Women’s empowerment through renewable energy-powered lift irrigation systems in Bhutan (WERELIS – Bhutan)

Organisers: Department of Energy, Royal Government of Bhutan, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

About the event

This meeting brings together key stakeholders, including government representatives from energy, agriculture, water, infrastructure development, and the private sector to review the Women’s empowerment through renewable energy-powered lift irrigation systems in Bhutan (WERELIS – Bhutan)  project progress, discuss preliminary findings, provide strategic guidance on technical and policy aspects, strengthen collaboration for the next phase of implementation, and build the technical capacity to adopt sustainable, gender-responsive approaches to food security and irrigation in Bhutan.

This Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting represents a critical strategic milestone in advancing renewable energy-powered lift irrigation systems in Bhutan from project-level implementation toward a nationally coordinated, scalable programme.

Objective of the PAC Meeting

The 3rd Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting will bring together key stakeholders, including government representatives from energy, agriculture, water, infrastructure development, and the private sector. The main objectives of this meeting are:

• To assess the project progress for the period January-December 2025
• To highlight key challenges and learnings from the project
• To review the 2026 project implementation plan
• To provide strategic guidance and recommendations for scaling the work initiated by this project in Bhutan

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 gross domestic product (GDP) has steadily declined in recent years due to 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) 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, 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 leadership roles in the RE-powered lift irrigation sector.