Singapore, 1 November 2018 (Thursday) – Lotus Life Foundation, a charitable organisation in Singapore, has pledged a term contribution of $3 million to SMU’s Lien Centre for Social Innovation (Lien Centre) to strengthen the local capabilities in Nepal so as to drive programmes that tackle poverty in entrepreneurial and innovative ways.

Called “The Lotus Initiative”, Lien Centre and Lotus Life Foundation will implement a multi-pronged social innovation and entrepreneurship development partnership involving different stakeholders over five years. Amongst other plans, the Initiative aims to develop skills and build a core network of partners and practitioners in Nepal to support the capability building work; engage SMU faculty and students, social purpose organisations, social innovators and entrepreneurs, and other multi-sector partners and professionals to contribute towards social betterment in Nepal; and support and develop long-term socioeconomic benefits to local communities in Nepal through expertise transfer and development.

Mr Nirmal Singh, Chairman of Lotus Life Foundation, and SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer signed the gift agreement at SMU today. Also present at the event were senior management and staff from SMU and Lotus Life Foundation.

Mr Singh said, “The Lotus Initiative will add strength to the local capabilities in Nepal to develop and nurture local talent and build core network of business, social and apolitical organisations to drive programmes that tackle rural poverty in effective and entrepreneurial ways. We are hopeful that with SMU assistance, The Lotus Initiative will support and develop long term socioeconomic benefits to vulnerable groups in Nepal, especially in the rural communities and beyond, through expertise transfer and development, where feasible and appropriate, to existing projects that are in implementation stage in the communities.

“This initiative will also immensely enrich SMU students and faculty involved with experience in effectively dealing with problems faced by the lesser privileged section of society living in harsh conditions which then can be applied in other countries. This will also foster stronger socioeconomic relations between Singapore and Nepal.”

Professor Arnoud De Meyer said, “SMU is committed to educational endeavours that make the world better. We do so by developing graduates and partnerships that are both capable of, and responsive to, solving complex problems and making a positive difference to humanity. I am pleased that we have found a common vision with Lotus Life Foundation in an initiative that seeks to build capacity, support solutions and transform lives through social innovation and entrepreneurship development.

“The Lotus Initiative will encourage faculty and students from SMU and Nepal to work in partnership with other sectors, industries and cultures on real-life and complex issues, enhancing the impact of what SMU does on so many levels. We are grateful that the Initiative will give SMU students added opportunity to develop international experience and take them on an educational journey that is enriching, relevant and life-changing.”

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, a suite of six interconnected programmes will be conducted. They are:

• Appointment of Practice Fellows with the relevant skills and experience to work with local stakeholders to produce well-informed recommendations and interventions for improving rural livelihood.

• Boot camp training in Nepal to develop skills and knowledge in social innovation and entrepreneurship.

• Identification and provision of assistance, through experts and local stakeholders, to develop technological capabilities for improving rural livelihood.

• Identification and provision of assistance, through experts and local stakeholders, in areas such as rural entrepreneurship development and product development to improve rural livelihood.

• Support for SMU faculty to develop research as well as curriculum and resources related to rural entrepreneurial development in Nepal through SMU’s unique SMU-X experiential courses in which students work with stakeholder clients to improve business processes, productivity and connectivity.

• Development of dynamic monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track and report on the outcomes of the programmes, and to produce useful evidence-based insights to share with the wider community of practitioners.

Mr Jonathan Chang, Executive Director of the Lien Centre said, “Partnering with Lotus Life Foundation to provide practical training and other forms of support to local stakeholders to advance their capabilities in addressing social issues is only the first step in a continuing effort to improve livelihoods in rural Nepal. To ensure lasting and sustainable improvements in the community, key stakeholders and local organisations will need to actively participate in the conversation, develop innovative multi-sector solutions, and collaboratively work towards a more resilient and prosperous society.”

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Photo caption: Mr Nirmal Singh (3rd from left), Chairman of Lotus Life Foundation, presented the cheque to SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer (2nd from right). With them were Professor Steven Miller (extreme right), Vice Provost (Research), SMU, as well as Ms Deepa Hingorani (2^nd from left) and Mr C.P. Khetan (extreme left), Board Directors of Lotus Life Foundation.

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