USAID Clean Air

An initiative to improve air quality in kathmandu valley approaching national ambient air quality standards

Source: Ananda Raj Devkota

USAID Clean Air

An initiative to improve air quality in kathmandu valley approaching national ambient air quality standards

USAID Clean Air

An initiative to improve air quality in kathmandu valley approaching national ambient air quality standards

Source: Anna Sherchand

ABOUT THE ACTIVITY

USAID Clean Air is a multi-year initiative to improve air quality in Kathmandu valley approaching national ambient air quality standards leading to improved health and educational outcomes.

USAID Clean Air is using a multi-sectoral approach to reduce air pollution in Kathmandu Valley by engaging the government, civil society and private sector. One to Watch is leading the private sector component of USAID Clean Air which aims to enhance private sector involvement and investment in addressing air pollution issues. As part of USAID Clean Air, One to Watch is also implementing the Business Accelerator for Clean Air, an intensive multi-year business development program supporting ten enterprises working to reduce air pollution emissions and exposure in Kathmandu valley. The Business Accelerator for Clean Air program is designed to enhance the enterprises’ capacity across different domains of business development, operations, and scaling in their pursuit of addressing air pollution issues.

The activity is being implemented by a consortium led by FHI 360 with Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), and One to Watch as consortium partners.

COHORT COMPANIES

COHORT COMPANIES

Abhiyantriki Karmashala

Abhiyantriki Karmashala specializes in electric vehicle design consulting and prototyping, maintenance and training and is also engaged in electric vehicle retrofitting and conversion.

Build Up Nepal Engineering

Build Up Nepal provides innovative machines, training and support, empowering entrepreneurs to produce high-quality and eco-friendly CSEB bricks using local materials.

Doko Recyclers

Green Movers

Green Road Waste Management

Green Road Waste Management uses non-recyclable plastic waste to build roads, manufacture green interlocking bricks and refuse derive fuel (RDF) for cement industries.

Himalayan Naturals

Himalayan Naturals produces and markets charcoal pellets and briquettes made from forest waste and shrubs working closely with local communities to reduce forest fires.

Metro Gear Nepal

Metro Gear Nepal designs and sells reusable KN95 certified masks with replaceable active carbon filter to prevent air pollution exposure.

Pick and Drop

Yatri Motorcycles

Zero Circular

Zero Circular thrives to eliminate material waste by offering plant-based biodegradable plastic bags as an alternative to fossil fuel based plastic bags.

HIGHLIGHTS

Green Way: Paving a Cleaner Path for Kathmandu’s Future Through Bicycle Sharing

In the heart of bustling Kathmandu, where the air often hangs heavy with pollution and the streets are clogged with traffic, a new wave of

Building Back Better using Eco-friendly and Disaster-Resilient CSEB Interlocking Technology

On November 3, 2023 a devastating earthquake struck Nepal’s Jajarkot and Rukum West districts, claiming 150 lives and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. An

Battling Air Pollution: Metro Mask’s Collaboration with Pharmacies and E-Bikes in Kathmandu

Metro Gear Nepal, a trailblazer in the battle against air pollution, has made remarkable strides with its KN95-certified reusable air pollution masks. Featuring advanced multi-layer

Strategy Workshops for USAID Business Accelerator for Clean Air Cohort Companies

A series of strategy workshops have been facilitated for the cohort companies of the USAID Business Accelerator for Clean Air. These comprehensive strategy workshops were

Abhiyantriki Karmashala: Promoting the EV Movement in Nepal

Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly gaining momentum in Nepal. Both existing vehicle owners and first-time buyers are increasingly opting for EVs over traditional internal combustion

Pioneering Recycling: Doko Recyclers’ Journey to Sustainability

Waste management is an often overlooked part of operations for many businesses, both large and small, due to its complicated nature and perceived lack of

Himalayan Naturals: Pioneering Eco-Friendly Charcoal and the Battle Against Forest Fires

For aficionados of the perfect barbecue experience, the sight of charcoal pellets ensconced in the distinctive red and black packaging of Himalayan Naturals is likely

Pick and Drop: Transforming Last-Mile Delivery

In recent years, Nepal has witnessed a significant rise in e-commerce transactions, indicating a transformative shift in the country’s retail landscape. The confluence of digital

Buildup Nepal: Replacing Traditional Fired Bricks with Eco-friendly Bricks

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, a catastrophic event that left countless homes and buildings in ruins,

Introducing the Greenway App: Transforming your Cycling Experience and Beyond

Cycling isn't just a form of exercise; it's a sustainable and eco-friendly way to travel. Unfortunately, many of us encounter obstacles when attempting to incorporate

INSIGHTS

Pick and Drop Vendor’s Meet Event

USAID Clean Air hosted a “Vendor’s Meet” for Pick and Drop, a landmark event aimed at recognizing and strengthening relationships with its top-performing vendors. The

Experience Sharing Session with Mr. Suman Rayamajhi, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Upaya City Cargo

On February 29th, 2024, USAID Clean Air hosted an insightful experience-sharing session titled “Seed to Scale: Entrepreneurial Insights Unveiled”, featuring Mr. Suman Rayamajhi, Co-founder and

Experience Sharing Session and Roundtable Discussion on Best Practices in Plastic Waste Management: Sharing Experiences from Nepal and Beyond

In Nepal, plastic waste accounts for more than 11%-16% of total solid waste. Packaging materials of fast-moving consumer goods such as packaged food and soft

Experience Sharing Session with Mr. Manohar Adhikari and Mr. Shaswot Sher Adhikari

One to Watch organized an experience sharing session with Mr. Manohar Adhikari, Co-founder of Foodmandu and Mr. Shaswot Sher Adhikari, Co-founder of EkGhanti Services for

USAID Clean Air: Roundtable Discussion on Plastic Waste Management and Plastic Circularity in Nepal

Fast-moving Consumer Goods constitute products with rapid turnover and relatively low durability, including items like packaged foods, beverages, personal care products, and household cleaning supplies.

USAID Clean Air: Roundtable Discussion on Electric Vehicles: Opportunities and Challenges

Electric vehicles (EVs) are an effective solution to air pollution caused by vehicular emissions in Nepal. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has been

USAID Clean Air: Roundtable Discussion with the Waste Management Representatives in Kathmandu Vally

One to Watch organized a roundtable with the representatives from the waste management sector in Kathmandu Valley to uncover the bottlenecks and challenges of private

CLEAN AIR GALLERY

Networking Events

Site Visits

Roundtable Discussions

Masterclass Sessions

Launch Event

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)

What is USAID Clean Air?

USAID Clean Air is initiated by USAID for improving air quality in the Kathmandu Valley approaching national ambient air quality standards leading to improved health and educational outcomes.

The USAID Business Accelerator for Clean Air looks at supporting selected companies in the air pollution mitigation space through a multi-year business development program to help them grow and scale.

What is the main objective of USAID Clean Air?

The USAID’s Clean Air activity has the following three objectives:

Collaborate with the Government of Nepal (GoN) at all levels to drive evidence-based policy formulation, enforcement, and implementation that influences air quality
Improve civil society and citizen engagement and knowledge on air pollution issues to advance public interest and GoN and private sector accountability for improving air quality
Enhance private sector involvement and investment in addressing air pollution issuesCo

What is OTW’s role in the USAID Clean Air ?

The private sector component of the USAID Clean Air is being implemented by OTW with the goal of increasing private sector involvement and investment in addressing air pollution issues. OTW will select ten innovative Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) working in Kathmandu Valley to participate in an accelerator program and develop their concepts, business models, and investment strategies.

What does the USAID Business Accelerator for Clean Air offer?

The USAID Business Accelerator for Clean Air offers the following for the selected applicants:

Customized technical assistance
Expert workshops and trainings
Multiyear strategy support
Seed grant for companies looking to pilot solutions
Wide network of entrepreneurs, mentors and experts

The program equips the participants with the necessary tools through which the companies identify their core competencies and assess their business models to cater to the market needs. The program is built on providing useful tools to companies to help them scale their businesses.

What kind of technical assistance/business development services (BDS) can we expect from One to Watch?

We will cater our BDS according to the needs of your business in the including but not limited to the following areas:

Financial Planning
Sales and Marketing
Restructure Business Model
Operation Management
HR Management
Strategic Management

Will the USAID Business Accelerator for Clean Air provide investment for my business?

The program provides a platform that connect companies with potential investors. The program will support the companies in being investment ready and access a wider network of domestic and international financing networks through demo day and networking events during which these companies will pitch their business case to a diverse group of stakeholders, including capital providers. However, the program does not guarantee that the companies would receive an investment.