Project Description
Energy transition has the potential to improve the lives of those able to access the resultant infrastructure and services. The risk of sub-sectors of the community being excluded from energy transition benefits is very real and requires well-crafted interventions by government and the commercial sector to avoid exclusion. This Australia Awards Short Course saw twenty-five participants from Indonesia, travelled to Australia for an intensive two week program based on the energy transition themes of consultation and communications, positive outcomes for all and GEDSI in workforce development. Participants interacted with public and private sectors to learn firsthand about the implementation, skills development and tools that underpin GEDSI-sensitive policy and planning.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
The participant’s and Indonesian government agencies involved included: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Fiscal Policy Office, Ministry of Finance of Indonesia, New Energy Nexus Indonesia, Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), Ministry of Women of Empowerment and Child’s Protection and Women in Mining and Energy as well as other agencies and advocacy groups.
Outcomes to Date
Through the course participants developed a strong understanding of the following themes and topics:
– The principles of a “just” energy transition in the Indonesian context
– Mapping the energy sectors and stakeholders in Indonesia and Australia
– Communications to drive inclusive social change
– Planning, methods and toolkits for GEDSI Analysis in Energy Infrastructure
– Multi-stakeholder engagement and community consultation
– Integrated energy policies and plans to ensure fair and equitable energy transition.
– Building equity into clean energy investments
– Community-specific approaches
– Drivers of change for a socially inclusive energy sector workforce
– Socially inclusive workforce planning in energy transition
– Retraining specific groups for the energy transition workforce
Participants worked to complete an Award Project on completion of the course to implement their learnings from the program.
Project Significance
The program acknowledged the benefits of applying a GEDSI lens over Indonesia’s road maps and energy policies to achieving an equitable transition to a lower emission economy.
The short course speaks to SDG 7, “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all”; SDG 5, “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” and SDG 10, “Reduce inequality within and among countries”. The course leaders utilised Griffith’s energy sector network in Indonesia, developed through previous AAI programs and overlayed these with their diverse experience in achieving GEDSI impacts in Indonesia and across the Asia-Pacific region.