Rural Community Electrification with Water Mill and Micro Enterprise Development in Nepal

The project has been executing with getting financial support from EnDev/GIZ and SNV/N and strategic support from Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC). The main aim of the project is to provide basic lighting service to the people of remote hilly areas where no any means of electricity supply.  Initially the programme has been started with piloting of four projects in Kavre districts in 2013. From the successful implementation of first piloting sites, the programme was replicated 12 more sites in Sindhuli, Makawanpur and Dhading districts during the period of 2014 – 16. Besides the supply of electricity, the programme provided additional service in the sector of economic activities through promotion of small scale micro enterprises based on the use of mechanical and electrical energy. The programme has been able to change the livelihood of rural people through basic lighting services and economic and employment activities though establishment and operation of micro enterprises. Various type of business like restaurants, guest houses, poultry farming, shops, tailoring, saw milling etc. were established.

From the positive impact of existing sixteen projects, various new demands were reported through district level local partner agencies. Then the programme further extended for the establishment of 20 more sites within the period of May 2016 – April 2017. The programme keeps the objective for providing basic lighting services to 5400 beneficiaries through establishment of 20 IWME sites having gross capacity of 60 kW. The programme will establish 40 small microenterprises including one mechanical and one electrical energy based in 20 IWME sites. The programme has been able to collect numerous demands from new districts and the programme extended to six districts Kavre, Dhading, Makawanpur, Sindhuli Khotang and Nawalparasi.