Aadhyanta Fund Management launches 'Simrik Initiative' to expand women’s access to capital

KATHMANDU: Aadhyanta Fund Management (AFML) officially launched the Simrik Initiative in Lalitpur on Friday evening to expand women’s access to capital, credit and business growth opportunities across Nepal.

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sobita Gautam attended the event at The Plaza as the chief guest. The programme brought together representatives from the government, financial institutions and international development agencies.

Organised under the theme ‘For Women, By Women’, the launch featured 20 women agri-entrepreneurs who have received direct equity or debt financing and acceleration support through AFML’s investment programmes.

The programme highlighted AFML’s institutional partnerships, including a strategic partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Nepal under the United Nations (UN) Joint SDG Fund and the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

AFML also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Global IME Bank, making it the initiative’s official banking partner to strengthen long-term access to credit.

Representatives from AFML outlined that through the initiative and its companion, the Simrik Nari Fund, AFML aims to bridge the gender financing gap by combining blended capital investment with tailored SME accelerator coaching for women-led businesses across the country.