Over 60 hydropower professionals in Nepal are benefiting from training on the Hydropower Sustainability Standard thanks to a new partnership between the International Hydropower Association’s (IHA) Sustainability Team and the Nepal Hydropower Association.
Supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and in association with Bizbell, the training will support the hydropower industry in the country in implementing the standard to improve project performance and attract green finance. It is hoped that the Nepal Hydropower Association will eventually become a centre of excellence for sustainable hydropower development in South Asia.
Starting with Certified User training, the partnership will lead a programme of work including training courses, workshops on key sustainability issues and an assessment of a hydropower project using the internationally recognised Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
Through this programme, professionals across Nepal will learn how to measure and upgrade the sustainability performance of hydropower projects and make informed choices throughout a project’s life cycle.
The Secretary of Nepal’s Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire said: "The ministry will put our best efforts to support the implementation of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and I hope the Standard will be instrumental in fulfilling our sustainable development goals.”
“We are excited to be partnering with NHA to make Nepal a model for sustainable hydropower development in the region. Our collaboration aims to train local professionals to identify and support socially and environmentally responsible hydropower projects,” said Alain Kilajian, Senior Sustainability Specialist at IHA. “This is a crucial time for the Nepalese hydropower sector, and we hope our partnership can help bring long-term benefits not only to local communities affected by these projects but also to the wider Nepalese society.”
