GROWTH:Generating Resources and Opportunities for and by Marginalized Women Through Entrepreneurship

To empower 400 marginalized women in the districts of Kailali and Bardia in Western Nepal by fostering sustainable entrepreneurship. This project supports Dalit, ex-Kamaiya, and ex-Kamlahri women in breaking the cycle of poverty and dependence by building dignified, income-generating opportunities. Through the development of local enterprises, particularly leaf plate and spice production, women gain vocational skills, market access, and economic independence, strengthening their social participation and long-term resilience.

This program supports women entrepreneurs from Dalit, ex-Kamaiya, and ex-Kamlahri communities in Western Nepal; groups facing severe caste- and ethnicity-based discrimination, economic exclusion, and limited access to education, employment, and resources. Despite the legal abolition of bonded labor, many still live in poverty and rely on unstable daily wages. Women are especially affected, with minimal participation in enterprise decision-making. The project aims to empower these women by expanding economic opportunities, improving access to resources, and fostering leadership in business. Beyond income generation, the program seeks to enhance family well-being, children’s education, health, and social status, ultimately breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting long-term self-reliance.

The economic and social exclusion of Dalit, ex-Kamaiya, and ex-Kamlahri women in Western Nepal is both deeply rooted and ongoing. Despite legal reforms, these women remain trapped in poverty, facing systemic discrimination and minimal access to education, stable income, or decision-making roles. The urgency lies in the growing inequality and the risk of intergenerational poverty. If action is not taken now, hundreds of women will remain confined to exploitative labor, with lasting effects on their children’s education, health, and future prospects. Without targeted support, these communities will continue to be excluded from Nepal’s development progress. Empowering them now is critical to ensure dignity, self-reliance, social justice, and to prevent the perpetuation of poverty and marginalization for generations to come.

The project empowers 300 marginalized women in Western Nepal—100 in Kailali through 4 leaf plate enterprises, and 200 in Bardia through 6 spice enterprises. Women from Dalit, ex-Kamaiya and ex-Kamlahri communities receive hands-on technical and business training, start-up support, and cooperative access to strengthen their skills, savings, and credit capacity. Enterprises are linked with Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) for sustainable raw material access, and with major market actors for long-term sales channels. The project includes technology installation, business planning, mentorship, and participation in trade fairs. Farmers are trained in harvest techniques to supply the spice value chain. One market outlet is established for spice products. Joint monitoring and publication of success stories ensure transparency, learning, and future scale-up. The model promotes dignity, resilience, and inclusive economic growth for Nepal’s most excluded women.

LWF Nepal serves as the main implementing partner. With extensive experience in supporting marginalized communities, LWF Nepal leads the identification of participants, delivery of vocational and business training, facilitation of market linkages, and coordination with local cooperatives, Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), and authorities. Their strong local presence and technical expertise ensure effective implementation and sustainable impact for women-led enterprises in Western Nepal.

The project aims to establish 10 women-led enterprises (4 leaf plate, 6 spice) involving 400 direct beneficiaries: 300 marginalized women entrepreneurs and 100 local farmers in Western Nepal. In the short term, women and farmers gain technical skills, business knowledge, and access to cooperatives and markets (outputs). In the medium term, women increase income, financial stability, and leadership in business, while farmers improve harvest quality and secure market access (outcomes). In the long term, the project helps break cycles of poverty, enhances children’s education and family well-being, and promotes the social inclusion of Dalit, ex-Kamaiya, and ex-Kamlahri communities (impact). Sustainability is ensured through strong community structures, market linkages, cooperative systems, and ownership by local actors, contributing to resilient, inclusive, and self-sustaining local economies.

The project is unique in combining entrepreneurship, vocational training, and market access for marginalized women and farmers in Nepal, using group-based enterprise models rooted in local structures like cooperatives and Community Forest User Groups. Its strength lies in addressing economic exclusion through locally owned, sustainable businesses that restore dignity and self-reliance. The Olive Branch Foundation brings strong expertise in supporting grassroots initiatives in fragile contexts and has a long-standing partnership with LWF Nepal, a trusted local actor with proven implementation capacity. Our approach is inclusive, rights-based, and participatory, ensuring transparency and community ownership. Our credibility is built on close partnerships, long-term engagement, and measurable outcomes that align with both local needs and global development goals.