We’re excited to present the latest edition of StreamSide Chats -- our video podcast series featuring conversations with grassroots innovators and international experts of small-scale hydropower. The podcast facilitates deep-dive conversations with practitioners, bringing to light firsthand insights from the field, framed within multi-thematic analysis.
In Edition 3, we focus on Pakistan’s unique small-scale hydro sector, which has been scaled up over several decades. To date, over a thousand systems have been developed in Pakistan by the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) and its regional partners, in partnership with rural communities.
We had the privilege to speak with Sherzad Ali Khan, the Coordinator of the Aga Khan Development Network (or AKDN) for the mountainous regions of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in northern Pakistan. Prior to his current role, Sherzad worked for AKRSP, at which time he further innovated the community ownership models for micro and mini hydro. AKRSP’s Community Utility Company model continues to generate positive outcomes, and serves as a model for women-centric approaches to governance and productive end use.
Referencing insightful and inspiring examples, Sherzad provides insight into AKRSP’s Community-Utility Company model and how it facilitates inclusive, sustainable energy access and community development. We discuss gender-aware planning, productive end use, successful management practices, grid interconnection, climate finance and more.
In case you missed it
Check out earlier editions of StreamSide Chats on our YouTube channel.
- In Edition 1 we spoke with decentralized renewable energy specialist, Divyam Nagpal, and Director of Clean Energy at Winrock International, Bikash Pandey. We discussed the role of micro hydro in contributing to long term rural economic recovery and resilience in the pandemic era.
- In Edition 2 Bikash Pandey spoke with Ashoka Fellow and micro / mini hydro developer Bir Bahadur Ghale from Nepal, where over 3000 small-scale hydro projects have been developed, supporting local job creation and economic resilience, even in the aftermath of the devastating 2015 earthquake.
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