Impact of Cross border Electricity trade on livelihoods and Gender Concerns

ABOUT PROJECT

Cross Border Electricity Trade (CBET) in the South Asian region has brought in a sense of shared benefits and prosperity amongst the neighbouring countries. Increased cross border energy co-operation among Bhutan, India and Nepal, including cross border electricity trading, technology transfer and large scale investment of Indian companies in hydropower sector in Bhutan and Nepal has resulted in the increased Gross Domestic Product, employment generation and other socio economic benefits apart its contribution in bridging the demand supply gap.

In case of South Asia, there have been studies highlighting the overall socio-economic benefits to the local communities due to regional energy cooperation. However, little emphasis has been laid on the impact of CBET on livelihood generation and gender upliftment of the local population. Therefore, there is a need to effectively assess such existing benefits and advocate for further potential benefits through CBET in the BBIN region. Given this context, CUTS International with support from Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), New Delhi and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is implementing a project with focus on Impact of Cross Border Electricity Trade on Livelihood and Gender Concerns (focussing on India, Nepal and Bhutan) and disseminate the findings by organising a regional workshop in August, 2017, in Delhi.