Shabda Gyawali's Blog

just wanted to share these two facts,which I thought was interesting ............................... responsAbility Social Investments AG,one of the world's leading asset managers for social investments that specializes in sectors such as microfinance, SME financing, fair trade and independent media, has invested in Nepal ........ responsAbility has invested in Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF). MDLF gives independent media loan and equity support to media organization in countries where freedom of press is weak. In 2010 ,MDLF provided new funding for two media companies in Nepal − the Jagadamba Press newspaper and the Communication Corner radio broadcaster .......... click here to read more CDC Group plc (‘CDC’), the UK’s development finance institution (DFI), announced a new US$50 million investment in the first-ever equity investment fund to focus on the very poorest parts of India. CDC is an anchor investor in the Pragati Venture and Incubator Fund (‘Pragati’) and has ...

Lloyds’ Insurance in Developing Countries Report e stimates the number of people who are underserved by insurance to be between 1.5 - 3 billion people ........... . source:Leapfrog In context of Nepal : The Insurance Board of Nepal has called upon all insurance companies in the country to expedite the process of issuing microinsurance policies so that low-income groups could cover life, health and sources of livelihood such as cattle or shops. Click here to read more Good Market Opportunity ??

India is thinking about setting up its own aid agency. Why should others give aid to India? click here to read more Cabinet okays BIPA, DTAA signin .Gives go-ahead to the $250m line of credit deal..... click here to read more ..................................................................................................................................................

These days we hear a lot about interest in investing in the hydro power sector.... In past couple of weeks, we have heard NRNs and trade delegation from UK showing their utmost interest ... This enthusiasm from the investment community is quiet encouraging...................................Ignoring all these good news,Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, chairman of the Hydropower Development Committee at Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) today has formally asked the Government to "Bailout" 28 hydro power companies.......He has blamed the following reasons for the sorry state of these 28 hydro projects ... increasing cost of construction materials and i ncreased interest rate are the major factors making hydropower projects costlier. Over the last two years, the i nterest rate has increased by 5-7 percent points. Gyanendra Lal Pradhan, said other projects except Khimti, Bhotekoshi, Chilime and Butwal Power Company are in trouble. “The projects that starte...

Interesting article on grass-root level innovation in Kathmandu.............. Ability to overcome scarcity by improvising products and process’ to solve customers’ problem defines the entrepreneurial spirit that lies within us Nepali jantas.Financial and material constraint of many has allowed these micro entrepreneurs/frugal engineers to create more services and products at less cost for more people . Multinationals and Universities are spending billions of research and innovation in “sustainability practices” maybe from their labs in the streets of Kathmandu, our frugal engineers can teach them thing or two on constraint base innovation................

A recent report released by International Energy Agency (IEA) has some interesting facts and figures on investments and strategies required from various government agencies,multilateral institutions and private investors to reduce energy poverty. Here are some highlights from the report, that I thought was relevant to Nepal's energy crisis. To provide universal modern energy access by 2030, annual average investment need to average $48 million per year,more than five times the level of investment in 2009 According to the report , access to electricity involves more than a first supply connection to house hold.The report claims, access to energy means - a rural household should consume a minimum of 250 KW/hr of energy per year and for urban household it is 500 KW/hr per year . Nepal's rural electrification program- National 3 -year Interim plan has been cited as one of the vital programs by government to improve access to electricity ACcess to clean cooking faciliti...

According to Ramdeep Saha, the Chief of Department of Environmental Sanitation and Natural Disaster Management, only 43 percent families in Nepal have toilets. Considering this, the government has recently unveiled a master plan on sanitation with a view to providing the people with the basic sanitation facility (toilets) by 2017. It may be noted that the government in coordination with other organisations has been operating sanitation programmes in two districts, 232 VDCs, four municipalities, one sub-metropolis and many Click to read more