Nepal is a country with picturesque landscapes, a rich and diverse culture, and resilient people. However, it still struggles to lift many of its citizens out of poverty (about 20.27%). In recent decades, economic growth has rapidly transformed life in cities such as Kathmandu, but many rural areas continue to face challenges in retaining and strengthening their local workforce due to a lack of quality education and employment opportunities. According to the fourth Nepal Living Standards Survey, the poverty rate is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. As a result, people are migrating from villages in search of better job opportunities, leaving women with an increased burden of responsibilities. They are expected to care for their families and children, engage in local work, rely on subsistence farming, and sustain their communities.
Recognizing the challenge dZi started a new program named MaUKa – short for Mahila Udhyamshilta Karyakram, which means “opportunity” in Nepali. The program helps women build sustainable agricultural enterprises, increase their income, and strengthen resilience for their families and entire communities. This program addresses persistent gender-based economic disparities by equipping women farmers with practical financial skills, business coaching, and links to markets.
So far, dZi has supported 19 women entrepreneurs to launch their own businesses. In just three months, each entrepreneur has earned an average of 74,409 Nepali Rupees (approximately $510 USD), a substantial amount in their local economies.
Anuska Rai B.K., one of the MaUKa grantees, is a 22-year-old mother who dropped out of school after 10th grade. In the last few years, she developed a heart condition that required treatment in Kathmandu (capital city) – a 12-hour journey from her home. She didn’t have her own income or savings, requiring her family to take out loans to cover the cost of her travel and treatment.
Through MaUKa Program, Anuska received a small grant and training to establish a business. She now owns a chicken farm and has built a greenhouse to grow produce year-round. For the first time in her life, she began selling vegetables, chickens, and eggs at the local market. In just three months, she earned more than 35,000 rupees (about $265) - enough to cover critical health expenses without incurring debt, invest in her business, and save money for her family’s future.
“This program has empowered us as women by giving us a supportive pathway towards generating income and savings for ourselves and our families. I feel like this is just the beginning.” Says Anuska. It's only onward or upward for Anuska from now on.
dZi's MaUKa Program supports women like Anuska with more than just a financial grant – the program helps unlock the possibilities they already have within themselves. The women we work with now have hope for their future – one that is filled with abundance, opportunity, growth, and stability.
Rakesh Karna, dZi’s Country Director, says, “We know this is just the beginning. When women have the resources and support, they need, their futures are in their hands, enabling their children and the next generation of girls to dream of what’s possible.”
