The EMPOWER Project is implemented with technical support from Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is implemented in Budhinanda Municipality of Bajura District and Khaytad Rural Municipality of Mugu District, Nepal. The project aims to empower women smallholders, marginalized communities, and civil society actors to strengthen resilient local food systems. Through the promotion of agroecology-based farming practices, EMPOWER supports women smallholders and youth in the targeted municipalities to adopt sustainable and climate-resilient approaches. At the same time, it works closely with civil society actors and local authorities to promote agroecological principles, enhance local agrobiodiversity and improve food, nutrition, and income security. 

The outcome of the project is 1,600 women smallholders and youth from targeted municipalities adopt agroecology-based farming practices and civil society actors and local authorities promote agroecological principles and practices to enhance local agrobiodiversity and strengthen food, nutrition, and income security.

The key interventions of the project is to:

• Enhance capacities of 1,600 women smallholders and marginalized communities on the use of local agrobiodiversity and climate resilient and nutrition-sensitive solutions.
• Strengthen women and youth-friendly local markets provide access and availability of safe and nutritious foods, and income generating and employment opportunity to local youth and women.
• Empower civil society actors and their networks advocate and promote agroecology-based approach to enhance agrobiodiversity and local food systems at municipal and provincial levels.
• Enhance capacity of two targeted local governments for harmonization, localization and implementation of policies related to right to food and local food systems
• Strengthen the capacity of three partner organizations in the areas of agroecology, MEAL, finance procurement, and compliance