[{"bbox": [82, 106, 1147, 187], "category": "Text", "text": "mechanisms for different types of energy infrastructure more inclusive and sustainable, including Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), which has been recognised as one of the main factors influencing development outcomes in Nepal¹⁰."}, {"bbox": [72, 227, 327, 257], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [82, 273, 626, 301], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Short problem analysis: Climate issues relating to energy**"}, {"bbox": [82, 312, 1136, 470], "category": "Text", "text": "Nepal's energy mix is categorised into three folds: traditional, commercial, and alternative energy sources. Traditional sources are fuel wood, agricultural residues, and animal dung, whereas commercial sources are fossil fuels and electricity. Alternative energy sources include micro-hydro, solar, wind, and biogas. Electricity is largely generated from hydropower. Although the energy mix has been changing slowly, the share of traditional energy resources still dominates the energy mix with more than 60%, while renewable energy resources contribute a low share of about 3%."}, {"bbox": [82, 482, 1136, 592], "category": "Text", "text": "Climate change and subsequent changes in weather and precipitation patterns, as well as impact on glaciers will imply changes in water resources, and thus on the hydropower generation. Current plans include a measure of climate-proofing, as well as focus on power storage in addition to power generation in order to create a more stable supply between wet and dry seasons."}, {"bbox": [82, 602, 1136, 842], "category": "Text", "text": "Although Nepal is committed to adopting a low-carbon development pathway, this has to go hand in hand with an increase of energy access among low-income people residing in isolated and remote areas, which is currently very poor. Most of the rural population still relies on traditional sources of energy for cooking and suffers from an energy deficit to meet their increasing demands. Since the burden of providing energy to fulfil their household needs fall disproportionately on women, who spend a significant amount of their time and effort in collecting fuel, increasing their time poverty and creating opportunity costs, taking them away from employment, education and other opportunities¹¹. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the electrification status in the country has progressed significantly over the past few years, with national electricity access increasing from 93% in 2021 to 94% in 2022. As of mid-March 2024, access to electricity across the country has reached 97.6% (Economic Survey, 2023/24)."}, {"bbox": [82, 853, 1136, 1090], "category": "Text", "text": "The government has given a high priority to the development of energy infrastructure to build the foundation for productive sectors such as agriculture and industries, contribute to high economic growth, and improve climate resilience and the living conditions of people particularly among the most marginalised persons and groups. This is especially relevant in the in Pokhara-Butwal-Bharatpur triangle, which is a strategically located region, in view of its huge potential to contribute to the economic transformation of Nepal thanks to proximity to India, connection to Kathmandu, and high tourism potential. Butwal has also a designated Special Economic Zone and is the heart of a number of manufacturing industries. Moreover, this region has an electrification rate above 90%, therefore, there is a good potential for rapid growth in per capita electricity consumption by strengthening the electricity distribution network."}, {"bbox": [82, 1106, 1136, 1159], "category": "Text", "text": "Identification of main stakeholders and corresponding institutional and/or organisational issues (mandates, potential roles, and capacities) to be covered by the action:"}, {"bbox": [82, 1171, 1136, 1306], "category": "Text", "text": "The Action's stakeholders are the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), provincial (Lumbini, Gandaki and Bagmati) and local Governments, banks, publicly owned enterprises, private sector companies, chamber associations, public utilities and in extension both the consumers of the industrial products and services as well as the employees of the entities, the National Women Commission (NWC) on gender equality and women's empowerment (GE and WE)."}, {"bbox": [82, 1316, 1136, 1395], "category": "Text", "text": "As Right holders: Women groups, such as the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN) Gender/GESI focal points, NGOs related to gender equality and social inclusion, organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs)."}, {"bbox": [82, 1474, 549, 1502], "category": "Section-header", "text": "**Short problem analysis: Access to reliable energy**"}, {"bbox": [72, 1576, 737, 1603], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁰ Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Assessment of the Energy Sector, ADB"}, {"bbox": [72, 1602, 737, 1627], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹¹ Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Assessment of the Energy Sector, ADB"}, {"bbox": [902, 1627, 1010, 1651], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 22"}]