Gender equality and social inclusion in Nepal’s energy sector

Transforming lives through energy empowerment: By working with the Nepalese Energy Authority (NEA) to improve gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) within the energy sector and among energy users, we can enhance the livelihoods and future prospects of women and marginalized groups in Nepal.

Project status

Active

Project Vision

To strengthen the capacity of the NEA to implement approved strategy, guidelines and actions for gender equality and social inclusion in the energy sector; to increase the capacity of women and marginalized groups to use electricity efficiently and productively – at home and for their businesses; and to ensure last-mile communities have affordable, reliable and clean energy access.

Country

Nepal

The context

The transition to renewable energy has the potential to catalyze sustainable development in Nepal and drive significant improvements in people’s livelihoods.

Communities in Nepal currently rely heavily on biomass and on imported fossil fuels for their energy needs. As of 2018, approximately 69% of Nepalese households still relied on solid fuels, such as firewood, agricultural residues, and dung, for cooking. And while the country has made significant strides in recent years towards electrification (now 99% of the population have some access to electricity) there are still some last-mile communities with no or limited access.

Independent scientific studies have demonstrated that the country could meet all of its own electricity needs – even the potential needs of its neighbors – through solar, hydroelectric and wind power. As such, Nepal has committed to transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Additionally, the country has endorsed a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Strategy to prioritize women’s economic empowerment and participation in society as part of its commitments to the SDGs.

ENERGIA works with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to support both of these targets. We are helping the NEA develop and implement strategies that drive the inclusion of women in the energy sector and we are empowering women entrepreneurship to increase renewable energy solutions in last-mile communities.

Key aims of the project

Enable reliable and efficient electricity for all in the target locations by 2030.
Create new and diverse employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled people in the region, including women and marginalized groups.
Increase the support for women’s enterprise development.
Improve living conditions for local people.

ENERGIA’s key actions

Mainstream gender approaches and social inclusion. This includes assisting the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) with the implementation of a Gender Action Plan to support women and marginalized groups to productively use energy safely and efficiently.
Strengthen the technical capacity of NEA and its staff to address these GESI aspects within NEA’s own operations.
Support the skills development of women and marginalized groups to access new employment opportunities and to identify and create new business opportunities as a result of reliable and better-quality electricity and the expected shift to electric cooking.
Awareness raising on electricity safety, efficiency and productive uses, including the benefits of electric cooking as an alternative to biofuels.

Broader project aims

Reinforce and modernize the power supply system in and around Kathmandu Valley in Bagmati Province.
Strengthen distribution systems outside of Kathmandu where power supply interruptions are frequent and prolonged. This includes one province in particular where around 20% of households are still without access to the national grid. In other regions, power supply interruptions are frequent and prolonged.
Improve the capacity of women to use electricity for energy-based enterprises.