Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal

Social norms are often put forward to explain resistance to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and women continue to be largely absent from decision-making positions in the energy sector worldwide. However, there is limited research on the institutional mechanisms of policy-making and impl...

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Autores principales: Buchy, Marlene, Shakya, Shristi
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131999
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author Buchy, Marlene
Shakya, Shristi
author_browse Buchy, Marlene
Shakya, Shristi
author_facet Buchy, Marlene
Shakya, Shristi
author_sort Buchy, Marlene
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Social norms are often put forward to explain resistance to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and women continue to be largely absent from decision-making positions in the energy sector worldwide. However, there is limited research on the institutional mechanisms of policy-making and implementation at different scales within a federal system. Using Nepal as a case study, this paper explores why, despite commitments, progress toward GESI objectives in the energy sector has been slow. Based on a review of energy policies, and interviews at federal, provincial and local government spheres, this paper focuses on the institutional and policy processes at play within the energy sector and between the three spheres of the federal system (the national, provincial and local). It examines the extent to which these processes undermine the implementation of inclusion policy. Understanding the broader institutional processes helps to identify different types of bottlenecks compromising progress in GESI: those which are linked to deficient policy regimes which cannot be addressed solely through additional GESI-focused interventions, and those which can be characterized as resistant to GESI-related issues. The aim of this research is also to understand why Nepal’s public energy institutions, despite a constitutional commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination based on caste, class, ethnicity and religion, seem so reluctant to mainstream GESI within its policies and practice. The paper concludes that GESI implementation in the energy sector suffers from limited human resources, a narrow conceptual framing and delays in policy development and implementation within different spheres of the federal system. Moreover, shortcomings related to GESI policy-making and implementation should be considered within the broader context of federalism. Therefore, to support GESI policy implementation, bureaucratic as well as local-level ownership of the concept and its relevance for sustainable development must be developed and strengthened.
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spelling CGSpace1319992025-10-26T12:52:03Z Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal Buchy, Marlene Shakya, Shristi energy policies gender equality social inclusion decision making women institutions political aspects federalism bureaucracy government Social norms are often put forward to explain resistance to gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), and women continue to be largely absent from decision-making positions in the energy sector worldwide. However, there is limited research on the institutional mechanisms of policy-making and implementation at different scales within a federal system. Using Nepal as a case study, this paper explores why, despite commitments, progress toward GESI objectives in the energy sector has been slow. Based on a review of energy policies, and interviews at federal, provincial and local government spheres, this paper focuses on the institutional and policy processes at play within the energy sector and between the three spheres of the federal system (the national, provincial and local). It examines the extent to which these processes undermine the implementation of inclusion policy. Understanding the broader institutional processes helps to identify different types of bottlenecks compromising progress in GESI: those which are linked to deficient policy regimes which cannot be addressed solely through additional GESI-focused interventions, and those which can be characterized as resistant to GESI-related issues. The aim of this research is also to understand why Nepal’s public energy institutions, despite a constitutional commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination based on caste, class, ethnicity and religion, seem so reluctant to mainstream GESI within its policies and practice. The paper concludes that GESI implementation in the energy sector suffers from limited human resources, a narrow conceptual framing and delays in policy development and implementation within different spheres of the federal system. Moreover, shortcomings related to GESI policy-making and implementation should be considered within the broader context of federalism. Therefore, to support GESI policy implementation, bureaucratic as well as local-level ownership of the concept and its relevance for sustainable development must be developed and strengthened. 2023-10 2023-09-26T04:27:33Z 2023-09-26T04:27:33Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131999 en Limited Access Elsevier Buchy, Marlene; Shakya, Shristi. 2023. Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal. Energy for Sustainable Development, 76:101297. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2023.101297]
spellingShingle energy policies
gender equality
social inclusion
decision making
women
institutions
political aspects
federalism
bureaucracy
government
Buchy, Marlene
Shakya, Shristi
Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
title Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
title_full Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
title_fullStr Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
title_short Understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector: the case of Nepal
title_sort understanding the gap between the gender equality and social inclusion policy and implementation in the energy sector the case of nepal
topic energy policies
gender equality
social inclusion
decision making
women
institutions
political aspects
federalism
bureaucracy
government
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/131999
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