• November 26 - 30 (formal date TBD)

• New Delhi, India

The World Bank, New Delhi is launching a new intervention designed to find out the feasibility and scope of developing an integrated regional program in South Asia in this upcoming sector with key focus in promoting entrepreneurship, gender inclusion and regional integration. The World Bank is inviting leading experts, practitioners, policy makers and scholars from a diverse set of organisations that includes international development institutions, think tanks, donor agencies, leading NGOs, investors and key members from the government.

In the past 10 years, the World Bank has engaged with the skilled artisan communities in South Asia through it's pilot projects with encouraging outcomes. In India, Pakistan and Nepal, the Bank supported projects have enabled rural grass root level organisations to upgrade their capacities by developing the entire value chain, resulting in impressive narratives of sustainability, especially amongst women. "Jiyo" program in India, "Rang" in Pakistan and "Nepal-Ko" in Nepal have worked directly with more than 25,000 skilled members to uplift them out of poverty by upgrading their traditional skills and empowering them to take charge of their own enterprises. As a result Jiyo artisans in India now have direct access to duty free souvenir shops in airports, Pakistani embroiders sell their produces to high street shops in New York and craftspeople from Nepal's remote mountainous region weave for Europe's vibrant fair trade market.  

This event is invite only.

For more information on the World Bank’s interventions in Nepal and Pakistan’s artisan sector, read their blog here.