Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

SE4ALL Consultation Workshop

Lachana Shresthacharya

Biomass Energy Expert/WEE-Nepal Project

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal

14 June 2015Manila, Philippines

Nepal’s Policy Scenario in Gender and Energy

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

Country Overview : NepalAccess to Modern Energy • Without access to non-solid

fuel-24.6 million people• Use of multiple fuels for

cooking– Over 86.5% households use

firewood – 0.6 % use kerosene and 0.9% use

LPG – Over 7,500 Nepalese women and

children die every year due to indoor air pollution level

– Rural electrification -72%

84%

1% 2% 1%Share RE %, 2010

Traditional biomass Modern biomass Hydro Others

1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 20120

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Access to electricity (% of population)

Nepal opted into SE4ALL in August 2012

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

Major Policy Direction

Limited recognition to inclusion

RE Subsidy Policy 2013 Addresses income related barriers to enable low-income households to use RE technologies

Rural Energy Policy 2006 Addresses rural poverty reduction by ensuring access energy

Three-Year Plan 2007-10

RE Subsidy Policy 2009

Focused on inclusive and equitable development

Three-Year Plan 2010-13

RE Subsidy Delivery Mechanism 2013

Recognizes geographical and social exclusion issues

NRREP Document 2012 Gender mainstreamed in all programme elements

Identifies alternative energy for employment generation & inclusive development

Limited recognition to inclusion

Three-Year Plan 2013-16

Clean Cooking Solution to All by 2017, 2013

Formalized by Government to lower indoor air pollution at households

Focuses economic and social transformation; inclusion of women in government systems

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

Improved Cookstove Programme

• National Biomass Energy Support Programme has disseminated over 700,000 stoves

• CRT/N promoted over 281,000 stoves through various projects and programmes including national programmes

• Women are involved in improved cookstove chain as social mobilisers, stove installers, users and now emerging as entrepreneurs under WEE-Nepal project

• Improved health of women and children due to reduced smoke

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

• Governed by the Nepal Electricity Authority Community Electricity Distribution Byelaws 2003

• Regulation : “gender empowerment adult literacy & awareness”

• Community Rural Electrification Entities own, operate and manage:

• Board members-two are female members but not in the key posts

• Recently productive energy use for income generation and skill-training

Way to Electrification and Productive Use

REDP/RERL

• Complements the Government’s

grid electrification

• 5.5 million people reached

through decentralized energy

systems

• Community mobilization,

participatory planning and

decentralized decision-making

• Productive income generating

activities: end uses of energy,

skill-training to promote

enterprises

Community Rural Electrification

• Increase grid-connected electrification rate

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

Challenges to Energy Access• Geographical location-

road access

• Limited access to finance

• Cost of technology• Awareness

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

Way Forward• Energy a national priority

– Only country with a Rural Energy Policy– Single programme approach in RE sector and is supported by the Government of Nepal

as well as Development Partners

• Decentralised governance– Planning and implementation at district and village level

• Mainstreaming gender and social inclusion into policy and practice – Formulation of 'Gendered Rural Energy Strategy 2011', will be incorporated in Rural Energy

Policy when revised– These priorities integrated in programmes: NRREP has a clear mandate “to improve the

living standard of rural women and men, increase employment of women and men”

• Private sector involvement and investment, including financial institutions– Subsidy policy 2013 addresses income related barriers and prioritise low-income rural

households and women to use renewable energy technologies– Women are encouraged in energy supply chain

• Continued focus on productive end use – Use of energy for income and employment in rural targeting to produce women

entrepreneurs

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)

Thank you!

Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N)Bhanimandal, Lalitpur

G. P.O. Box 3628, Kathmandu, Nepal

Email: info@crtnepal.org

Tel:+977-1-5554758