REGIONAL FORUMEngendering SMEs: Women in Enterprise Development

2-3 October 2005, Spectra Convention Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES FROM A NEPALESE PERSPECTIVE

Megh Ranjani Rai

N

NEPAL

From the Terai

to

the Mountains

Unique Blend of Climates

Poverty and Unemployment• 1991, underemployment was

estimated at 35 percent (CBS, 1995).

• 1991-92 showed underemployments

at 39 percent – Agricultural Census

• 1996 survey showed an exacerbation of 47 percent

Background

Opportunities for SMEsPotential for Agro Businesses

Natural Resources

NTFPs

Low investment by individual entrepreneurs

Opportunities for SMEs

Natural resources Potential for Agro businesses NTFPs Low investment by individual

entrepreneur

Institutional and Legal Framework Ministry of Industries, Commerce

and Supplies Ministry of Agriculture and

Cooperatives Industrial Enterprise Development

Institute Cottage and Small industries Board Agriculture Development Bank Local government bodies.

Institutional and Legal Framework Contd……..

Private Sector- FNCCI- Fair Trade Group

International Organizations- Gtz- Helvetas- Swiss Contact- UNDP

NGOs

Institutional and Legal Framework Contd …. 2002 Industrial policy Industrial Enterprise Act 1992. “A Report on Micro and Small

enterprise Policy review in Nepal” ILO supported by UNDP

The Tenth Plan MDGs

Women Beneficiaries

Milk Production

Micro Entrepreneurs

Approaches to Enterprise Development

Women represented as 70% of the beneficiaries Business Development Services Enterprise Development Facilitators (EDF) Producer groups Formation of Cooperatives or Federations Linking with MFI’s Formation of village banks

CONSTRAINTS

Topography

CONTD…….

Social structure and patriarchal systems

Discrimination on the basis of caste, ethnicity and gender

CONTD…….

Market linkages & market specifications

Forest Laws

Tax levied by the Maoists

Conclusion

CHANGED GENDER ROLES

- absence of men - insurgent recruitment - decreasing food security- added caretaker roles

Conclusion, contd…..

FINALLY

the influx of cheap, Chinese goods against which the best Nepalese entrepreneur product has to compete !!!!!!