Call for Proposals: Capacity Building & Formalisation Grant (Nepal)

Deadline: 09-Apr-2026

The GreenShift: Circularity of Plastic Waste for Net-Zero Carbon Nepal project, funded by the European Union, is offering a seed grant of NPR 3,09,000 to support unregistered waste worker groups in Madhesh Province. The initiative strengthens civil society organizations, promotes inclusive plastic waste management, and advances a circular economy while improving labor rights, gender equality, and collaboration with government and private stakeholders.

Program Overview

GreenShift Nepal aims to formalize and strengthen civil society organizations of waste workers in Nepal, enabling them to play a central role in sustainable and inclusive plastic waste management. The program is implemented across nine municipalities in Bagmati, Madhesh, and Lumbini provinces and is led by CREASION, in partnership with Restless Development Nepal and Youth Innovation Lab (YI-LAB).

Key Goals

• Promote a circular economy for plastics

• Strengthen institutional and advocacy capacity of waste worker organizations

• Protect human and labor rights

• Improve social security and financial inclusion for waste workers

• Advance gender equality and social inclusion

• Facilitate collaboration between waste workers, government, and private sector

• Support evidence-based policies for sustainable waste management

Importance of the Initiative

Waste workers play a crucial role in:

• Collection, segregation, recycling, and recovery of plastic waste

• Maintaining the functionality of local and provincial waste management systems

Challenges faced by waste workers include:

• Lack of a unified alliance for advocacy and dialogue

• Limited financial resources and organizational capacity

• Operating without minimum environmental and occupational safety standards

• Exclusion from policy-making and decision processes

The program addresses these gaps by creating a sustainable support system, strengthening the engagement of waste worker organizations with government authorities and private stakeholders, and enabling participation in policy discussions.

Grant Details

• Grant Amount: NPR 3,09,000

• Purpose: Support identification, formalization, registration, and strengthening of unregistered waste worker groups

• Duration: Aligned with GreenShift Nepal’s four-year project cycle

Scope of Support

• Organizational formalization and registration

• Strengthening executive and governance structures

• Capacity building for advocacy, networking, and sustainable operations

• Support for engagement with municipal, provincial, and federal stakeholders

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a waste worker network operating in Madhesh Province, including:

  • Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, and Parsa

• Have an executive committee of 15 members:

  • 7 male and 8 female representatives

• Include participation from marginalized communities

• Members must have prior experience in the waste sector

• Provide details of membership size and geographic coverage

How to Apply

Step 1: Form or Identify a Group

• Ensure the group is unregistered and meets the executive committee and community participation requirements

• Gather documentation of membership, coverage, and waste sector experience

Step 2: Prepare Application

• Include a brief overview of the group, its goals, and current activities

• Outline how the grant will support formalization and capacity building

• Highlight collaboration plans with local government and private sector stakeholders

Step 3: Submission

• Submit the completed application to the GreenShift Nepal project team

• Ensure all executive committee and membership details are included

• Applications will be evaluated based on impact potential, inclusivity, and alignment with program objectives

Tips for a Strong Application

• Demonstrate existing engagement in waste collection and recycling

• Include clear gender balance and marginalized community participation

• Highlight potential for policy influence and sustainable waste management practices

• Show commitment to collaboration with local government and private actors

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting incomplete membership or executive committee details

• Not demonstrating experience in the waste sector

• Failing to show gender and marginalized community representation

• Overlooking the grant’s focus on formalization and capacity strengthening

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for this grant?

Unregistered waste worker networks operating in Madhesh Province that meet the executive committee and inclusivity requirements.

2. What is the grant amount?

NPR 3,09,000 for organizational formalization, registration, and capacity building.

3. Which districts are eligible?

Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, and Parsa.

4. Is prior waste sector experience required?

Yes, all executive committee members must have experience working in the waste sector.

5. How many members must the executive committee include?

15 members: 7 male and 8 female, with participation from marginalized communities.

6. Can already registered organizations apply?

No, the grant targets unregistered waste worker groups.

7. What activities does the grant support?

Identification, formalization, registration, organizational strengthening, and alliance-building among waste worker civil society organizations.

Conclusion

The GreenShift Nepal seed grant empowers waste worker groups to formalize, strengthen, and engage in sustainable plastic waste management. By supporting inclusive governance, gender balance, and advocacy capacity, the initiative promotes a circular economy, improved labor rights, and stronger collaboration with local governments and private sector actors, creating lasting impact in Madhesh Province and beyond.

For more information, visit GreenShift Nepal.