Introduction

The Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer (NEST) is an independent and self-governing non-profit making non-governmental organization, located in Pokhara, Kaski. It was established in the year 2003 by United Mission to Nepal/Rural Development Centre (UMN/RDC) to give continuity to the activities of UMN/RDC once the organization had phased out as a project of United Mission to Nepal in July 2004. UMN’s vision to develop RDC as an independent Nepali organization led to the establishment of NEST in 2003.

The main activities of NEST are training and consultancy service, in the field of rural development. The thrust of the organization is to establish itself as a quality and cost effective service provider in the market place. NEST has considerable experience in the field of Training and Development gained from 22 years of RDC service, working for the poor and marginalized. NEST objectives are poverty alleviation and self-empowerment, carried out primarily through skill based and field based technical training for poor rural community people.

The five technical working areas of NEST are Forestry Development Programme, Agriculture Development Programme, Animal Health and Husbandry Improvement Programme, Water and Sanitation Programme and Capacity Building Programme. Apart from these programmes, NEST also has support programmes which includes Administration, Finance and Marketing.

NEST carries out the existing activities of RDC and will also incorporate some new technical vocational trainings. A long term aim is to also implement community development activities. NEST strives to reach poor farmers of particularly low socio economic status, often referred to as "the poor and marginalized". NEST works all over Nepal. INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, and GOs are its development partners.