Partnership and Local Leadership
The project is being developed in collaboration with IISUMOD (International Institute for Sustainable Mountain Development), an Italy-based organization with decades of experience supporting sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods in western Nepal.
The VDCE Project is also being developed in partnership with local community leader Janesh Bhandari, founder of Olive Eco Village Hotel and a longtime advocate for sustainable agriculture, tourism, and community development in Bajura.
Together, BtBF, IISUMOD, and local leaders in Bajura are working to create a practical, replicable model that helps families improve nutrition, increase income, and strengthen long-term resilience.
Why It Matters
Families in remote mountain communities often face interconnected challenges including food insecurity, limited income opportunities, labor-intensive daily tasks, and vulnerability to climate and economic shocks.
The VDCE Project addresses these challenges through a practical, household-centered approach that improves:
- Nutrition and food security
- Household income
- Women's quality of life
- Soil health and agricultural productivity
- Climate resilience
- Long-term self-sufficiency
Pilot Goal
The initial pilot will support ten households in Bajura and serve as a demonstration model that can be adapted and expanded by local governments, NGOs, and community organizations throughout the region.
BtBF Funding Goal
The total pilot project budget is approximately $15,000. Beyond the Bridge Foundation is raising $7,500 - half of the pilot's cost - in partnership with IISUMOD and local leaders in Bajura. Together, we're helping launch a practical, community-led model that can be replicated throughout the region.