NEXUS Gains Talk 15: Gender and Energy: Measures to accelerate equity and social inclusion in South Asia’s rural energy transition

Abstract

Access by women and marginalized groups to clean energy services and green technologies remains constrained by women’s social position and gender norms as well as gender-blind energy policies and institutions. The cost to women’s well-being and rural economic growth from inequitable access, policies, and institutions are considerable but seldom assessed. This NEXUS Gains Talk assesses reasons for the gender and energy conundrum, discusses learnings from case studies on inclusive energy access, and presents recommendations to improve equity and inclusion in energy access in India and Nepal.