About Nepal
Nepal, home to diverse landscapes and cultures, presents a promising arena for holistic community development. With its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up to US$ 40.8 billion in 2022 from US$4.4 billion in 1995, Nepal aims to graduate from being a Least Developed Country (LDC) by 2026.
Despite the focus on poverty alleviation in all of Nepal’s periodic plans since 2002, the recent growth and development in the country have not seen a significant decrease in the disparity of development gains and empowerment status between geographical regions and social groups. Nepal records 20% of its population living in absolute poverty in 2022/23 while challenges like limited access to education and healthcare and gender disparity remain. The graduation from LDC, thus, ignores the developmental realities of many citizens of Nepal especially those living under the margin and in remote areas.
After implementing projects across the Himalayan region during its early years, dZi narrowed its focus to the Koshi Province in eastern Nepal in 2006, just as the country’s decade-long civil war was ending.
Villages in the high, hilly region were remarkably isolated – historically, the area had minimal government presence and saw few development initiatives. Despite the proximity to the wealthy Everest valley (Khumbu), the eastern hills in Nepal largely lacked access to water, food, education, and essential infrastructure. Its diverse communities of historically marginalized and excluded ethnic groups faced multidimensional poverty and limited access to markets, contributing to high poverty rates, vulnerability, and massive out-migration.
Additionally, limited infrastructure, reliance on remittances, vulnerability to climate change, and political instability threaten sustaining any progress made toward prosperity. Thus, the national ambition of poverty alleviation cannot be achieved unless the approach shifts from focusing on interventions only aimed at the poor to the ones addressing the structural roots of extreme poverty.
About DZi
The name dZi (pronounced ‘zee’) comes from ancient Himalayan etched beads that bestow health and prosperity upon the wearer.
Nearly 25 years later, dZi’s programs have grown to support the holistic needs of our rural partners, but our work is still led by the communities we serve. With offices in the US, UK and Nepal, dZi partners with local communities in Nepal to achieve shared prosperity by ensuring access to basic needs, catalyzing inclusive economic growth, and creating an environment for lasting change.
POVERTY IS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL.
SO IS OUR APPROACH
dZi has launched its Partnership for Shared Prosperity model designed to lift three ecologically diverse regions of 40,000 people each out of extreme poverty by 2029. By piloting this model and measuring its impact, we will have a proven methodology for scaling holistic development for shared prosperity that can be integrated into national systems.
STRATEGIC LENS
- Gender equity and social inclusion
- Community voice in development and decision-making
- Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
dZi INTERVENTIONS
- Technical assistance
- Co-funding
- Targeted initiatives
- Innovation and learning
Risks
Climate change, natural disasters and environmental stressors, pest and disease outbreaks, political instability, economic shocks and stressors, health events, and chronic poverty
Assumptions
Socio-political context, climate risks, government responsiveness