Even though the sun is setting in the outskirts of Trongsa, a mountainous district in Central Bhutan, Plant Operations Manager Tashi Pema is still at work. She has been overseeing Nikachu Power Plant’s emergency response to some unexpected flooding. Besides making the rounds to ensure that the plant’s sensitive equipment is dry and protected from water damage and making repairs to machines, Tashi has been managing worker’s shifts to guarantee round-the-clock coverage.
Working women like Tashi stand out in South Asia, where the employment rate among women is low compared to other emerging market economies. In 2023, only 32 percent of working-age women in South Asia were in the labor force—well below the region’s male labor force participation rate of 77 percent. This gender gap represents a missed economic opportunity for South Asia. Increasing women’s labor force participation rate to match the male rate could increase regional GDP by as much as 51 percent.
A gender gap also defines the hydropower sector, where women engineers, technicians and scientists are rare. According to a World Bank report, women hold just 21% of technical hydropower roles globally. Overall, the power sector in South Asia--incluiding Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka-- is just as male-dominated, with women holding between just 4 to 25 percent of all jobs in the sector.
Bhutan’s power sector is more diverse than its neighbors, with women representing 24 percent of total employees. Notably, women in Bhutan’s power sector aren’t relegated to non-technical roles. They account for close to 22 percent of technical roles, and 29 percent of managerial roles. Some are even company Directors. But there is always room to improve.
Powering Bhutan’s Economy, Creating Jobs
Infrastructure, including energy, is one of the sectors with the greatest potential to drive job creation and economic growth.
In Bhutan, the hydropower sector is central to its economy. Electricity is the single largest export commodity in Bhutan and contributes 12 to 15 percent of GDP, powering corporations, offices, businesses, schools, and homes.
The World Bank Group is supporting Bhutan as it intensifies efforts to develop its hydropower sector. The landmark Dorjilung Hydroelectric Power Project, financed by the Bank Group, is expected to boost the country’s energy production by 40 percent, expand economic opportunities and create more and better jobs. Indeed, the growing hydropower sector could be a bright spot in a job market shaped by high youth unemployment and brain drain, due to many of Bhutan’s young people and skilled professionals pursuing opportunities abroad. But this growth will need to be accompanied by the right measures and policies to ensure that women have equal access to new hydropower jobs and can reach their full economic potential.
Besides being an engine of economic growth, Bhutan’s power sector is also a source of highly sought-after Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) jobs that pay well, offer advancement opportunities, as well as the chance to contribute to nation-building.
As the Assistant Engineer at Mangdechhu Hydropower plant, Tandin Tshomo’s desire to give back to her country was one of the main reasons she wanted to land a job in the power sector. “Growing up in Bhutan where [a] hydropower plant is such an important part of our national identity and economy, I've known that the energy sector has always been an impactful one. I always thought that is the sector I'd want to work in when I grow up.”
WePOWER: Opening Doors for Women to Succeed in the Power Sector
The South Asia WePOWER network, an initiative of the World Bank, helps close the gender gap so that women like Tandin can have a career and contribute to the economy.
WePOWER works with over 50 public power sector utilities across South Asia to close the gender gap by establishing programs and implementing policies that recruit and retain women, giving them a solid foothold in the power sector.
Since WePOWER’s inception in 2019, more than 235,000 South Asian women and girls—including students, young professionals, engineers and mothers returning from maternity leave—have benefited from its activities. Beyond getting exposure to STEM jobs in the energy sector, the opportunity to participate in study tours and receive additional professional training, women have been matched with internships, mentorships, and entry level STEM jobs, received long-term career support, and even risen to top management jobs.
WePOWER and Druk Green Power Corporation: Partnering to Close the Gender Gap in Bhutan
Key Bhutanese energy sector stakeholders, including the Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC), came together to establish the Bhutan WePOWER National Chapter in 2020. DGPC, which is the country’s only hydropower generation utility, is one of the major recruiters in the country’s job market, especially for technical roles.
Jobs in the hydropower sector are competitive and highly desirable, given the sector’s importance to the national economy. DGPC’s collaboration with WePOWER has yielded several initiatives—including recruitment drives focused on women students, women-friendly infrastructure such as toilet facilities, sanitary napkin vending machines and private accommodation in power plants, on-site daycare facilities, structured internship and mentorship programs, technical and leadership trainings, and formalized support for mothers returning from maternity leave. More broadly, it has directly benefited 481 women across the company at all ages and stages of their career. Overall, the company has successfully increased the number of women employees by 15 percent, hiring 64 young women since 2020, predominantly in technical roles.
Internship and mentorship programs have helped junior employees like Tandin build their professional skills and confidence. “I was mentored by senior officers and benefited from training and knowledge-sharing sessions inside our power plant. Our experienced engineers briefed us, telling us how the theory translates into the practice. That has helped me navigate the work, and given me confidence,” she shares.
Meanwhile, management and skills upgrading programs like the “SAR 100” have helped mid-career professionals stay in the workforce by expanding and updating their skill sets, becoming more effective managers, and even pivoting to jobs in other professional streams.
“The WePOWER SAR 100 intensive course on renewable energy was defining for me, because as an electrical engineer, I was just focused on machines, transformers and hardcore engineering. Through SAR 100, I got exposure to different fields and was able to learn contracting and contract management,” explains Tashi. “I got the opportunity to be actively involved in project management and now I can really see myself climbing the ladder.”
Infrastructure across the power plants has also been improved to better accommodate women’s needs so that they can continue to work and provide for their families. There are now separate bathrooms for women, as well as lactation rooms for mothers. Women coming back from maternity leave also benefit from a formalized ‘buddy system’ that matches them with a partner who gets them up to speed on new developments and provides support as needed.
Leveling the Playing Field for Hydropower Sector Jobs
“Women in the hydropower sector face unique challenges, which is why DGPC is committed to creating a level playing field that allows our strongest talents to flourish,” explains Dasho Chhewang Rinzin, Managing Director of DGPC. “Initiatives such as targeted recruitment drives, maternity leave, on-site child care centers and skills training programs support our women employees, which ultimately helps us build and retain a skilled workforce that can drive our company forward.”
Women employees appreciate DGPC management’s efforts to level the playing field and equalize opportunities for growth so that they can keep working, remain financial independent and contribute to the economy.
Ugyen Rangdol, who designs hydromechanical machines as a design engineer at DGPC’s Bhutan Hydropower Services Limited, joined as an intern and quickly became entrusted with bigger responsibilities. “I’ve always wanted to work as an engineer, so I’m living my dream. I’m constantly developing my skills and enhancing my technical knowledge and I hope to continue to grow. In various technical fields across our company, whether it’s supply chain management or finance, women employees work hand-in-hand with their male colleagues. Women are competent and doing just fine,” she says.
As Bhutan’s hydropower sector grows, it can do even more to support working women. Many working mothers find it challenging to pursue hydropower careers that involve working long hours, often in remote locations, while balancing child care duties. In Bhutan, WePOWER Partners such as DGPC, Bhutan Power Corporation, the Electricity Regulatory Authority, and the technical universities are scaling up their efforts to level the playing field. Activities include outreach programs that connect schoolgirls to STEM professionals, organized field trips to hydropower sites, as well as technical and leadership training opportunities to equip women with skills for continued success in the energy sector.
Inspiring other Women in STEM
For Tashi, Tandin and Ugyen, jobs in the power sector give them financial stability, resources to support themselves and their families, the opportunity to contribute to their country's growth, and a pathway to grow professionally.
All three women recognize what they represent, and the difference they can make in inspiring other women to follow in their footsteps.
According to Tandin, “I think for women, it’s important to have courage to work in a place where you’re a minority, because your presence becomes that much more important. Build your competence, because once you know your work, it doesn’t matter what your gender is, you’ll always have respect.”.
