Call for Application

Terms of Reference (TOR)

GEEP Fellowship- 2026

Duration and Timeline: 3 Months ( Full-time), March 15 - June 15, 2026

Placement Locations: On-site placement in 14 GEEP program local governments across three provinces:

Gandaki Province: Hupsekot Rural Municipality, Badigad Rural Municipality, Myagde Rural Municipality, Siranchowk Rural Municipality, and Jaljala Rural Municipality.

Koshi Province: Phakphokthum Rural Municipality, Gauradaha Municipality, Ramdhuni Municipality, Aiselukharka Rural Municipality, Pauwadungma Rural Municipality, Budhiganga Rural Municipality, and Meringden Rural Municipality.

Lumbini Province: Tansen Municipality and Resunga Municipality.

Company Description

The Why: NEPAL aspires to graduate from least developing country to a lower middle-income country by 2026. However, the development community’s excessive focus today on socio-political empowerment has not yielded the desired economic transformation. In reaching the 2026 national target, shall we wait for institutions of power to become accountably productive or shall we bolster innovations of people to bring inclusive prosperity?  And, shall we strengthen grassroots-government collaboration in shaping an equal and enterprising future?

The How: DAAYITWA, with a focus on economic empowerment, envisions an enterprising Nepal where every youth has opportunities for a prosperous future. Daayitwa is a part of the Daayitwa Abhiyaan which consists of four organizations: Daayitwa, Governance Lab, Nepal Leadership Academy based in Nepal and Nepal Rising (Daayitwa-US) based in the U.S. Inspired by shared values of innovation, collaboration, and service, it promotes the socio- economic development of Nepal. The movement fosters inclusive and equitable economic growth by accelerating grassroots innovations, strengthening government institutions, and revitalizing a virtuous cycle of democracy and development through grassroots-government collaboration.

Our Focus Areas:

1. Enterprise-led employment creation 
2. Design evidence-based policies for improved decision-making 
3. Build state capability for effective policy implementation 
4. Foster stakeholder collaboration for governance innovations

Background

Daayitwa has been collaborating with various tiers of government to implement its programs. Through initiatives such as the Rural Enterprise Acceleration Program (REAP), the Growth Entrepreneurship and Employment Promotion Program (GEEP), and the Daayitwa Nepal Public Policy Fellowship (DNPSF), Daayitwa has successfully partnered with government entities. Encouraged by these collaborations and achievements, Daayitwa is expanding its scope and impact from the federal government to the local governments. The GEEP program, implemented in collaboration with provincial and local governments in 14 local levels across Gandaki, Koshi, and Lumbini provinces, focuses on fostering leadership and economic empowerment among women and youth, while supporting government policies to create local entrepreneurs ecosystem and employment opportunities. To further strengthen this initiative, Daayitwa, in partnership with provincial and local governments, has developed the "GEEP Fellowship." This fellowship focuses on building competencies in research, program evaluation, and policy analysis related to entrepreneurship and employment creation. Its overarching objective is to support local governments by strengthening the review and assessment of policies and programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship development and generating employment opportunities.

About GEEP Fellowship

The Growth Entrepreneurship and Employment Promotion Program (GEEP) fellowship, implemented under the Daayitwa Nepal Public Administration Fellowship, places young professionals within local government offices to contribute to entrepreneurship promotion and employment creation initiatives through research and program support. The fellows work closely with designated local government officials to support the design, review, and implementation of entrepreneurship- and employment-related policies and programs. 

The fellowship emphasizes practical learning and policy engagement by immersing fellows in municipal work such as data collection and compilation on local entrepreneurs, facilitation of entrepreneur dialogues, and systematic review of entrepreneurship and employment-related policies and programs. Through this process, the fellowship enhances local governance capacity while equipping fellows with substantive, hands-on experience in public sector policy and planning processes. This fellowship will be implemented in 14 partner local governments across three provinces: Gandaki Province: Hupsekot Rural Municipality, Badigad Rural Municipality, Myagde Rural Municipality, Siranchowk Rural Municipality, and Jaljala Rural Municipality.Koshi Province: Phakphokthum Rural Municipality, Gauradaha Municipality, Ramdhuni Municipality, Aiselukharka Rural Municipality, Pauwadungma Rural Municipality, Budhiganga Rural Municipality, and Meringden Rural Municipality. Lumbini Province: Tansen Municipality and Resunga Municipality.

Objectives

The GEEP Fellowship, implemented in partnership with provincial and local governments, aims to:  

• Promote youth leadership in entrepreneurship and employment: Equip and empower young leaders to actively advocate for and campaign toward effective local policies and programs that stimulate entrepreneurship, create jobs, and drive inclusive economic growth.
• Strengthen local government policy and program effectiveness: Support the review, evaluation, and formulation of local government policies and programs, ensuring they are effectively designed and implemented to foster entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
• Foster collaboration and ecosystem building: Enhance coordination among local governments, entrepreneurs, the private sector, and development partners to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems and improve service delivery for entrepreneurs.
• Support data-driven engagement with entrepreneurs: Assist local governments in systematically identifying, profiling, and engaging local entrepreneurs and enterprises, mapping their needs and growth opportunities, and integrating this data into municipal systems to inform planning and decision-making.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Fellow:

1. Policy and Program Support:

• Assist local governments in reviewing existing entrepreneurship and employment policies and programs.
• Contribute to the formulation of new policies and programs, ensuring alignment with local economic needs and opportunities.
• Support the organization and facilitation of entrepreneurship dialogues, forums, and community events (such as Udhyam Sambad ) to foster interaction between local governments, entrepreneurs, private sector, and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to policy reform and program enhancement through identification of implementation gaps, progress monitoring, and formulation of evidence-based recommendations.

2. Entrepreneur Engagement and Data Management:

• Assist local governments in systematically identifying and profiling local entrepreneurs and enterprises.
• Collect, organize, and integrate data on entrepreneurs and enterprises into municipal systems for informed planning.
• Support the identification of growth opportunities and challenges faced by local entrepreneurs, providing actionable recommendations to local authorities.

Duration and Placement:

The fellowship will span 3 months, during this period fellow will be placed at the local government office with a designated section. 

Fellows Deliverables

• Municipal-level profiling and database of local entrepreneurs and enterprises.
• Review existing entrepreneurship and employment policies and programs.
• Research or assessment report on key entrepreneurship ecosystem gaps.
• Support and documentation of at least one entrepreneur dialogue such as Udhyam Sambad.
• Evidence-based policy brief with actionable recommendations for municipal policy reform.
• Final fellowship summary report capturing outputs, learning, and way forward.

Fellowship Benefits:

• Monthly stipend for the fellowship period.
• Hands-on exposure to day-to-day local government functions, service delivery mechanisms, and entrepreneurship-related program implementation.
• Structured capacity-building opportunities, including training in entrepreneurship development, leadership, and public policy formulation, complemented by leadership development through organizing and facilitating policy dialogues.
• Networking opportunities with entrepreneurs, municipal leadership, development partners, and private sector stakeholders, strengthening professional linkages in local governance and entrepreneurship promotion.
• Opportunity to contribute to municipal planning processes, including inputs into annual plans and evidence-based policy recommendations.

Eligibility Criteria: 

• Youth aged 18–35 years with a demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship development, local economic development, and public sector engagement.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Entrepreneurship Development, Community Development, Agriculture, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or related discipline relevant to local governance and enterprise promotion.
• Permanent resident of the respective local government or individual with strong familiarity with the local socio-economic, market, and institutional context.
• Foundational understanding of business development, entrepreneurship ecosystems, policy processes, leadership, or community development. 
• Prior academic, volunteer, or professional experience in entrepreneurship promotion, local development projects, or governance-related initiatives will be an added advantage.
• Basic skills in research, data collection, documentation, and report writing, with the ability to engage with entrepreneurs, municipal officials, and community stakeholders.
• Strong coordination and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively within a municipal setting and across multi-stakeholder platforms.
• Demonstrated commitment to completing the full three-month fellowship, adhering to local government norms, and contributing meaningfully to GEEP and related municipal initiatives.

Additional information

Compensation:  A monthly stipend of NPR 25,000.

Deadline: 27 February 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

If you're keen on this position, kindly complete the form below by 27 February 2026. To access the page, please click on the provided link and right-click to go to the link.

Application Link: bit.ly/GEEPFellowship

For more info: bit.ly/AboutGEEPFellowship

Key information about Fellowship Application

• Fellowship Duration and Timeline: 3 Months ( Full-time), March 15- June, 15, 2026
• Placement Locations: On-site placement in 14 GEEP program local governments across three provinces.

Gandaki Province: Hupsekot Rural Municipality, Badigad Rural Municipality, Myagde Rural Municipality, Siranchowk Rural Municipality, and Jaljala Rural Municipality.

Koshi Province: Phakphokthum Rural Municipality, Gauradaha Municipality, Ramdhuni Municipality, Aiselukharka Rural Municipality, Pauwadungma Rural Municipality, Budhiganga Rural Municipality, and Meringden Rural Municipality.

Lumbini Province: Tansen Municipality and Resunga Municipality.

Daayitwa is committed to promoting workforce diversity and actively encourages applications from individuals belonging to marginalized and discriminated groups, including women, Dalit, Janajati, Madhesi/Terai, and other minority communities. The organization values inclusive representation and strives to create a diverse and equitable working environment.