For five women in West Nawalparasi, the next step in their livelihood journey is not about starting something new. It is about strengthening what they have already built.
Each of the women had previously received livelihood support from SETU Nepal and had made progress in their businesses. Now, they are receiving an additional opportunity to invest in those livelihoods through Passing on the Gift—an approach that allows support to continue from one woman to another.
An idea built over time
SETU Nepal has been using the idea of revolving livelihood support for many years. The approach is based on a simple principle: when a woman is given an opportunity to strengthen her livelihood, that opportunity can eventually be passed on to someone else.
More recently, SETU Nepal applied this approach with a group of 15 women in Kathmandu. Each woman received NPR 20,000 as seed support to invest in her livelihood. The women used the support according to their individual needs, including purchasing stock and raw materials, adding livestock, buying equipment and strengthening existing businesses. The group also developed a savings practice and met regularly to discuss their businesses and support one another.
The Kathmandu experience provided a practical opportunity to continue the approach in another setting. The next group is now in West Nawalparasi.
Building on what is already there
The five women in Parasi were not selected because they were just beginning their livelihood journeys. They had already received support from SETU Nepal and had shown progress in their businesses.
For SETU Nepal, this created an opportunity to build on that progress rather than start again from the beginning.
Each woman has now received NPR 20,000 as a refundable seed fund. The additional support is intended to help them strengthen their existing livelihoods—whether by purchasing more stock or raw materials, improving their business or making another investment that responds to the needs of their individual work.
The women will use the support for around 18 months. After this period, the seed amount will be returned so that the same opportunity can be extended to another woman.
“I want to keep improving what I have started”
For women like Sila, the additional support comes after they have already spent time learning how to manage and grow a livelihood.
“I had already started my business with the support I received, but there were still things I wanted to improve. This additional support gives me a chance to invest more in what I am already doing. I want to make the business stronger, and when the time comes to return the money, I will be happy knowing that another woman can also get the same opportunity.”
— Sila Dhobi, West Nawalparasi
Sila has been building her livelihood through a small Panipuri stall business, while also making and selling handicrafts. Her experience reflects the kind of progress SETU Nepal hopes to build on through this approach: starting with what is available, learning along the way and gradually making the livelihood stronger.
What happens after 18 months?
The most important part of Passing on the Gift is what happens next.
The NPR 20,000 is not treated as a one-time grant. After around 18 months, the seed amount is returned and can be used to support another woman.
For the five women in Parasi, this means that the support they receive comes with both an opportunity and a responsibility. They have a chance to strengthen their own livelihoods today, while keeping the possibility open for another woman tomorrow.
The approach is different from simply providing support once and moving on. It gives women a stake in keeping the opportunity going.
One opportunity, another beginning
The story in Parasi is still unfolding. The five women are now using the additional support to strengthen businesses they have already started, and the coming months will show how those investments help their livelihoods grow.
But the idea behind Passing on the Gift looks beyond the immediate results.
A stronger business can mean more regular income. It can mean greater confidence in making decisions about one's livelihood. And, when the seed fund is returned, it can mean that another woman gets the chance to start or strengthen something of her own.
For SETU Nepal, this is the value of keeping an opportunity moving.
One woman strengthens what she has started. Later, that same opportunity can become another woman's beginning.
