This guide covers frequently asked questions about the opportunity. Please make sure to read this guide before applying and reaching out to the British Council with queries.
What is Road to COP or Road to COP26?
Road to COP is a programme implemented by the British Council and funded by UKaid. It is a project designed to support the Government of Nepal and UK’s inclusion goals in long-term climate actions through youth engagement and climate communication. It works with Nepal-UK creative sector partnerships to help national actors address the global challenge of climate change creatively and innovatively.
What is ‘In Our hands?’
In our hands is a part of the Road to COP programme. It is a youth entrepreneurship project which aims to build capacity, provide resources, platforms and connections to help develop a creative green economy in Nepal to advance its long-term climate goals.
In our Hands is facilitated by a consortium of partners including Nepal Art Village, Kathmandu University’s Schools of Arts and School of Engineering, Applied Arts Scotland and Edinburgh Napier University as content experts and National Innovation Center.
How are the sessions conducted?
Two sessions a week (around 4-5 hours) will be organised from September. Major public holidays and festival dates have been accounted for and we will not be hosting any sessions on those days. Weekly sessions include topics like design thinking, alternative economic models, business modelling, creative advocacy and prototyping.
Sessions will be led by Nepali/UK experts, the primary instruction language is English, and interpretation will be available (English/Nepali) to make the training and activities accessible to all levels of English proficiency.
Why are sessions being conducted virtually?
We are preferring a virtual delivery model to manage risks with Covid, to maintain a national cover and keep the programme cost-effective. Staying virtual also helps us offer simultaneous interpretation so it is accessible for Nepali-only speakers.We are making sure that the sessions are engaging and create space for individual attention.
We are also hoping to address digital inequalities and barriers to access in our call. If you have issues accessing the internet, you can mention this in the form.
We will be using the most accessible video platform; you can share your preference in the form.
What topics are covered in the training (workshops)?
We will be working with design thinking, prototyping, creative advocacy, purpose-led business modelling and research topics. Our facilitators will weave together a larger story from the diverse perspective brought in through several disciplines and schools of thought. Participants will have a chance to interact with resources and relevant case studies from Nepal and the UK.
Who are the facilitators and mentors?
In Our Hands is delivered through Nepal-UK partnerships. Experts in contemporary crafts and design, circular economy, heritage conservation and environmental sustainability from UK and Nepal will be working together to design workshops for building the capacity of Nepali Entrepreneurs. For more details on facilitators and mentors, please check this webpage.
What is the commitment expected from selected participants?
Participants should be able to commit to sessions planned up to November 2022. Altogether, there are about 40 contact hours planned, which include mentoring sessions. Sessions will be recorded and made available to absentees. Absences will have to be communicated in advance to the facilitators and will impact the participant’s eligibility to apply for the follow up grants after November.
What are the grants/showcase opportunities mentioned in the call?
At the end of the workshops, participants will have an opportunity to come together at a pitching event where up to six projects will be provided grants to pilot/prototype their ideas. Grants project will be active in December/January to prototype/pilot the ideas and present to audiences in Nepal and the UK.
Is there an opportunity to find out more about the In Our Hands programme from the organisers?
Yes. We will host an orientation webinar on Thursday, 18 August (3:00-4:00 PM, NST). Here’s the link to the registration form for the event.
We are a team/community, can we apply?
Yes. Individuals and teams can apply. Teams can be an institution, company, partnership, group or community. For team applicants, we require a representative(s) to be named on your application and to attend the workshop series.
Do I need to evidence of my citizenship to be eligible?
We are not requiring proof unless necessary and will be making consideration for any applicant who is unable to receive citizenship because of existing legal barriers.
Do you have to be registered in Nepal as an organisation to apply?
Yes, if you are organising as an organisation, you must be registered in Nepal.
Do you have to be a Nepali citizen based in Nepal to apply for this opportunity?
Yes, you must be a Nepali citizen based in Nepal to apply for this opportunity.
Do I need to have a defined idea to apply?
No. The idea can be at any stage (from new to more established) and be at a point where it would benefit from the support and development opportunity presented at this time.
Applicants submitting a business idea will go through additional judgement criteria, but scoring will be consistent to other submissions without an idea.
What kinds of applicants are we looking for?
We believe ideas and innovation can originate with anyone, anywhere and be delivered through any discipline, so we welcome applications from anyone. We are primarily looking for applicants with a strong interest in creative responses to climate change, those interested in multi-disciplinary actions and committed to developing their community and localities.
It says this is to encourage youth entrepreneurship, how are you defining youth?
We are using the official Government of Nepal definition, meaning 18 to 40 years of age. Under 18s are not eligible for this opportunity but those over 40 can still apply. Our panel will be considering exceptional candidates who are beyond the 40-age bracket.
What are the assessment criteria?
Applications will be reviewed by a panel representing partners involved in the programme. The panel will use multiple criteria to score each response with special attention to Relevance and Purpose: how well the applicant evidences their motivations and aspirations, how relevant their purpose is to the programme outcomes/impact
Equality, Diversity, Inclusivity: the panel will be considering the applications to select a representative cohort that is gender balanced and has adequate geographic/demographic spread
Successful applicants will hear from the British Council by 9 September about their placement.
Can I download the form and submit it via email?
Yes. There is an offline version of the form, which can be downloaded and submitted by email at arts@britishcouncil.org.np
Can you help me with my application?
We are committed to making the application process as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have queries or require support with your application, please email at arts@britishcouncil.org.np and we will endeavour to help.
Please note, you can submit your application through our digital form or as a short video.
Are the forms and Application Guide available in Nepali?
Yes, the form and Application Guide/FAQs will be available in Nepali as well.
Is there a cost to participating in the Programme?
No. There is no charge to apply for or (if selected) to attend any of the Programme activities. Placement will be made strictly through our In Our Hands Programme call, application and selection process.
What is included in the grant/showcase opportunity?
6 projects will receive financial awards to help pilot/prototype their ideas. They will have access to various additional resources and support from all partners.
How will you use my personal information?
The personal information of applicants will only be used for processing of application and profiling of the selected participants.
What about intellectual property? Who owns my / our ideas if we participate in ‘In our hands’ Programme?
Participants on the programme are not required to share, transfer or assign their IP with or to organisers or project partners. Those applying to work alongside or with others (e.g. organisations, institutions and communities) should have the required permissions in place in advance of joining the Programme. We will follow the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s protection afforded to traditional knowledge for this Programme.
Similarly, placement in the programme does not grant any participant the right to use any IP associated with the Programme partners, organisers and funders.