Nepal’s transition to electric mobility is being driven not only by new technologies and policies, but also by strong partnerships. The Nepal – Electric Transport (Sustainable Electric Transport for Nepal, SET4NPL) project, supported by the Mitigation Action Facility and jointly implemented by GIZ and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), convened key stakeholders in Kathmandu for the Harit Yatra Sambaad – Part I policy dialogue to address a critical challenge in Nepal’s electric mobility transition: workforce readiness. The dialogue brought together government, industry, training institutions, and development partners to identify practical pathways for developing a skilled, inclusive, and future-ready electric vehicle (EV) workforce.
Nepal’s shift to electric mobility
Nepal’s shift from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to EVs is helping reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, improve air quality and make greater use of the country’s abundant hydropower resources. These benefits position electric mobility as an important contributor to Nepal’s climate and development goals.
“Nepal’s EV transition aligns with national priorities to reduce petroleum dependency and utilise surplus hydropower, and the country now ranks second globally in EV imports.”
– Shanker Singh Dhami, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT)
Dhami noted that the government is maintaining stable EV taxation policies and updating key regulations to support the transition, while continuing to address challenges related to institutional capacity, revenue considerations, and coordination across different levels of government. However, the rapid growth of the EV market is creating new demands for technical skills:
“This transition requires new skills, as many technicians have strong mechanical knowledge but limited experience with EV systems such as batteries, electronics and software. This dialogue aims to strengthen policy, institutional support and workforce development for a sustainable transition.”
– Dipesh Joshi, Programme Lead at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
Understanding the skills gap
In 2025, the SET4NPL project conducted a Training Needs Assessment that identified critical gaps in skills, training infrastructure, and stakeholder coordination within Nepal’s EV sector. The findings revealed that most EV training opportunities are currently limited to employees of vehicle companies, leaving many independent mechanics without access to specialised training. Technicians transitioning from ICE vehicles often face barriers due to limited knowledge of EV technologies and a lack of structured upskilling opportunities.
The assessment also highlighted shortcomings in public training provision. Many public transport operators rely on independent workshops for maintenance once vehicle warranties expire, raising concerns about service quality, safety, and long-term reliability.
Building consensus on solutions
The Harit Yatra Sambaad dialogue provided a platform for stakeholders to validate the assessment findings and identify practical solutions. Participants emphasised the importance of accessible, hands-on training programmes, particularly short and flexible courses designed for working technicians. Discussions also highlighted constraints that continue to limit training delivery, including insufficient access to EV laboratories, training vehicles, and qualified instructors.
“CTEVT has introduced EV training programmes, including a 390-hour short course and a 1,696-hour professional course, while integrating EV content into existing curricula, however, implementation remains constrained by limited infrastructure, lack of EVs for practical training and gaps in instructor capacity.”
– Binod Badal, Director at the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)
Participants also recognised an opportunity to make the sector more inclusive, noting that EV technologies could help increase women’s participation in the automotive workforce.
Next steps for workforce development
The dialogue underscored that building a skilled workforce is critical to ensuring Nepal’s electric mobility transition delivers lasting economic, social, and environmental benefits. Participants agreed that achieving this will require sustained collaboration between government agencies, industry, training institutions, and development partners to align skills development with the evolving needs of the sector.
Through support from the Mitigation Action Facility, the SET4NPL project will help strengthen these partnerships by training 100 mechanics in 2026 through short, hands-on courses, while also enhancing institutional capacity and providing evidence-based recommendations to support policy and workforce development.
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