Coca-Cola Nepal and Atelier Platform Bring Back Saksham: Saksham Accelerator and Mentorship Program 2024

Kathmandu, June 17, 2024 – Coca-Cola Nepal proudly announces the second phase of the Saksham Accelerator and Mentorship Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs across Nepal. Launched on March 8, 2022, Saksham is an initiative of Coca-Cola Nepal and Atelier Platform Pvt. Ltd. Saksham has empowered and trained over 2000 women all over Nepal till date and aims to equip women with the necessary skills and confidence to succeed in their entrepreneurial ventures.

Ms. Chandrika Kalia, Country Director for Coca-Cola in Nepal, said, "We are thrilled to continue our journey with the Saksham Accelerator and Mentorship Program into its second phase, further empowering women entrepreneurs in Nepal. At Coca-Cola, we believe in creating opportunities that foster innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Through initiatives like Saksham, we aim to not only support budding entrepreneurs but also contribute to the economic and social development of the country. We are excited to witness the transformative impact these women will have on their communities and industries."

Following a thorough review and selection phase, the 2024 program was launched with an orientation session on May 31, 2024. This was followed by expert sessions on feminist leadership, company legalities, access to finance, and the circular economy. The two-month program includes bi-weekly expert-led sessions on various topics, including gender rights, leadership, climate change, legal processes, marketing, and finance.

This year’s cohort features 10 exceptional women selected from over 40 applicants, representing agriculture, hydroponics, mental health, cultural heritage promotion, technology, and more. The 2024 Saksham Accelerator and Mentorship Program finalists are Archana Shrestha (Hisi C), Indu Shrestha (Putali Nepal), Luniva Shakya & Co (Re-Up Studio), Pratima Basyal & Co (Pasa – Napa), Rachana Poudel (Vermicast Organics), Roji Maharjan (Project Green Circle), Sabina Chaudhary (Zaika-e-Kathmandu), Sushmita Paudel & Co  (Eco Revive), Shreya Malla & Co  (Pal), and Shreya Chochchhe (Chochchhe). These finalists are poised to transform their innovative ideas into impactful ventures with the support of dedicated mentors and comprehensive resources.

The Saksham Accelerator and Mentorship Program is a key element of Coca-Cola Nepal’s Women Empowerment initiative, established to promote business equality for women in Nepal. The accelerator program is part of the larger Saksham Program which was launched in 2022 with a vision to build the capacity of micro and small-scale women entrepreneurs in and outside Kathmandu Valley to enhance their knowledge as an entrepreneur and to build their capacity for growth and innovation. It was able to create a unique and common platform for over 2000 women to learn from fellow retailers and share challenges & insights to run their businesses more efficiently and effectively by 2023. This year, we will be continuing the 3rd year of the Saksham program across Nepal to connect with another 1000 more women from of value chain. Coca-Cola, in collaboration with Bottlers Nepal Limited, continues to support female retailers and small restaurant owners through training in financial literacy, hospitality, and sanitation management.

About Coca-Cola in Nepal

Coca-Cola in Nepal refreshes consumers across the country through its core product offerings of Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, and Kinley, and impacts thousands as a System. The Company works with WWF Nepal, WaterAid Nepal, and Smartpaani on innovative integrated water management solutions for water conservation, and water replenishment and to improve livelihoods of communities which has made Coca-Cola a water-positive company. As part of The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment towards a ‘World Without Waste’, Coca-Cola Nepal collects 100% of its PET bottles in Nepal. It has been working with the Mountain Clean-Up Campaign led by the Nepali Army for the past 3 years where over 71,000 kgs of waste so far from the Himalayas. Through the Saksham program, Coca-Cola Nepal is also empowering 1000 women retailers by providing training on financial literacy, hospitality, and sanitation management, and the use of digital wallets. Coca-Cola Nepal continually engages in locally relevant initiatives to bring about a positive difference in the lives of communities across the country.