More power to women: The WERELIS project's impact on livelihood, communities, and policy

Despite Bhutan’s abundant water resources, only about 20% of agricultural land has access to irrigation. The country's rugged terrain creates significant physical and structural challenges for developing and maintaining irrigation systems. Climate change exacerbates these issues, threatening livelihoods and placing an increasing burden on women, who play a central role in agricultural production. In response, Bhutan is prioritising climate-resilient technologies, including renewable energy-powered lift irrigation systems such as solar PV pumping. These solutions can expand access to irrigation water, improve agricultural productivity, reduce drudgery and decrease reliance on fossil fuels.

 

The Women's Empowerment through Renewable Energy Powered Lif Irrigation Systems (WERELIS) project (2023–2026) was established to address irrigation water insecurity through renewable energy-powered irrigation systems, while contributing to Bhutan's transition towards a low-carbon and inclusive energy future.  

 

This booklet captures what changed through the project. It brings together the experiences of women farmers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, government officials and educators, alongside evidence of changes in livelihoods, communities, institutions and policy. It also highlights lessons for the future: what has worked, what challenge remain, and what these experiences can teach us about scaling RE–powered irrigation to build more resilient mountain livelihoods in Bhutan and the wider Hindu Kush Himalaya.