A Local organisation Internalizes promotion of women entrepreneurs

Shree Bhumlu Salle Samaj Kalyan Samiti has mobilized its own resources not only to impart skill training on tailoring to four local women but also to provide three units of sewing machines. This 24 years old organisation is located in a remote Bhumlu Salle village of Kavrepalanchowk district in central Nepal serving 510 households in the area. It is a small community rural electrification entity (CREE) affiliated with National Association of Community Rural Electricity Users Nepal (NACEUN) and manages operation of grid electricity in the local areas.

The CREE has taken initiative to promote women entrepreneurs after its partnership with WEE-Nepal Project from 2014. WEE-Nepal Project sensitized the executives of the CREE regarding need for promotion of enterprises for benefit of financial health of the CREE itself as its revenue would increase through increased sales of electricity. The Project assisted the CREE to conceive a three-year business plan under which the CREE has committed to promote 60 women entrepreneurs within time period of three years. So far, a total of 41 women entrepreneurs have received enterprise and skill training on most potential businesses of the area such as goat farming, poultry farming and tailoring with support from WEE-Nepal Project.

In order to institutionalize the women entrepreneurship initiatives, the CREE has established a Women Entrepreneurship Development Fund setting aside a small amount from its own resources. Establishment of the Fund has encouraged women entrepreneurs to deposit some of the savings in the Fund on monthly basis. The women entrepreneurs will benefit from the Fund in terms of receiving small loans at nominal interest rate. In an area where no financial institution exists, the Fund provides easy access to finance to the women entrepreneurs.

The CREE is motivated to have local government, Village Development Committee (VDC) in their channel. VDC has added USD 1500 as grant last fiscal year to grow the Fund. CREE expects to receive further coordination with the local government in future as well.

The CREE is unremittingly been involved in keeping the spirits of the women entrepreneurs. They have assigned a focal person to look after enterprise development and to extend support to the women for their registration and growth.

                             

WEE-Nepal Project is implemented by Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal, National Association of Community Electricity Users Nepal and Practical Action Consulting with support from Hivos/ENERGIA in coordination with Alternative Energy Promotion Centre/Government of Nepal.