Rural Energy Development Programme

REDP aims to enhance rural livelihoods and preserve the natural environment by supporting the sustainable development of rural energy systems.

This programme promotes an integrated approach to sustainable rural energy development to bring about an improved quality of life and a restoration of the natural environment, which will lead to the overall development of rural communities. To achieve this, REDP

• promotes indigenous human capacity building,
• supports institution development at the central, district and community levels,
• promotes technology development, and
• adopts a multi-sectoral approach to rural energy development.

REDP believes that energy is of little interest in itself . But it is an essential ingredient for socio-economic development. Therefore, the objective of rural energy systems should be to provide energy for reducing drudgery (specially for women), conserving and utilizing resources, generating employment and increasing income (Figure 2).

One of the major activities of REDP is to link up rural energy planning with the participatory village and district planning and development process. This is important for identification of potential community-based energy development initiatives, preparation of the VDC and district level energy development plans and involvement of the local bodies, government agencies and communities in rural energy development. This will also enable REDP to facilitate the mobilization of available resources with the DDCs, VDCs and government line agencies.