Open Knowledge Foundation Nepal

At the 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦, they signed up to teach digital skills. They left with something they didn't expect: a deep understanding of what it takes to run a real business in a growing city, and where the gaps are.

Volunteers spent eighteen days embedded inside local enterprises in Dhangadhi, not just setting up pages and listings, but building content, teaching digital safety, and walking entrepreneurs through every step until they actually understood.

At the end, they brought their findings to the local government and youth groups to plan what comes next. That handoff matters. It's what turns a programme into something that lasts.

Nepal's digital commerce law was 20 years old. A new one just arrived. 📜

The E-Commerce Act 2081 (2025) now covers every digital seller — including those selling on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 बाट बेच्नु? अब दर्ता अनिवार्य छ। 🛒

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰:
→ Registration is mandatory — no exceptions for social media sellers ✅
→ Micro-enterprises don't need a full e-commerce platform — but registration is still required 📋
→ Non-compliance? Up to Rs 1,00,000 fine ⚠️

In our Dhangadhi sessions, people kept asking: "𝐈𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?"

Now there's a law. But most sellers still don't know it exists. 🔍

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐢 🚀⁣
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On April 3, we brought together entrepreneurs, youth volunteers, and local government to reflect on the completion of 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐬, following the training and mentorship phase.⁣
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From creating their first online presence to engaging real customers, entrepreneurs shared how their Digital Roadmaps are turning into action.⁣

cc⁣ Accountability Lab Nepal, Accountability Lab, Nikesh Balami

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