Building Green Enterprises through Community-Based Skill development trainings and establishment of Recycling and Upcycling Enterprise in Pokhara
Description
Implemented across eight wards of Pokhara Metropolitan City, this project empowered local communities through hands-on training in recycling and upcycling (RU). By equipping participants with technical, entrepreneurial, and business development skills, the initiative supported the creation of community-led waste-based enterprises and promoted green job creation.
Impact
87
Trained 87 community members across 8 wards in Pokhara on waste management, recycling, and upcycling through a three-phase Skill Development Training (SDT) program.
Provided targeted business development support—including equipment, mentorship, and startup assistance—to the selected enterprise “Pokhrali Shisha Kalam”.
5
Created employment for 5 local women through the women-led initiative, which upcycles newspaper into eco-friendly pencils.
As the implementing partner for the “Green Skills for Change” project under the GCRU initiative, we at Doko Recyclers saw firsthand how much potential there is in community-led waste solutions when the right support systems are in place. The project was designed with a simple goal: to give local residents—especially women, youth, and underrepresented groups—the tools, knowledge, and confidence to turn waste into value. We worked across eight wards in the northern cluster of Pokhara Metropolitan City, delivering a phased training program (SDT 1, 2, and 3) that gradually built up technical and entrepreneurial skills. Participants began with basic waste management practices, progressed into more advanced topics like composting and e-waste handling, and eventually moved into business planning and enterprise development.
One of the most inspiring outcomes was the formation of 15 unique business proposals rooted in recycling and upcycling. After a competitive review, we selected Pokhrali Shisha Kalam—a newspaper-to-pencil upcycling initiative—for full business development support. Led entirely by women from the community, this enterprise is now employing five women and operating as a small but powerful model of circular entrepreneurship. Beyond just the numbers, what stood out was the ownership and pride the participants showed. This project wasn’t just about waste—it was about agency, opportunity, and reimagining what sustainable development can look like at the local level. Through continuous engagement with ward offices, TLOs, and partners like UNDP and KOICA, we created a foundation for long-term community-driven impact that we hope can be replicated well beyond Pokhara.
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