IHRR
Apr 03,2025
Kathmandu, November 28, 2024 – A Validation Workshop on Climate-Smart Technology (CST) to Reduce Women’s Drudgery and Time Poverty was held at Hotel Vivanta, Jhamsikhel, organized by the Institute of Himalayan Risk Reduction (IHRR), Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), and UN Women. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE), alongside Ms. Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco Estrada, UN Women Nepal Country Representative, and Mr. Nawa Raj Dhakal, AEPC Executive Director, with 82 participants from various INGOs, NGOs, and development partners.
The event began with opening remarks by Ms. Patricia Fernandez-Pacheco Estrada, Country Representative of UN Women Nepal, which set the tone for the discussion, stressing that “climate justice is women’s justice.” Ms. Estrada emphasized the link between climate justice and women’s justice, highlighting that only 3% of global climate finance is gender-focused.
Mr. Dhakal highlighted the link between energy access and women’s empowerment, noting that energy poverty disproportionately burdens women through tasks like firewood collection and cooking, contributing to 4.3 million annual deaths from household air pollution, with women and girls accounting for 60%, while Dr. Dhungana highlighted the importance of systemic change, capacity-building for women, and ensuring balanced representation in climate negotiations to make sure that climate policies are inclusive.
The technical session featured Er. Suraj Gautam (IHRR) presenting research findings on CSTs reducing women’s workload. Dr. Shikha Thapa Magar (Research Lead) showcased 161 CSTs implemented by organizations such as NARC, LI-BIRD, and CRT-N. She noted that despite technological adoption, women’s agricultural workload remained high due to feminization in the sector. She advocated for better care infrastructure and sustainable investment to enhance impact.
A panel discussion included Mrs. Tika Kumari Pokhrel, a lead female farmer, who shared success with vermicomposting and biopesticides. Dr. Shreemat Shrestha (NARC) highlighted agricultural mechanization solutions like rice transplanters to reduce women’s labor. Dr. Yufang Su (ICIMOD) presented insights from China, stressing that technology alone cannot address gender disparities. Ms. Menila Kharel (Practical Action) called for a “gender-first” approach to climate initiatives. Dr. Anzoo Sharma (CRT-N) emphasized integrating climate finance mechanisms, while Mr. Bimal Regmi (Clim Adapt) advocated for translating policies into actionable solutions.
Ms. Mehtap Tatar (UN Women) underscored the need for gender-responsive policies, linking gender equality with climate resilience in her closing remark. She emphasized the interconnectedness of gender equality, women’s empowerment, care infrastructure, and climate resilience, highlighting the importance of gender-responsive policies and budgeting. Ms. Deepa Oli (MoFE) stressed the importance of implementing GESI policies effectively. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Ms. Pratima KC (AEPC), urging the research team to incorporate workshop recommendations into the final report.
Following the closing session, participants had the opportunity to explore the NARC stall, which featured various women-friendly technologies, including jab planters, monkey Repeller, seed cleaners, weeders, milling machines, and corn shellers. These technologies, some of which were developed by NARC and others imported for testing and commercialization, offered practical and innovative solutions closely aligned with the research objectives. Alongside NARC, CRT-N showcased their model house, adding to the diverse range of insights shared at the workshop.
This workshop successfully brought together key stakeholders from INGOs, NGOs, and CBOs, providing actionable recommendations to shape gender-responsive policies and promote climate-smart technologies, ensuring women’s voices are integral to creating sustainable solutions for Nepal’s climate challenges.
