Green Job Creation through Recycling and Upcycling in Pokhara (GCRU) Project

Ongoing Project

Pokhara

Green Job Creation through Recycling and Upcycling in Pokhara (GCRU) Project

Pokhara Metropolitan City, like many cities in Nepal, is facing a growing waste problem due to increasing urbanization, consumerism and a system that encourages throwing things away after use. This places immense pressure on local waste management systems along with contributing to environmental pollution and missed opportunities for sustainable job creation.

The Green Job Creation through Recycling and Upcycling (GCRU) project responds to this need by promoting the green economy with the establishment of recycling/ upcycling (RU) enterprises based on the circular economy model.

The project aims to achieve its goals through three interconnected areas of intervention: (1) policy and coordination, (2) promotion of RU enterprises, and (3) community empowerment. At the community level, the project will raise awareness about waste collection and segregation to ensure a clean and consistent supply of materials for these enterprises. All activities will be carried out in close coordination with Pokhara Metropolitan City to ensure effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

As part of the project, CREASION is implementing a focused 6-month assignment designed to empower local communities and promote the development of RU enterprises. Key activities under CREASION’s assignment include:

Faqs

Questions We get
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What are Recycling and Upcycling Enterprises?

Recycling and upcycling enterprises are community or micro enterprises that turn waste materials into useful products instead of letting them go to landfills. Recycling involves breaking down waste like plastic, paper or metal into raw materials that can be used to make new items. Upcycling, on the other hand, means reusing old or unwanted items creatively to make something better or more valuable- for example, turning old clothes into bags or glass bottles into decorative lamps.

Why Project GCRU?

The GCRU project has been introduced to address Pokhara’s growing waste management challenges. The city produces approximately 182 tons of solid waste each day, with nearly half being dumped unmanaged near a river and therefore creating significant environmental and public health hazards.

To tackle this, the project promotes a shift from traditional waste disposal to a circular economy model that focuses on reuse, recycling and recovery by supporting recycling and upcycling (RU) enterprises. Doing so, the project not only aims to create hundreds of green jobs but also contributes to improving environmental health and making Pokhara more appealing as a sustainable tourism destination. Plus, the project has strong potential to be replicated as a model for urban development and green economic practices in other cities across Nepal.

What are the key objectives of the GCRU project?

The overall project objective is to promote a circular economy in Pokhara Metropolitan City by creating green jobs through the establishment and strengthening of recycling and upcycling (RU) enterprises, improving waste management systems and supporting an enabling policy environment that encourages sustainable practices.

As part of the project, CREASION is implementing a focused 6-month assignment designed to empower local communities and promote the development of RU enterprises.

Key activities under CREASION’s assignment include:

Conducting awareness training for 4,080 community members across 136 Tole Lane Organizations (TLOs) to improve understanding of waste segregation and the circular economy
Delivering a structured capacity-building program that includes: Foundational skills training; Business development training; Enterprise readiness training; and Specialized technical sessions tailored to local RU opportunities
Forming and strengthening 40 RU groups, and equipping them with knowledge, tools and entrepreneurial skills to establish or expand RU-based businesses

Who are the target groups/ beneficiaries?

Local government: Pokhara Metropolitan City helps lead policy and implementation coordination.

Community members: Over 8,160 households receive waste management training. Additional beneficiaries include 1,710 individuals in general education and 1,360 people in entrepreneurship/skill development.

RU enterprise groups: 136 community-led groups participate in bootcamps and are incubated to develop viable RU businesses

Women & marginalized populations: The project is guided by a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) framework aiming for over 52% women participation and 40% Janajati representation, including youth and people with disabilities.

What are the projected outputs of this project?

The overall Project Outputs include:

4 waste management policy, strategies and guidelines endorsed by the PMC Council
1 waste management data tracking tool developed and operational
811 PMC officials and other stakeholders received training/ learning on effective waste management
680 green jobs in selected communities and additional 300 employment/ jobs created through RU enterprises
1 Green Venture Zone (GVZ) building and master plan of GVZ in place
30 RU enterprises established or strengthened and supported by an incubation program
8160 HHs of selected communities received training equipment for effective waste management
1360 people received entrepreneurship/ skills training related to RU in selected communities and 136 RU groups received equipment and technology support

Key Outputs for CREASION under the project:

Awareness training conducted for 4,080 community members from 136 Tole Lane Organizations (TLOs)
Foundational skill development sessions delivered to 400 community members interested in RU enterprises
Business development and enterprise readiness training conducted to enhance entrepreneurial capacity for 80 participants.
Specialized technical training sessions provided based on local market needs and resource availability for 40 RU groups.
40 functional RU groups formed and strengthened with guidance, training and group development support

What are Tole Lane Organizations (TLO)?

Tole Lane Organizations (TLOs) are community-level groups in Nepal that represent neighborhoods (tole or lane) and help engage local residents in development planning, waste management and other civic activities. They act as a bridge between citizens and local governments to support inclusive and grassroots governance.

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