Programme Strategy 

Nepal, Renewable World’s strategic base for our South Asia Programme has a population of nearly 30 million people, and 77% of the population live on less than $2 per day, with over 50% living on less than $1.25 per day. Fewer than 50% of households have access to electricity, and the vast majority of hill and mountain communities still rely on collecting water manually from distant sources.

Renewable World’s South Asia strategy focuses on addressing the specific issues faced by poor people in this northern and most mountainous part of the region – extreme geographical isolation, large climatic seasonal fluctuations, varying forms of social exclusion, changing economic circumstances and an increasing risk of flash floods. These challenges largely stem from the topography of this mountainous region but are, and will continue to be, exaggerated as climate change continues to affect global ecosystems.

Political instability in Nepal in the recent past has also limited both the national provision of energy service infrastructure and the stimulation of renewable energy manufacturing and distribution facilities The Nepalese government, in collaboration with the UN, now has ambitious rural electrification aims but these will still be challenged to provide the poorest and most isolated villages with affordable modern energy services.

Given this context, Renewable World targets the most isolated and disadvantaged communities and aims to catalyse micro-economies through the provision of affordable, community based renewable energy services. We focus on getting the right technology into these challenging locations and ensure, as far as possible, that  renewable energy services meet a range of basic needs – from cooking and lighting to water and productive opportunities.