The Waste Smart Grant Fellowship Grant 2025
The Green Shift: Circularity of Plastic Waste for Net-Zero Carbon Nepal project—funded by the European Union—is a four-year initiative aimed at accelerating Nepal’s transition towards a circular economy. Implemented across Madhesh Province, Lumbini Province, and Bagmati Province through CREASION, Restless Development Nepal, and Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab), the project promotes sustainable plastic waste management through technology, community engagement, and evidence-based policy advocacy.
A central component of this initiative is the Waste Smart Fellowship (WSF) Grant, designed to empower young Nepali professionals to work closely with municipal governments in improving solid waste management systems. By mobilizing youth groups, civil society organizations, SMEs, waste workers, women, and marginalized communities, the project strengthens local, provincial, and federal capacities for inclusive, data-driven waste governance.
About the Green Shift Project
The Green Shift project focuses on:
- Enhancing technology-enabled plastic waste collection.
- Supporting civil society organizations of waste workers.
- Promoting sustainable product design and packaging.
- Strengthening policy development across local, provincial, and federal levels.
- Advocating for inclusive, evidence-based circular economy policies.
The project’s activities aim to reduce plastic pollution, uplift marginalized waste worker communities, and foster collaboration between government bodies, youth networks, and the private sector.
Waste Smart Fellowship: Overview
The Waste Smart Fellowship (WSF) offers a practical, immersive platform for young Nepali professionals pursuing careers in:
- Solid waste management
- Circular/green economy
- Environmental sustainability
- Climate change
Fellows are placed within municipal governments, where they gain direct experience working with environment, sanitation, waste management units, IT officers, and elected representatives. Their work begins with assessing local waste management systems, identifying gaps, and supporting the creation or improvement of municipal waste strategies.
Fellows also play a crucial role in:
- Collecting and analyzing waste-related data
- Supporting evidence-based policymaking
- Sensitizing officials on plastic waste impacts
- Monitoring project activities including Climate Smart Schools, youth engagement, and the Tag-Me app
Project Municipalities
Bagmati Province
- District: Chitwan
- Municipality: Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality
Madhesh Province
- District: Saptari
- Municipality: Khadak Municipality
Lumbini Province
- District: Rupandehi
- Municipality: Tilottama Municipality
Fellowship Duration
Seven Months
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Waste Smart Fellowship, applicants must:
- Be a Nepali citizen aged 29 or younger
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in Climate Change Studies, Environmental Science/Engineering, Environmental Sustainability and Management, Development Studies, or a related field
- Preferably be from the project municipality or willing to relocate
- Have prior knowledge in solid waste management, circular economy, climate change, or related fields
- Be interested in working with local government institutions
- Demonstrate strong technical skills including:
- Mobile and web applications
- MS Office
- GIS
- OpenStreetMap (OSM)
- Possess excellent communication skills in Nepali and English (local languages are an advantage)
- Exhibit strong personal character, integrity, teamwork, and cross-cultural collaboration skills
- Be passionate about GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) in the context of waste management
- Be adaptable to challenging work environments
Key Responsibilities of Waste Smart Fellows
- Conduct comprehensive assessments of municipal solid waste management systems—financial, infrastructural, technical, and technological.
- Engage youth groups in waste-related data collection and advocacy through the project’s mobile application.
- Perform mapping studies covering waste hotspots, leakage areas, scrap centers, landfill sites, transfer stations, and recycling/plastic industries.
- Analyze collected data and prepare municipal waste action plan reports.
- Support local governments in strengthening their solid waste management systems.
- Monitor Climate Smart School activities and youth-led initiatives.
- Facilitate communication between youth groups and local authorities.
- Ensure strong participation of women and marginalized groups in all activities.
- Document progress, challenges, and lessons learned, including GESI-related impacts.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit an online application containing:
1. Personal Information
- Contact details
- Educational and professional background
- Passport-size photo (max 2 MB)
2. Written Section
- Motivation Letter (maximum 300 words)
- CV/Resume (PDF, maximum 2 pages)
- One Recommendation Letter (academic preferred)
Benefits for Waste Smart Fellows
- Fellowship Grant of NPR 350,000 (inclusive of stipend, insurance, travel allowance, and communication costs)
- Training on plastic waste management, circular economy, and climate change
- Capacity-building workshops and orientations
- Opportunity to work closely with mayors, CAOs, elected representatives, and technical officers
- Access to government and municipal workshops, trainings, and seminars
- Official Waste Smart Fellowship Graduation Certificate
- Potential job placement within YI-Lab, consortium partners, or related organizations
Guidelines for the Recommendation Letter
The referee should include:
- Duration and context in which they know the applicant
- Assessment of the applicant’s background, qualifications, and achievements
- Opinion on the applicant’s leadership qualities and potential
- Letter written in English or Nepali
- Ensure timely submission for upload
- Submit the letter as a Word document or PDF
- Include signature, official position, and contact details
Contact Information
For queries regarding the application process:
Email: fellowship@youthinnovationlab.org
Application Timeline
Deadline: 25th December 2025
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