MetLife Foundation partners with Plan International to empower youth in Dhanusha
This phase will support marginalized young people, particularly young women, in accessing dignified and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
KATHMANDU: MetLife Foundation has partnered with Plan International Nepal to launch the second phase of the Youth Economic Empowerment Project (YEEP–II) in Dhanusha district specifically Sabaila Municipality and Sahidnagar Municipality.
This phase will support marginalized young people, particularly young women, in accessing dignified and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
With the Foundation’s support of US$80,000, this initiative responds to persistent employment challenges in Nepal, where youth unemployment is higher and systemic gender barriers continue to limit women’s participation in the workforce.
The project strengthens both financial and digital literacy, enabling young people to make informed financial decisions, use digital payments, and engage with formal banking services.
Partnerships with banks, microfinance institutions, and digital service providers further expand access to safe and user‑friendly financial tools.
By actively engaging parents, community leaders, and local officials in Dhanusha, the initiative also aims to shift restrictive gender norms and build household support for women’s economic participation.
The initiative offers market‑aligned vocational training in sectors such as agro‑processing, tourism, and technology, helping youth build practical skills that match Nepal’s evolving labor needs.
For those seeking foreign employment, the project provides pre‑departure training and internationally recognized skills certifications to reduce exploitation and improve job safety.
The program design intentionally incorporates flexible scheduling, safe transportation, and childcare support to ensure young women can participate fully.
Over the course of one year, the initiative will directly support more than 200 young people in Dhanusha, including 120 participants who will receive digital and financial literacy training and 70 who will access vocational pathways or safe migration support.
More than 70 parents, employers, and local government representatives will also be engaged to help sustain long‑term change.
