Creating Opportunities for Young People through Digital Innovation
Operations under the European Union-funded Creating Opportunities for Youth in Digital Economy (CODE) project have transitioned rapidly from initial setup into tangible community implementation across Gandaki and Madhesh Provinces, marking a series of early program milestones.
Implemented by a consortium led by Swisscontact alongside Restless Development and the Robotics Association of Nepal (RAN), the three-year initiative aims to connect 10,000 young Nepalis to real job market opportunities through a hands-on “learning to start earning” approach.
Following the official launch of the project, consortium partners convened for an intensive operational workshop to harmonize delivery strategies, cross-partner timelines, and monitoring mechanisms across the six target local levels: Pokhara Metropolitan City, Rupa Rural Municipality, and Madi Rural Municipality in Gandaki; and Birgunj Metropolitan City, Jitpur Simara Sub-Metropolitan City, and Parsagadhi Municipality in Madhesh.
At the community level, Restless Development has officially onboarded 12 grassroots Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)—the first cohort of an envisioned 25-organization delivery network spanning both provinces. These local partners will serve as community anchors, spearheading peer outreach and localized digital education to ensure marginalized youth gain entry into emerging tech pathways.
To ground grassroots instruction in practical market demand, the consortium contracted a dedicated technical expert who is currently drafting a comprehensive Digital Literacy Toolkit. The curriculum is being informed by ongoing provincial consultations with municipal leaders, private-sector tech firms, civil society, and youth networks, and will serve as the core syllabus for upcoming Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions with partner CSOs.
Institutional buy-in has also advanced at the local level. The project recently concluded two key Provincial Steering Committee meetings, bringing together mayors, deputy leadership, and municipal department heads from all six participating local governments. Municipal leaders formally voiced institutional support and pledged to integrate youth-led digital literacy priorities into local development agendas.
Direct skills delivery is now actively underway on the ground. The consortium has commenced its first cohort of foundational-to-intermediate digital skills training for local youth. Simultaneously, open applications were officially rolled out for a dedicated Digital Marketing Training track, designed to equip young participants with in-demand technical skills to secure freelance, remote, and corporate employment opportunities.
