KATHMANDU, May 3: Finn Church Aid (FCA) officially launched its flagship initiative, Aarohi: Advancing Women’s Entrepreneurship through Mentorship, Skills, and Collaboration, at a dynamic event in Kathmandu. Designed to transform the entrepreneurial landscape for women across Nepal, the program aims to empower women through strategic mentorship, capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration.
The launch event was graced by prominent guests including UN Women Country Representative Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco, Kamana Gurung from the Embassy of Finland, Pramila Rijal, President of the South Asian Women Development Forum (SAWDF), Shova Gyawali, President of the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) and Kushal Sundar Shrestha, President of the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs’ Forum (NYEF).
In her welcome address, FCA Country Director Sofia Olsson shared the story behind Aarohi’s inception. She underscored the initiative as a result of collaborative dialogue—particularly with Women’s Bank and UN Women—and reaffirmed FCA’s commitment to building an inclusive economic ecosystem that enables women to thrive.
Following her remarks, Agrima KC, FCA’s Mentorship and Private Sector Engagement Coordinator, presented a detailed overview of Aarohi’s three-pronged approach: expert mentorship, skill-based technical modules, and a digital resource hub. She highlighted how the initiative directly tackles Nepal’s gender-based barriers by equipping women with the tools to challenge patriarchal norms, secure financing, and scale their ventures—from agriculture to technology.
Women at work
Aarohi is set to support 90 women entrepreneurs across three six-month cohorts, offering them not just skills and knowledge, but access to an enduring support system through mentorship partnerships and an alumni network linked to Finnish expertise and private-sector collaboration. The vision is clear: to cultivate a generation of women who lead Nepal’s economic transformation.
A major highlight of the event was a thought-provoking panel discussion titled “Breaking Barriers: Women Entrepreneurship in Nepal”, moderated by Ashta Prajapati, Enterprise Development Advisor at FCA. The panel brought together five influential voices from Nepal’s entrepreneurial and development sectors.
Maya Rai, Director of Nepal Knot Craft Centre, shared her decades-long journey of preserving indigenous weaving traditions and empowering rural women through craft-based enterprises—an effort that earned her international recognition, including a UNESCO distinction. Aayushi KC, founder and managing director of Khaalisisi, discussed her work in transforming Nepal’s waste management system by integrating informal waste workers—particularly single mothers and marginalised groups—into the formal economy, a model that led to her inclusion in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list.
Saraswoti Rai, Managing Director of Himalayan Biotrade Pvt. Ltd. and Vice Chair of the Women Entrepreneurship Development Committee (WEDC) at FNCCI, spoke on how ethical herbal trade can connect rural women with global markets while promoting sustainability. Representing the policy and institutional sector, Er. Umesh Kumar Gupta, Executive Director of the Industrial Enterprise Development Institute (IEDI), highlighted the role of government support, innovation, and policy reform in fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. Shova Gyawali, President of FWEAN and a pioneer in Nepal’s media and business sectors, reflected on the critical importance of visibility, leadership, and representation for women in shaping Nepal’s economic future.
Together, the panelists offered compelling insights into how traditional knowledge systems, institutional frameworks, and inclusive leadership can collectively drive a resilient and equitable entrepreneurial future.
The second half of the event featured a Mentorship Synergy Workshop tailored for Aarohi’s selected mentors and mentees. Facilitated by Suman Shakya, a seasoned consultant and entrepreneur from Tangent Waves, the interactive session focused on building trust and alignment within mentor-mentee relationships—laying the foundation for long-term growth partnerships.
Aarohi emerges as a strategic response to the systemic challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Nepal. Through its multi-layered approach—mentorship, structured learning, and access to resources—the program aims not only to help women navigate the existing entrepreneurial system but to transform it from within. By addressing both technical skills and the socio-cultural hurdles unique to women entrepreneurs, Aarohi paves the way for lasting, inclusive economic leadership.
