As part of the “Co-producing a shock-resilient business ecosystem for women-led enterprises in Nepal” (CREW) project, Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) organized a meeting with the board members of SIAS, advisors, collaborating partners of the project, investigators, and the project staff on 26th January 2022. The project has been funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and led by SIAS in collaboration with Aria Solutions, NIMS College, and Himalayan Bio-Trade Pvt. Ltd (HBTL). The two-hour-long virtual meeting from nine to 11 in the morning recorded a total of 28 participants.
The workshop was enriched by the presence of the project’s advisory team: Dr. Bimala Rai Poudyal (former member of the National Planning Commission and Member of the National Assembly); Dr. Hemant Ojha (Institute for Study and Development Worldwide, Australia); and Dr. Bishnu Prasad Upreti (Executive Director of the Policy Research Institute), who provided critical feedback on the CREW project. Besides, Dr. Naya Sharma, a board member of SIAS also provided valuable suggestions to improve the project.
The meeting was intended to familiarize the attendees with the project development and gather their feedback for further improvements. It commenced with a comprehensive presentation on the project’s background, objectives, study area, and expected outcomes by Dr. Maniram Banjade, Principal Investigator (PI). The project has been envisioned in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the burgeoning impacts of climate change on women especially in regards to financial accessibility and entrepreneurial capabilities. The primary target groups of the project are women involved in legume production and cooperative facilitating these women in Ramechhap, vegetable producing women’s cooperatives and groups in Arghakhanchi, and women engaged in wintergreen collection in Dolakha.
Dr. Meeta Pradhan, Co-Principal Investigator further presented the conceptual framework and highlighted resource, agency, and voice as crucial factors instrumental in developing decision making, well-being, and risk management to attain shock-resilient women-led enterprises. Ms. Dipika Das, Postdoctoral Researcher for CREW project took the presentation forward by explaining the four work packages of the project. This was followed by Mr. Bibhor Kayastha from Aria Solutions addressing the activities and outcomes associated with the project’s interventions.
The final presentation was delivered by Mr. Khilendra Gurung of HBTL regarding the prospects for women in Dolakha to derive greater value from wintergreens by expanding their responsibilities beyond collectors, followed by Mr. Shrabya Timsina, a member of the CREW team, who explained the experimental designs used in the Wintergreen study.
The presentation was greatly appreciated by the participants. They also provided critical suggestions on further strengthening the project’s overview and interventions. The feedback focused on the need for localization of project narratives, the importance of collaboration with local bodies, tackled issues of ownership, inclusivity and sustainability.
The end of the event was marked by concluding remarks from Dr. Netra Timsina, Chairperson, SIAS. Overall, the meeting successfully helped CREW partners and staff members receive invaluable suggestions from advisors and board members which will be instrumental in enhancing the quality of the project.
