Between 2021 and 2025, the ADB TA 6526 NEP project demonstrated that electrification becomes transformative when it purposefully integrates Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles and approaches. The project reached electricity to 1,300 previously unelectrified households, supported 403 entrepreneurs (primarily women and disadvantaged groups) to create new business opportunities and strengthen existing business ventures through improved productive use of energy, and helped institutionalize GESI within the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). This document synthesizes critical lessons learned from the field to guide future electrification efforts that truly empower women and disadvantaged communities.
Lighting the Path to Empowerment: A Model for GESI Responsive Electrification
