Digital Roadmap Program: Training Workshop Empowers Dhangadi Entrepreneurs

Dhangadi, February 2026 — Open Knowledge Nepal’s Digital Roadmap Program recently concluded an intensive two-day training workshop in Dhangadi, bringing together 24 local entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. The workshop equipped participants with practical digital skills and tools to help them grow their businesses in Nepal’s evolving digital economy.

Building Digital Confidence from the Ground Up

The workshop was built around a simple but important idea: knowing about digital tools and actually knowing how to use them are two very different things. Each session was hands-on and grounded in the real challenges that entrepreneurs in Dhangadi face every day.

Day One focused on foundations. Participants assessed their digital readiness and learned how to establish a professional online presence, including the key differences between personal and business profiles and how to identify where their customers are most active online. Afternoon sessions moved into content creation and customer communication, helping entrepreneurs understand not just what to post, but how to craft content that genuinely attracts customers and builds trust. The day also included an important session on digital safety, covering how to spot scams, avoid common online threats, and understand the basic legal considerations of running a business online.

Day Two shifted toward implementation. Morning sessions covered digital marketplaces such as Daraz and HamroBazar, payment systems like eSewa and Khalti, and the basics of logistics and order management. A dedicated fraud prevention session used real scam examples from Nepal to help participants recognize fake payments, apply verification steps, and maintain proper business records. In the afternoon, each participant developed a personalized three-week Digital Roadmap, a clear action plan with defined goals and practical steps, refined through peer feedback.

More Than Just Training

What makes this program different is the support that follows the workshop. Ten selected entrepreneurs will be paired with trained youth volunteers for eighteen days of hands-on mentorship, helping them put their plans into practice. The facilitation team included Nikesh Balami, Nhasala Joshi, Priya Lamichhane, Aayush Awasthi, and James Shrestha, each bringing complementary expertise across digital skills, content creation, legal awareness, and logistics.

Pre- and post-training surveys showed a clear improvement in participants’ confidence. Many highlighted the value of learning alongside fellow entrepreneurs facing similar challenges, describing the experience as practical, supportive, and motivating.

Looking Forward

Participants left with certificates, personalized Digital Roadmaps, and a new network of peers. The ten mentorship participants will now work with youth volunteers to bring their digital plans to life. Their experiences will also feed into an open-access Digital Roadmap Toolkit that other organizations and communities across Nepal can use to replicate this model.

This workshop is a step toward ensuring Nepal’s digital growth reaches beyond Kathmandu and creates real opportunities in cities like Dhangadi.

The Digital Roadmap Program is an initiative by Open Knowledge Nepal, supported under the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) South Asia. Learn more about the project here.