Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship Celebrates Four Years of Empowering Social Innovators in Nepal

26th November 2025, Kathmandu

Nabil School of Social Entrepreneurship (Nabil SSE) is celebrating its fourth anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its journey to cultivate a new generation of social innovators in Nepal.

Nabil SSE Fourth Anniversary

Established under Nabil Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Nabil SSE functions as a strategic platform designed to blend social impact with rigorous business acumen, directly contributing to Nepal’s national development goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vision, Impact, and Societal Transformation

Deputy CEO of Nabil Bank, Manoj Gyawali, emphasized that Nabil SSE is not merely a training initiative but a catalyst for societal transformation. By leveraging the bank’s financial resources and combining them with academic expertise, the school aims to produce sustainable social enterprises.

Dual Focus: The enterprises nurtured by Nabil SSE are designed to be both profitable and capable of generating measurable social good.

Target Sectors: The programs focus on critical development sectors, including: livelihood, agriculture, skill development, education, healthcare, arts and culture, energy, and community well-being. These align closely with national priorities like poverty alleviation, inclusive economic growth (SDG 8), and sustainable resource use.

Tangible Results: Over its four-year journey, Nabil SSE has made substantial progress. Previous reports indicate that the program has trained over 820 people, helped establish over 117 new social enterprises, and played a role in creating more than 1,200 jobs (or even higher, according to some recent reports, ).

Flagship Programs for Social Innovators

Nabil SSE offers two primary programs tailored to different stages of entrepreneurial development, both focused on practical, experiential learning.

1. Fellowship Program on Social Entrepreneurship

This is the flagship, intensive initiative designed to convert innovative social ideas into market-ready ventures.

Duration and Support: A six-month intensive learning program followed by a full one-year mentorship support from experienced professionals and domain experts.

Structure: Fellows participate in three days of residential learning sessions each month, accumulating 18 residential days in total.

Eligibility and Commitment: Applicants must be Nepali citizens, a minimum of 18 years old, demonstrate a clear social mission, and commit to a minimum of 90% attendance. The program covers lodging and meals during the residential training, though participants bear their own travel expenses.

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Key Outcomes:

Development of an investment-ready social enterprise or a robust, bankable business plan.

Confidence and ability to successfully pitch ideas to investors and financial institutions for funding.

Significant strengthening of leadership and operational skills required to sustain and scale their social ventures.

2. Certificate Course on Social Entrepreneurship

This course is designed for broader outreach, focusing on fostering an entrepreneurial mindset across Nepal’s provinces.

Collaboration and Reach: The course is delivered in collaboration with seven academic institutions across all of Nepal’s provinces, ensuring decentralized access.

Structure: A 14-day training program spread out over three months.

Target Audience: Aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, students, and professionals interested in social business.

Learning Components: Provides practical training on creating and managing social enterprises, insights from industry experts, networking opportunities, and hands-on exposure visits coupled with personalized guidance to develop bankable business plans. The expected outcome is for the participant to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and a business model that is ready to receive a bank loan.

Legacy and Future Vision

The school actively fosters a supportive ecosystem for social innovators, building a powerful network of changemakers. Graduates consistently report enhanced confidence and improved risk-taking abilities, which are crucial in the challenging environment of social enterprise.

By combining mentorship, experiential learning, and academic rigor, Nabil SSE continues to empower Nepali social entrepreneurs to effectively address pressing societal challenges, ranging from environmental conservation and rural development to youth employment and women’s empowerment, ensuring that banking resources are strategically aligned with national development.

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