Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs through Appropriate Horticultural Interventions in Nepal (YUVA) conducted its project inception and staff orientation workshop on 14^th to 16^th June, 2023 at Sandhikharka-6, Narapani. YUVA project is one of the projects supported by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture, led by University of California Davis and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Forum for Rural Welfare and Agricultural Reform for Development (FORWARD Nepal) is the lead implementation partner for the project, while Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is the consortium and co-financing partner. Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), National Farmers' Group Federation (NFGF), and three local governments - Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City, Sandhikharka Municipality and Buddhabhumi Municipality are the collaborators of the project.

YUVA project inception and staff orientation workshop was conducted for three days, where the opening program (14^th June) had the gracious presence of Mayors and other representatives from Tulsipur Sub-metropolitan City, Sandhikharka Municipality and Buddhabhumi Municipality; representative from Agriculture and Land Management Ministry, Lumbini Province; President and members of National Farmers' Group Federation; representative from KSSC, along with staff from implementing partners Welthungerhilfe and FORWARD Nepal. The objectives of the workshop were:

• To define roles and responsibilities among the team members of the implementing partners, develop a detailed project plan, and build a shared vision among all stakeholders
• To introduce team members and concerned project stakeholders, orient employees to their roles and reporting requirements, and provide an overview of policies and procedures of organization to the newly hired employees.