Gender equality is one of the key values at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Within the project “Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy for Southeast Asia” (CASE), we believe that gender equality is a fundamental prerequisite for driving energy transition and sustainable development at all levels. To support this commitment, the CASE project has established gender inclusivity as a strategic pillar within its organization, with Gender Focal Points for the project.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, CASE speaks with Larasati Eka Wardhani, Energy Advisor at GIZ Indonesia/ASEAN and Gender Focal Point for CASE project in Indonesia, about her experiences and role as a Gender Focal Point. In her role, she works with the team to bring gender perspectives into the project’s work and make sure inclusivity is considered in day-to-day activities.
Can you tell us about your role as the gender focal point in this project?
As the Gender Focal Point for the CASE project at GIZ Indonesia/ASEAN, I support the team in bringing gender perspective into our work on the energy transition. This includes things like advising on how gender can be considered in our activities, contributing to internal discussions, and making sure inclusivity is reflected in how we design and implement our work.
A big part of my role is also raising awareness within the team and creating space for conversations around gender, whether that’s through knowledge sharing or simply encouraging us to think more critically about who benefits from the projects we support. I also try to identify practical entry points where gender considerations can be integrated in a way that fits our context.
I see this role very much as a learning process, working closely with colleagues and partners to better understand what meaningful gender integration looks like in practice. For me, this is important because achieving universal energy access is not just a technical challenge, it also requires understanding the different needs and realities of how people experience and use energy. Women are not only beneficiaries of the transition, but also key actors in shaping more inclusive and sustainable energy systems.
Why is gender inclusion important in the energy transition?
For me, gender inclusion is important in the energy transition because energy is not neutral, people use it differently. Access, affordability, and daily energy use are often shaped by social roles and responsibilities, so women and men can face different challenges and opportunities. If we don’t consider that, we risk leaving people behind or designing solutions that don’t fully work in practice.
At the same time, gender inclusion is not only about fairness, but it also affects how energy works in everyday life. Women are not just beneficiaries, they are also part of the system as users, decision-makers, and innovators at different levels. When these perspectives are reflected in how energy solutions are designed and implemented, the outcomes can be more inclusive, practical, and sustainable.
Reflecting on your experience as a Gender Focal Point, how have you seen conversations around gender representation in the energy sector evolve?
From what I have seen so far, conversations around gender representation in the energy sector are becoming more visible and intentional. There is a growing recognition that gender is not just a “nice to have,” but an important part of making the energy transition more effective and inclusive.
That said, I think the conversation is still evolving. In many cases, it is still focused on representation, such as increasing the number of women in the sector, but there is also a shift towards looking more closely at participation, decision-making, and how different perspectives are reflected in policies and projects.
In my experience within the CASE project, I have found it interesting that these conversations are slowly moving beyond general discussions and starting to enter to more technical areas, such as policy and financing. While there is still a long way to go, I do see a positive shift towards making gender considerations more practical and relevant.
Looking ahead, what steps do you think are needed to further strengthen gender inclusion within the CASE project and in the wider energy sector?
Looking ahead, I think it’s important to keep making gender inclusion more practical in how we do our work. For example, this could be as simple as making sure participation in workshops and discussions is more balanced or taking a moment to reflect on who is being reached and who might be left out. These may seem like small steps, but they can already make a difference.
I also think there’s still room to build a shared understanding both within teams and with partners on what gender inclusion looks like in practice. Especially in more technical areas, it’s not always immediately clear how it connects, so creating space to learn from each other and share experiences can really help.
More broadly, in the energy sector, progress will depend on gradually opening up more space for diverse perspectives not just in terms of representation, but also in terms of who gets to contribute to discussions and decisions. Over time, that’s what will help make the transition more inclusive in a meaningful way.
From your perspective, what is the most important change needed to make the energy sector more inclusive in Indonesia and the Southeast Asia region?
From my perspective, one of the most important changes is to make inclusion part of how the energy sector operates on a daily basis, not just something that is discussed at a high level. This means paying closer attention to who is involved in conversations, whose perspectives are considered, and who ultimately benefits from energy policies and projects.
In Indonesia and Southeast Asia, the energy transition is moving quite fast, so it’s important that inclusion keeps pace with that progress. This could mean creating more space for diverse voices in decision-making, and making sure different needs are considered early on, not only after projects are already designed. At the end of the day, it’s about making inclusion part of how things are actually done, so the transition works for everyone.
