Seven local governments sign and endorse the “Operations Guideline 2082” of the Daram-Badigad Watershed local inter-government coordination committee in Baglung, Nepal.
Scaling Clean Energy in Nepal’s Highlands: Dissemination Workshop in Pokhara
by: Nisha Jaishwal (Winrock International)
On 2 September 2025, Winrock International hosted a Provincial Dissemination Workshop in Pokhara, bringing together 34 stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector to explore integrated renewable energy solutions in Nepal’s Gandaki Province. The event marked a key milestone in the WISIONS Innovation Lab project, implemented by Winrock in partnership with RECOFTC and PEEDA, with support from the Wuppertal Institute.
Since 2023, the Innovation Lab has piloted decentralized renewable energy (DRE) models in Baglung and Jumla, including micro-hydro grid interconnection, electric cooking, e-mobility, and nature-based solutions for slope stabilization. The Pokhara workshop served to share key findings and build momentum for policy uptake and scale-up.
A pre-feasibility study presented during the event highlighted the potential for electrifying public transport in hilly corridors such as Galkot–Badigad–Nisi, noting both the opportunities and the infrastructural and financing barriers. Another assessment focused on the adoption of electric cooking in schools and small enterprises, emphasizing improved health outcomes, cost savings, and enhanced energy access.
In a panel discussion with representatives from the Nepal Electricity Authority, provincial ministries, micro-hydro cooperatives, and private-sector actors, participants emphasized the importance of ensuring grid readiness for micro-hydro interconnection, developing scalable financing mechanisms for e-cooking, aligning provincial and national policy to support electric mobility, and fostering stronger collaboration between public institutions and private-sector innovators.
Closing the workshop, Badigad Rural Municipality Chairperson Mrs. Gandaki Thapa Adhikari stressed the importance of raising awareness and changing community behaviors to accelerate the adoption of electric cooking and electric mobility. Reflecting on the challenges faced by Grindi and Chanchalghat MHPs in Badigad, she expressed hope that their grid interconnection would soon be unlocking greater benefits for local livelihoods, SMEs, and municipal development. She also pointed to the high cost of public transport, underlining the need for safer and more affordable electric vehicle alternatives, alongside better driver training. In addition, she highlighted waste management as a local priority and called for the Local Government Forum’s active role in addressing it.
The workshop reaffirmed a shared commitment to expanding micro-hydro grid interconnections, deepening collaboration between local governments and private-sector actors, and advancing inclusive, community-led energy transitions across Nepal’s mountain regions.
