidence clearly highlights the achievements, gaps, and areas for improvement in both programs, stressing the need to restructure them in line with the federal governance system, strengthen the role of local governments, and promote evidence-based policymaking. The two-day workshop benefited from valuable suggestions and feedback shared by participants, enriching the discussions and making them more practical and action-oriented.
Media coverage:
https://www.sunakharinews.com/306570/?id=81
https://biznesspost.com/2026/01/6927
https://www.arthikpati.com/content/2026/01/30/128179
https://corporatekhabar.com/medpa-and-wisafe/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY5zyQegFsE
