Funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by British Council, the Dakchyata TVET-Practical Partnership project the formal launching even cocluded. The project was launched with objective that effective vocational training will be a crucial help for Nepal towards a more prosperous future.

The event was held to inform stakeholders of the Grant objectives and clarify with potential grant applicants on Grants’, procedures, criteria and eligibility including initial application templates and submission guidelines.

 “TEVT reform is vital for economic development in Nepal and is a building block to improve private sector productivity and efficiency by developing skilled human resources. It is important to improve the private sector participation in TEVT standards through formal frameworks and improved TEVT policy implementation. For this purpose, the Government of Nepal is being implementing National TVET Fund and reviewing TVET policy 2012 with the aim of providing national guidelines for systematizing TVET provisions" noted Dr Hari Prasad Lamsal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Government of Nepal”.

 "CTEVT plays a major role in the implementation of the TVET policy and by joining hands with the EU, British Council and the private sector we will collectively strengthen our effectiveness in driving this important process forward." said Kusmakar Bhatta, Deputy Director of CTEVT.

“The role of private sector is vital as the TEVT end users, we are confident that the public private partnership model envisioned by the Dakchyata project will be able to strengthen the linkages and support in increasing employability," added Bharat Raj Acharya, Vice-Chairman, Employers Council- FNCCI.

Likewise, in his opening remarks, Andreas Roettger, Head of Cooperation from the EU Delegation to Nepal, emphasized that innovative public private partnerships –which we want to create with Dakchyata- bear the potential for Nepal's TVET sector to stimulate sustainable economic growth and better employment opportunities for all. “With today's event we are calling for ideas which really will make a difference in the TVET sector and more generally for the development of the country."

The formal event program was followed with a more technical workshop focusing on the grant concept note application for potential grantees. Closing the formal programme, Dr. Jovan Illic, Country Director, British Council said, “the British Council is delighted to be implementing Project Dakchyata on behalf of the EU, and to be working closely with the Ministry of Education, our main partner of the 58 years that we have been operating in Nepal.

“This is cultural relations at its best: a contribution from the EU, a commitment from the Government of Nepal, a bringing together of the public and private sector, and in the middle a spark of inspiration! I am very excited by this Project and what it might achieve”.

Under the grants program, Dakchyata will provide funding for activities targeted towards improving the TVET sector through piloting innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models aimed at enhancing the relevance, quality and sustainability of TVET. The Grant Fund will be available for projects at national and regional levels, across three target sectors: Agriculture, Construction and Tourism.

According to a press release issued by British Council, tegional launch events will also take place in four other cities- Pokhara, Dhankuta, Nepalgunj, Lahan.