Empower Generation’s pilot project supports the efforts of Sita Adhikari—a community leader in East Chitwan, Nepal. Sita has founded Kalpavriksha Greater Goods (KGG)—a small business selling renewable energy technology (RET) and creating a market for locally produced goods. KGG's mission is to improve standards of living in the community by increasing energy access and enabling income generation.

KGG is currently selling 3 solar PV products to increase energy security for Chitwan without grid connection. EG supports Sita with business and solar technical training, inventory, and support to grow a scalable business. EG has also seeded a Renewable Energy Fund (REF) at the local women’s savings and credit cooperative to offer low-interest loans so KGG customers can afford the upfront cost of going solar.

WHY Nepal, Women, & Energy?

Poverty leads to taking risks that end in human trafficking and the destruction of natural resources. Women comprise 70% of the world’s poor, and suffer most from these issues.

Worldwide, 2 billion people lack access to reliable energy—the pulse of human progress. As a result, each day women and girls spend up to 9 hours collecting firewood, and smoke inhalation kills around 2 million women and children every year. 

Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries. Most of the population struggles to procure basic services, energy being one of the most critical. As a result, people spend up to 40% of their income on dirty, dangerous and inefficient sources of energy. Inequitable and unsustainable resource use, the effects of a growing population and deforestation are forcing rural poor to migrate for survival.

Women hold the key to solving Nepal’s energy crisis and raising the standard of living. Nepal’s women are well organized at the community level, operating savings and credit cooperatives that provide vital loans for income generation, health and education. Already serving as the country’s household energy managers, women are positioned to lead Nepal’s renewable energy revolution, as well as benefit most directly from clean, sustainable  sources of energy. Empower Generation's model unleashes this opportunity.