Our Story
The story begins in 1986, when the late Dr. Harihar Dev Pant, then a senior officer with Nepal Rastra Bank, visited Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. The visit inspired him to found NIRDHAN ("People Without Money") in 1991, which began microfinance operations in March 1993. To reach the unmet demand across the country, Nirdhan Utthan was established in November 1998 under the Company Act, licensed by Nepal Rastra Bank in April 1999, and took over all microfinance operations from the NGO in July 1999. Today it operates under the Bank and Financial Institutions Act 2017. We follow group lending based on the Grameen Bank model and our own Self-Reliant Group model — alongside non-financial services: financial literacy, skill and entrepreneurship training, maternity support, scholarships, and relief during natural calamities and critical illness.
At a Glance
Vision
An MFI with a social conscience enabling the poor to contribute equally to a prosperous, self-reliant rural society — reducing poverty in Nepal.
Mission
Extend financial services and social awareness to the poor in under-served and un-served areas of Nepal, in a sustainable manner.
Goal
Reach the maximum number of poor households sustainably, build a well-managed institution, and enhance women's self-respect through financial participation.
Board of Directors
Seven members: two from individual promoters, two institutional, two public shareholders, one independent. The board meets at least 12 times a year.
Mr. Hari Krishna Pant
Mr. Devendra Bahadur Raut
Mr. Top Bahadur Rayamajhi
Ms. Samrita Tiwari
Mr. Santosh Kumar Bhattarai
Mr. Niraj Kumar Basnet Danil
Mr. Krishna Kumar Pradhan
Management
Six departments at the Central Office: Loan · HRM & Training · Operation & IT · Internal Audit · Account, Fund Management & Planning · General Administration.
Mr. Narayan Bahadur Karki
Mr. Gokarna Prasad Upadhaya
Mr. Narayan Prasad Neupane
Who We Serve
New clients for group-based services meet these targeting criteria:
- Own less than 0.25 ha irrigated (or 0.5 ha un-irrigated) land per five-person family
- House without cement walls or concrete ceiling
- Permanent resident of the working area
- No family member employed in the formal sector
