Nirdhan Utthan Bank and Blueberry Hill Charitable Trust (BHCT) joined hands to increase financial access to the mountainous people.
Nirdhan and the UK-based INGO – The Blueberry Hill Charitable Trust (BHCT) – signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement ‘Sustainable Access to Finance and Livelihoods in Nepal (SAFAL Nepal)’, funded by UKaid through DFID.
Nirdhan and the Trust will work together under a deficit-subsidy partnership model to expand financial services in remote areas of four districts – including Panchthar, Doti, Dadeldhura, and Ilam – and help improve the livelihoods of hill and mountain communities through sustainable access to finance linked with appropriate livelihood opportunities and local institutional strengthening, according to the Trust.
Under the partnership model, the Trust will support Nirdhan financially and technically for initial start-up and client capacity building, whereas and Nirdhan will manage loan funds for the deficit-subsidy partnership model.