In March 2024, the LPED/GRAPE programme piloted the Mini-PACA approach, an abridged version of the Participatory Appraisal of Competitive Advantage (PACA), in Himali (Bajura) and Simkot (Humla) rural municipalities. Mini-PACA is an inclusive and participatory tool that provides a quick and intensive analysis of the local economy to identify competitive economic sub-sectors with current or future potential in just 5-6 days, half the time of a full PACA exercise.

Simkot identified indigenous crops, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), and tourism as key sectors for economic development. Himali focused on MAPs, livestock farming (goats/sheep), and potato farming. This exercise helped identify project interventions to tap into the opportunities of these sectors, enabling the sustainable economic promotion of these municipalities.