Women and Vulnerable Groups Lead on Transformative and Just Energy Transition in Indonesia (WE for JET)

Description

The Women and Vulnerable Groups Lead on Transformative and Just Energy Transition in Indonesia (WE for JET) program is a multi-year initiative implemented by Penabulu Foundation in collaboration with national and local partners, with support from Oxfam Australia through DFAT-ANCP funding. The program aims to ensure that women and vulnerable groups can lead and benefit from a fair and sustainable energy transition in Indonesia, particularly in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

The program addresses the issue of unequal access to energy in NTB and NTT, where around 8% of the population still lacks access to electricity and household energy supply remains limited. This situation worsens the vulnerability of women and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, who face a double burden of restricted economic opportunities and unequal caregiving responsibilities. The ongoing energy transition risks perpetuating injustice if gender, disability, and social equity perspectives are not integrated.

Overall, the program seeks to enable a just energy transition that improves community wellbeing and livelihoods. By 2033, the program targets four main outcomes: (1) women and vulnerable groups actively contribute to energy transition decision-making, (2) improved access and affordability of renewable energy and strengthened women-led SMEs in the energy sector, (3) stronger capacity of civil society organizations, women’s rights organizations, and organizations of persons with disabilities to advocate for a gender-just energy transition, and (4) integration of gender justice components into energy transition policies at both local and national levels.

The program adopts a multi-level approach: at the village level, it focuses on raising awareness, strengthening women’s leadership, and recognizing unpaid care work as a barrier to participation. At district and provincial levels, it promotes partnership models among government, private sector, and civil society. At the national level, the strategy is directed towards policy advocacy to ensure that the energy transition adopts principles of gender justice, disability inclusion, and sustainability.

The program is implemented in six priority districts: West Lombok, East Lombok, and Central Lombok (NTB), as well as East Flores, South Central Timor, and Southwest Sumba (NTT). Implementation is carried out together with a consortium of strategic partners such as CIS Timor, Gema Alam, Publish What You Pay (PWYP), LBH APIK, YPPS, and supported by the GEDSI JET Working Group network.

To ensure sustainability, the program encourages village budget allocations for renewable energy initiatives, the establishment of women-led SMEs in the energy sector, and the strengthening of advocacy networks such as the Womans for JET Coalition. At the policy level, the program promotes the integration of GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) principles into both local and national policies. In this way, the program aims to foster inclusive and gender-responsive energy governance that strengthens communities’ socio-economic resilience in the long run.

Funding

This program is supported by Oxfam Australia through DFAT-ANCP, with a program period from July 2025 to June 2026, with total funding support of AUD 945.157,20