[{"bbox": [83, 105, 1144, 159], "category": "Text", "text": "frequently to their own sources of power supply using diesel generators, leading to higher imports of fossil fuels in Nepal. Rising imports of electricity and fuel increase the country's trade deficit and the dependence on India."}, {"bbox": [83, 170, 1145, 305], "category": "Text", "text": "The use of renewable energy sources in Nepal is still small although it has increased by more than 50% since 2005. 18% of the population receives electricity from renewable energy sources such as off-grid hydropower plants and solar systems. Even so, around four million households in Nepal still do not have access to clean energy options for cooking, lighting, and heating. There is a lack of accessible technologies for farming. Women and the poorest communities are particularly affected."}, {"bbox": [83, 316, 1146, 450], "category": "Text", "text": "Renewable energy projects in Nepal have been highly subsidised upfront for over two decades, both from the government and international development partners, making ownership and sustainability key challenges. In addition, current subsidy mechanisms in the country are not cost-efficient nor geared towards the financial sustainability of projects. In order to increase private investments in the sector there is a need to demonstrate sustainability, through innovative business models or other appropriate means."}, {"bbox": [83, 461, 1144, 569], "category": "Text", "text": "The federalization process is ongoing with devolution of power to local and provincial governments. This change has provided opportunities and posed challenges especially in the promotion of renewable energy (RE) activities in the rural areas through private sector involvement to shift the paradigm from the subsidy driven approach to commercial led approach."}, {"bbox": [83, 580, 1145, 662], "category": "Text", "text": "The private sector, including financial institutions, lack capacities for driving the market development of RE. Local authorities lack the technical knowledge on energy. Cooperatives and micro-finance institutions are a good entry point to identify and promote clean energy technology products for rural communities."}, {"bbox": [72, 715, 579, 749], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION"}, {"bbox": [101, 778, 501, 810], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 3.1 Objectives and Expected Outputs"}, {"bbox": [83, 821, 1145, 930], "category": "Text", "text": "The Overall Objective (Impact) of this action is to **increase sustainable consumption and production of energy and materials in the public and private sectors**. The action will aim to reduce the carbon footprint of energy in the public and private sectors by promoting both the sustainable and inclusive use of renewable energy and the adoption of energy efficiency practices."}, {"bbox": [83, 953, 582, 981], "category": "Text", "text": "The Specific Objectives (Outcomes) of this action are:"}, {"bbox": [158, 981, 1145, 1035], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**1. Private and public enterprises adopt clean energy and resource efficient practices, and decent work approach**"}, {"bbox": [83, 1034, 1145, 1115], "category": "Text", "text": "Public enterprises will be supported to implement resource efficiency measures with significant savings potential, following a circular economy and decent work approach. The benefits of the measures in the public sector will serve as demonstration of concept to develop business cases for interventions in the private sector."}, {"bbox": [158, 1139, 1145, 1195], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**2. Increased private sector investment into inclusive expansion of RE and EE with a focus on women and disadvantaged groups**"}, {"bbox": [83, 1193, 1145, 1299], "category": "Text", "text": "The action will support/complement two mechanisms on both the supply and demand side: it will support the government's market-based incentive mechanism (challenge-fund) with technical assistance, it will facilitate Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) with Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs)/Cooperatives to promote clean energy products. It will also be supported with technical assistance, improving the quality of the investments and broadening access."}, {"bbox": [83, 1325, 953, 1352], "category": "Text", "text": "The Outputs to be delivered by this action contributing to Outcome 1 (or Specific Objective 1):"}, {"bbox": [158, 1352, 1145, 1406], "category": "List-item", "text": "1.1 Public enterprises (state and community owned industries and utilities) have identified and implemented economically advantageous resource efficiency measures. (\"proof of concept\")"}, {"bbox": [158, 1405, 828, 1432], "category": "List-item", "text": "1.2 Follow-on private investment mechanisms for EE are conceptualised."}, {"bbox": [83, 1458, 565, 1485], "category": "Text", "text": "contributing to Outcome 2 (or Specific Objective 2):"}, {"bbox": [158, 1485, 1145, 1539], "category": "List-item", "text": "2.1 Market-based incentive mechanisms for investment in clean energy are established and are accessed by private sector with a special target on groups living in vulnerable situations and women."}, {"bbox": [158, 1539, 1145, 1587], "category": "List-item", "text": "2.2 Loans for RE technologies are made available to end-users in rural and semi-urban areas, including a focus on women."}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1157, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 7 of 20"}]