dZi Foundation

09/03/2026

Last week, devastating flash floods swept through Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot Districts and communities downstream, causing enormous loss of life and widespread destruction.

We are grateful to share our colleagues in Nepal are safe, and dZi’s program communities in the Koshi River Basin were not directly affected.

This disaster is a sobering reminder of the risks communities across Nepal face from floods, landslides, extreme rainfall, and a changing environment.

We cannot stop disasters from happening, but preparedness matters. Early warning systems, local disaster plans, and strong community networks can help reduce their impact and support recovery.

Our thoughts remain with everyone affected and with those working on rescue and recovery across Nepal.

We’ve shared a more detailed update and resources for staying informed on our website. For those who would like to directly support relief and recovery, contributions can also be made to the Government of Nepal’s Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.

Find both links in our bio.

08/27/2026

We stand in solidarity with all those affected!

08/21/2026

✨ Meet Lal Bahadur Tamang!

Lal is a hardworking farmer from Kepilasgadhi, Khotang District, who was struggling to provide for his family. He had to make a tough decision to send his wife abroad to work, while staying back in the village due to his health issues. He takes care of his elderly parents and four children.

For Lal, he was barely growing enough for his family through traditional farming methods until he enrolled in dZi’s MaUKa Program. Through MaUKa, he participated in various trainings, including leadership development, financial literacy, and business plan development, which empowered him to establish his own business. 💪

Today, Lal runs his own business named ‘Pakhrin Multipurpose Agriculture and Livestock Firm’. 🙌 He is rearing chickens and growing vegetables. He earns a substantial amount, enough to provide a good life for his family. 🌱 He now wishes to scale up his business and bring his wife back to Nepal to grow and work together in their own business.

At dZi, we believe developing and empowering entrepreneurs creates lasting change for families and communities while building accessible pathways to shared prosperity.

Join us in this journey of empowering more entrepreneurs! 🌟

08/14/2026

Punu almost left her village. Today, she's building a thriving future there. 🐷🌱

✨Meet Punu, a determined woman entrepreneur who once planned to migrate to the city with her family in search of a better life. After joining dZi’s Mahila Udhyamshilta Karyakram (MaUKa) in July 2025, she established Paruma Multipurpose Agriculture and Livestock Farm and turned her dream into reality. 💪

“Through vegetable and pig farming, I earned approximately $3600 in a year. If the MaUKa program hadn’t come to our village, my family and I would have already left the village,” says Punu.

Today, she is proudly running her pig and vegetable farm, earning a sustainable income, and planning to expand her business. 🙌 Punu is a testament to hard work and resilience.

At dZi, we believe that when women are given opportunity, skills, and support, they create lasting prosperity for their families and communities. When women rise, communities thrive. 🌟

07/31/2026

From Traditional Livestock Rearing to a Dream of Entrepreneurship: Nirmala B.K.’s Journey

"Before the training, I only knew the traditional way of raising pigs and chickens,” Nirmala shares. “Today, I know how to prepare balanced feed, choose improved breeds, and build a proper pig shelter. More importantly, I have learned that livestock farming can become a business. This training has given me hope and the confidence to dream bigger, not only for myself but for my children. I now believe that one day I can become a successful entrepreneur."

Nirmala has now successfully established her agri-business. To read more about Nirmala's journey, please visit the link below:

Life has never been easy for Nirmala B.K., a 35-year-old single mother from the Dalit community of Belaka Municipality-1, Baluwatar. To provide for her family, she worked as a sharecropper and raised one mother pig, one buffalo, and five local hens. Although livestock was an important part of her da...

07/27/2026

✨Meet Sarita Matey!

Sarita is a hardworking woman from a Dalit community residing in the remote community of Sapteshwar in Khotang district. Despite working hard, she has been living in poverty for decades. Sarita never had a fixed job and a stable income, which burdened her financially. Moreover, she does not have enough support from her husband and takes all the household responsibilities by herself, including earning, taking care of the children, and the family.

Sarita says, “I have always worked in others’ agricultural fields 🌱during seasonal agriculture to earn my family’s living. I pick up any work that comes around, like supporting road construction and more, to support my family.”

In July 2025, Sarita enrolled in dZi’s program- Mahila Udhyamshilta Karyakram (MaUKa). 🌟 Despite never attending school and having no knowledge about business, Sarita learned business plan development, finance management, market linkage, and established an agri-business with dZi’s support.💪

“I no longer work as a laborer in others’ agricultural fields or search for work these days. In fact, I am so busy rearing my own pigs that my days are spent taking care of them. With the constant support of coaching and mentoring from dZi, my firm is thriving while generating good income. This has helped me cover my household expenses and support children’s education smoothly. This initiative has changed my life,” says Sarita. 🌸

dZi supports women like Sarita for economic independence and prosperity. When women are supported, they become limitless! ✨

07/22/2026

For the prosperity of the Koshi River Basin! 🌊

dZi successfully concluded the Annual Review and Planning Workshop for the Initiation for Shared Prosperity in the Koshi River Basin in Nepal (ISPKN) project, marking the completion of the first fiscal year (2025/26) and setting the course for the year ahead.

The workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on our first-year journey, reviewing program and financial progress, celebrating achievements, identifying challenges, and capturing valuable lessons to strengthen future implementation. Together, we also developed our second-year priorities, ensuring collective ownership and commitment among all team members. We aim to create, particularly for poor and marginalized communities across the Koshi Basin, in the coming years.

✅Improving access to essential services
✅Enhancing economic opportunities
✅Reinforcing government leadership to drive inclusive and sustainable

Our team (dZi and Local NGOs) demonstrated strong enthusiasm, a commitment to continuous learning, and a shared dedication to delivering the program effectively as we embark on this important initiative.

Join us in building a future where no one is left behind. ✨

07/02/2026

What do economic independence and shared prosperity mean for women in Nepal? Learn from women themselves about the incredible impact of dZi's Mauka ("opportunity" in Nepali) program.

As part of dZi's broader community-led development model, dZi's Mauka program helps entrepreneurs build sustainable agricultural enterprises, increase their income, and strengthen resilience for their families and entire communities. We specifically prioritize women and marginalized groups for the Mauka program to increase their access to financial services, training, and business skills that are often out of reach.

When women are empowered from the start, the possibilities are limitless.

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06/25/2026

33,000 more people.
Six municipalities.
Countless paths to shared prosperity.
 
Thank you for joining dZi’s next chapter in the Koshi River Basin and help families build stronger futures at home.
 

06/08/2026

A new mustard processing center in Baksila is creating opportunities that extend far beyond a single business.

Now, nearly 200 farmers can sell mustard closer to home — saving time, strengthening local markets, and creating more reliable income.

When communities have the right systems in place, prosperity grows and the local economy flourishes. This is one of the programs that dZi’s Board of Directors is working to fundraise for during the month of June with a match up to $40,000. Support their efforts and give today!

dzi.org/2026boardchallenge