NEF facilitated the formation of the National Mini/Micro Hydro Users Society (NAMHUS) Nepal, a national network representing micro-hydropower users across the country. NAMHUS currently has 125 Micro Hydro Projects (MHPs) as members and provides a platform to collectively address common challenges, share experiences, and raise the voices of MHP users. The network promotes sustainability and effective operation of MHPs through capacity building, technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy. NAMHUS also supports MHPs in addressing technical challenges, including grid synchronization and interconnection. Through this network, NEF strengthens local ownership, institutional capacity, energy security, and sustainable decentralized renewable energy development in Nepal.

NEF facilitated the formation of the Women Network for Energy and Environment (WoNEE) and continues to support its institutional strengthening and expansion. Established on 3 September 2017, WoNEE aims to institutionalize women’s engagement in the energy and environment sector and enhance their participation in policy processes and decision-making. WoNEE has a presence across all seven provinces of Nepal, with more than 100 local networks. Through its grassroots network and social mobilization capacity, WoNEE promotes women’s economic empowerment, meaningful participation in energy-related decision-making, and gender-responsive energy policies. It also provides a platform to mainstream gender equality and women’s priorities within Nepal’s energy sector.

Nepal Energy Foundation (NEF) played a crucial role in grid connection of 68 kW Jhumsa Khola III MHP (JK3) in November 2024 by establishing Jhumsa Khola III Micro Hydropower Generation Cooperative (JK-3 Cooperative), providing technical and capacity building support to it, coordinating between stakeholders for fund mobilization, especially engaging Nepal Renewable Energy Program (NREP) and the Local Government to this initiative. JK3 being the first MHP that is connected to grid through NREP’s Sustainable Energy Challenge Fund (SECF), it is an important achievement in supporting the sustainability of Micro Hydro Projects. NEF’s support in sustainability of JK3 is beyond grid connection, as it is supporting JK3 cooperative in different avenues in collaboration with the umbrella organization of micro hydro users: NAMHUS (National Mini/Micro Hydro Users Society Nepal) such as transmission and distribution infrastructure upgradation, management capacity enhancement, facilitation for relevant policy formulation, and promotion of productive end uses using locally available raw materials (saal leaf plate production, beekeeping, and e-cooking).

NEF has supported grid interconnection of 75 kW Giringdi Khola MHP in November 2025 through mobilization of viability gap funding of Sustainable Energy Challenge Fund (SECF) of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre. By providing technical, capacity building, and policy formulation support to the Giringdi Khola Micro Hydro Cooperative, NEF has supported the sustainability of Giringdi Khola Micro Hydro Project. NEF has supported Giringdi Khola in its electromechanical system improvement, improvement of civil structures and is continuously supporting in its capacity building, operation of the plant in grid connection mode, and is also providing technical support to the project technicians.