Bhutanese Refugee Youths Receive Major Business Opportunity Through LWF Nepal and UNHCR Program
Beldangi, Jhapa — A major opportunity has emerged for Bhutanese refugee and host community youths in eastern Nepal as LWF Nepal, in partnership with UNHCR, has officially called for business proposals under its Joint Investment Business Operation Program. The initiative is expected to support unemployed and aspiring young entrepreneurs by helping them establish sustainable businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The program has been launched under the “Assistance to People We Serve in Nepal (APWSN)” project, which is being implemented by LWF Nepal with the financial and technical support of UNHCR. According to organizers, the initiative aims to strengthen cooperation between refugees and the host community while promoting economic empowerment, employment generation, and long-term self-reliance.
LWF Nepal stated that the main objective of the program is to create inclusive economic opportunities, strengthen social cohesion between refugee and local communities, and encourage sustainable livelihood development among youths.
For many young people living in Bhutanese refugee camps and nearby communities, the program is being viewed as a life-changing opportunity. The initiative encourages youths to transform their skills, creativity, and innovative ideas into practical and market-oriented businesses.
As per the official notice, Bhutanese refugee and host community youths aged between 18 and 40 years from Jhapa and Morang districts are eligible to apply jointly. Proposed business ideas must be innovative, practical, sustainable, and market-focused.
Under the program, selected business groups will receive financial support of up to NPR 675,000. Applicants, however, are required to contribute 50 percent of the total investment themselves.
Required documents include a detailed business proposal, refugee identity card or citizenship certificate, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in the presence of the concerned ward office.
LWF Nepal and UNHCR believe that the program will help boost youths’ confidence, expand economic activities within the community, and create stronger social relationships between refugees and local residents. Community leaders have also encouraged interested youths to take advantage of this rare opportunity to build a better future through entrepreneurship.
The deadline for application submission is Asar 3, 2083 (mid-June 2026). Applications can be submitted at LWF offices located in Beldangi, Sanischare, and Damak.
As economic challenges continue to affect many refugee and local families, this initiative is being welcomed as a positive step toward empowerment, self-employment, and sustainable development in the community.
