Objectives

The session aims to provide insights on the current status of gender equality in the energy sector in Southeast (SE) Asia and highlight how the clean energy transition can unlock the cross-sectoral benefits of clean energy and advance progress toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The roles of academic institutions and energy companies will be discussed and explored by implementing partners of USAID, namely Enhancing Equality in Energy for Southeast Asia (E4SEA), the Mekong Safeguards Program, and the Women in Power System Transformation initiative in collaboration with the U.S Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), as well as a representative from a renewable energy company, WeGen Energy Philippines.

USAID Enhancing Equality in Energy for Southeast Asia (E4SEA) aims to improve gender equality in the energy sector to advance women’s economic empowerment and strengthen energy institutions. Women are underrepresented in the workforce across Southeast Asia, particularly in male-dominated industries like the energy sector. The Chief of Party of E4SEA will be presenting how gender barriers for women and girls in STEM and energy in SE Asia can be addressed through strategic partnerships with educational institutions and energy sector employers to attract and retain women through organizational change and leadership development, transforming attitudes and removing women in the workforce.

The Mekong and Australia Safeguards Program, a jointly funded initiative between USAID and the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) with the mission to accelerate the sustainable infrastructure transition in the Mekong Region, will be presenting how addressing gender mainstreaming in the region strengthens environmental, social, and corporate governance standards (ESG) at the local, national, and transboundary levels. The focus will be the correlation between gender mainstreaming and women’s role in the clean energy transition at a regional scale.

Besides the high-level perspectives of the SE Asian region’s challenges and opportunities in gender equality in the energy sector, there will also be community-level perspectives on the importance of inclusion of women in a just energy transition towards renewable energy, presented by Ina Silverio, Social Transformation Manager, WeGen Energy Philippines.

Also, the session provides an ideal opportunity to share the lessons and best practices learned through the Women in Power System Transformation initiative funded by USAID and implemented through NREL and the Global Power System Transformation (G-PST) Consortium. The Women in Power System Transformation initiative was created to address educational and professional barriers to women’s entry and advancement in power system operation organizations. Perspectives from real-life experiences from academic institutions and energy companies will also be shared and discussed.

At the end of the session, targeted action points will be identified to enhance gender equality in SE Asia.

Agenda

Speakers

About the Organizer

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAID’s work safeguards this mission and puts countries on a path to pursue clean energy growth and resilient, low-carbon development. Countries around the world are feeling the effects of climate change, from more intense heat waves, droughts, floods and storms to slower-moving changes like ocean acidification. USAID is sharing world-class knowledge, data and tools to ensure countries can predict, prepare for and adapt to change. USAID also helps countries lay the foundations for sustainable growth powered by clean energy and healthy landscapes. https://www.usaid.gov/

Point of Contact

Mark Dunn
USAID Southeast Asia EDGE Hub
Email