From Education to Opportunity: Investing in Nepal’s Youth for More and Better Jobs

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2026/08/12/from-education-to-opportunity-investing-in-nepal-s-youth-for-more-and-better-jobs?cid=ECR_E_NewsletterWeekly_EN_EXT&deliveryName=DM287642 Story Highlights From handloom artisans in Bhaktapur, to formally contracted delivery riders operating across Bharatpur, Biratnagar, and beyond, to agricultural and floriculture workers in Surkhet — ESP-supported ventures are creating meaningful jobs across Nepal. Through ESP, over 1,900 students and graduates received entrepreneurship training, and 62 ventures received collateral-free, interest-free seed financing averaging NPR 2 million each — helping young Nepalis turn ideas into income-generating businesses. With 500,000 young people entering Nepal's workforce every year, ESP is helping higher education institutions go beyond traditional academics by partnering with the private sector, establishing business incubation centers at six universities, and equipping graduates with the practical skills the labor market demands.