Nepal

Nepal is the birthplace of Pact’s award-winning WORTH program, which brings women together in groups of 20 to 25 to learn how to save money and start small businesses. They use the savings to make loans to fellow members, and with credit and interest earnings, they grow their businesses and launch new ones. WORTH groups also receive literacy, numeracy, and technical training, such as agricultural best practices. Since the program’s inception in 1999, hundreds of thousands of Nepalese women have taken part.

Pact's work has also empowered communities in Nepal to achieve effective local development. Our Social Accountability in the Health Sector project improved citizen engagement and accountability in the country’s health sector. We collaborated with civil society groups, national policy actors, and government health institutions to understand challenges and barriers.

Recently, Pact partnered with The Asia Foundation under the global CSM-STAND project to support the government of Nepal’s vision for development through more transparent, accountable, and responsive civil society and media. The project focused on sub-national civil society and media led by and for Nepali women, youth, and local communities at risk of being left behind.