KATHMANDU, June 23: The Sahaj Challenge Fund (SCF) Rounds 4 & 5, aimed at supporting service providers with groundbreaking ideas, held a press meet at the Aranya Boutique Hotel. The event brought together media representatives, thematic experts, and representatives from Swisscontact, CEAPRED, and Practical Action Consulting.
With a focus on disruptive innovation, SCF Rounds 4 & 5 seek to address bottlenecks in the maize, cardamom, dairy products, and vegetable value chains. Round 4 aims to enhance product development and quality improvement, while Round 5 focuses on climate and environmentally sustainable services.
During the press meet, Ms. Reema Shrestha, Team Leader of the Nepal Agriculture Market Development Programme (NAMDP), emphasized the importance of SCF in increasing agricultural service provision in the Koshi Province. Ms. Subhechchha Shrestha, Manager of Agriculture Services at NAMDP, highlighted the relevance of product development and quality improvement for improved agricultural activities and discussed how this round will support product diversification.
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Mr. Brajesh Malla, Manager of Non-Agriculture Services at NAMDP, shed light on the challenges posed by unsustainable agricultural practices and explained the types of companies that the challenge fund will support in climate and environmentally sustainable practices.
With financial support ranging from NPR 5 to 50 lakhs per project, SCF will co-finance the development and piloting of business models tailored to the Koshi Province. Equipment and machinery costs will not be covered in Round 4, but technical assistance will be provided if needed. However, for Round 5, 30% of the support received from the challenge fund can be allocated to investment in equipment and machinery.
The application period for the challenge fund is currently open and will close on July 23, 2023. After the initial screening, selected applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal. Winners of the second round will receive support from the challenge fund.
Sahaj, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by NAMDP, aims to foster innovation and improve access to services in the agriculture sector, ultimately contributing to income and employment growth in rural Nepal.
Practical Action Consulting will serve as the implementing partner for Swisscontact in SCF Rounds 4 & 5. The event successfully disseminated relevant information, enabling agribusinesses to explore opportunities and transform innovative ideas into successful ventures.
