Women’s Empowerment through Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan

Agenda

Background

Agriculture remains the backbone of Bhutan’s rural economy, employing nearly 40% of the population—of whom women constitute the majority. Despite its vital role, the sector’s contribution to GDP has steadily declined in recent years due to a confluence of climatic, environmental, and socio-economic challenges. One of the most pressing issues is the limited extent of irrigated land: currently, only 20% of Bhutan’s cultivable land is irrigated, creating a significant bottleneck to agricultural productivity and food self-sufficiency.

Due to the country’s rugged terrain, many areas require water to be lifted from lower altitudes—posing both logistical challenges and opportunities. With an abundance of fast-flowing rivers and a strong renewable energy base, Bhutan is well-positioned to explore innovative, decentralised, renewable energy (RE)-powered lift irrigation systems.

However, the planning and implementation of such systems often lack an inclusive lens. Gender considerations—particularly the active involvement and empowerment of women and marginalised groups—are frequently overlooked. This omission limits the transformative potential of renewable energy in agriculture and exacerbates existing social inequalities.

To address these challenges, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Department of Energy (DoE), Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB), is implementing the Women’s Empowerment through Renewable Energy-Powered Lift Irrigation Systems in Bhutan (WERELIS – Bhutan) project, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. The project aims to empower women by increasing reliable access to water for agriculture through gender-responsive, RE-powered lift irrigation systems. This will ensure long-term food security, enhance gender equality, and support Bhutan’s transition to an inclusive, low-carbon energy future. The project seeks to build the technical capacity of policymakers to adopt sustainable, gender-responsive approaches to food security and irrigation. It also focuses on empowering women as agents of change by equipping them with the skills and resources needed to access new employment opportunities, increase income, and take on leadership roles in the RE-powered lift irrigation sector.

Objectives

The second Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting will bring together key stakeholders, including government representatives and the private sector to:

• Review progress made since the inception of the project
• Discuss preliminary findings and insights from the field
• Provide strategic guidance on technical and policy aspects
• Strengthen collaboration for the next phase of implementation
• Visit solar pumping project site in Nepal.