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As International Women’s Day approaches, the stories of Bhawana and Swastika highlight how providing women with technical skills can create new opportunities in sectors traditionally dominated by men. In Nepal’s changing renewable energy landscape, empowering women as technicians, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers is crucial for fostering an inclusive and resilient energy transition.

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme-Green Recovery and Empowerment with Energy in Nepal (REEEP-GREEN) has been actively promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout the country. With the increasing use of renewable energy technologies, there is a growing demand for repair and maintenance services. While some REEEP-GREEN partners have introduced technical training at the community level to build a local workforce, women's participation in such training has been limited, despite being the primary users of household energy technologies. As Nepal's energy sector evolves, it is essential for women to have the technical skills necessary to actively engage in and benefit from the emerging opportunities in the renewable energy services sector.

To address this issue, in December 2025, the project organized a nine-day repair and maintenance training for 17 women in Itahari, in partnership with Women in Energy and Environment (WoNEE). The goal of this training was to equip women with the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to repair, maintain, and manage household electrical appliances, enabling them to transition from end-users to service providers in Nepal's expanding energy sector. By the end of the training, these 17 women were not just following instructions; they were diagnosing complex electrical issues and gaining the confidence to actively participate in the energy value chain.

Let’s hear from those who participated in the program:

Bhawana Niraula, a resident of Itahari, Koshi Province, shared her experience with the training, highlighting a significant change in her daily responsibilities.

"For the past three years, my husband and I have been operating an electronics shop in Itahari. Initially, I focused on sales and customer service while my husband

handled repairs and fieldwork. However, after completing the repair and maintenance training, my role has shifted. During the

nine-day training, I gained knowledge of electrical

connections, troubleshooting, and practical skills for repairing and maintaining various appliances like rice cookers, electric kettles, mixers, and

induction cookstoves. Within a month of completing the training, I successfully repaired six electric jugs and four heaters. Despite heaters not being covered in the course, I applied the same electrical principles to diagnose and fix the issues. The multimeter provided during the training has become an essential tool for me in identifying wiring and connection problems.

During the winter season, I received numerous heaters and electric kettles for repair, which boosted my confidence with each successful repair. Some customers were surprised to see a woman handling repairs, but I proudly displayed my training completion certificate in the shop to assure them of my expertise. After witnessing the quality of my work, customers expressed appreciation and support. I have earned around NPR 1,000 from these repair jobs so far. As these appliances are seasonal, I aim to expand my services to year-round appliances like rice cookers and induction cookstoves. To attract more customers, I plan to install a prominent signboard outside the shop."

Reflecting on her experience, she believes that acquiring technical skills like these can create new opportunities for women, enabling them to achieve greater financial independence while supporting their families. She emphasizes the need for continuous practice to maintain and enhance these skills.

Swostika Dahal, a second-year bachelor’s student from Khanar, Itahari in Koshi Province, had previously assisted her uncle in his electronics shop, primarily focusing on sales. Following the completion of the training, she started applying her newfound skills both at home

and in the shop. "In just a month, I successfully repaired four electric kettles, a rice cooker, and several heaters. I also replaced heating rods in some faulty heaters, eliminating the need to return them to the dealers. I have discovered that heaters are relatively easy to repair, and these repair jobs have already generated some income for me. Currently, it serves as a practical part-time opportunity alongside my studies, but I am also considering pursuing it more seriously in the future. With the upcoming summer season, I anticipate more fans requiring repairs. Although fan repair was not covered in the training, I intend to learn how to fix them by utilizing YouTube videos and online tutorials, applying the foundational concepts I acquired during the training.

While I value the technical skills I have acquired, I also understand the significance of market access. In my opinion, having a shop facilitates better customer connections and further skill development, whereas offering services solely from home may limit outreach."

To address this challenge, Swostika mentioned that a group of trainees has come together informally to practice together. They gather broken appliances and meet at one trainee's house to repair them together, helping each other improve their skills beyond the training period. With the skills and tools acquired during the training, these women are working together to solve problems within their homes and communities.

The training has empowered participants like Bhawana and Swastika to acquire practical technical skills, boost their confidence, and create new income opportunities. They both stressed the importance of longer or advanced training and ongoing practice to further enhance their ability to offer services.

REEEP-GREEN is a technical cooperation project agreed between the Government of Nepal (GoN), the Federal Republic of Germany, and the European Union. The project aims to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Nepal.