NEDI, together with like-minded stakeholders, organized a series of advocacy activities to ensure the rights of farmers and small-scale enterprises in the new constitution. As a result, the constitution made positive efforts to provide the right to access lands for agricultural activities, select and protect local seeds and agricultural species that have been traditionally used, and pursued as fundamental rights.
NEDI has been promoting social entrepreneurship since its establishment, leading to the establishment of the Social Entrepreneurship Fund under the Social Welfare Council (SWC), Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizen. Mr. Arjun Bhattarai, the president of NEDI, has been nominated by the government of Nepal to represent the NGO community working in Social Entrepreneurship. In collaboration with Kathmandu University School of Management (KUSOM) and Care Nepal.
NEDI organized an intensive study on the Social Entrepreneurship Policy Landscape and submitted it to the government of Nepal and parliamentarians. As a result, the government of Nepal has initiated further discussions on drafting a new bill on social enterprises. NEDI regularly organizes the Social Entrepreneurship Summit and international social entrepreneurship exhibitions, showcasing products in 2019, 2021, and 2022.
NEDI organized a campaign on climate-smart and disaster-resilient bamboo housing from 2005 to 2007, which became highly relevant after the major earthquake in 2015. Bamboo has now become very popular for house construction.
NEDI has also been actively engaged in rooftop farming initiatives, particularly targeting women and youth-led initiatives. The association works on awareness raising, capacity building, and organizing campaigns through social media platforms to promote urban agriculture. The organization was one of the founders of the Family Farming Campaign, which has gained popularity as a global movement. The United Nations has declared it the Decade of Family Farming.
NEDI successfully completed the Youth Take The Lead Project, which focused on youth capacity building on SDGs, promoting social entrepreneurship, capacity building, and engaging marginalized communities in income-generating activities.
NEDI has facilitated the formation of the National Social Entrepreneurship Forum (NSEF), an informal network of social enterprises. Additionally, NEDI serves as the secretariat for Catalyst2030 Nepal and Slow Food International.
