A Gender-Inclusive Energy Sector in ASEAN
For ASEAN to achieve a just and sustainable energy transition, ensuring that women have equal participation and representation across all levels of the energy sector is essential. Progress has been made throughout the years, but barriers and obstacles remain persistent in areas such as technical roles, access to opportunities, and leadership.
According to the ASEAN Energy and Gender Report: Development Finance (2022), only 8% of ASEAN’s workforce is made up of women. Hence, this calls for urgent action to promote gender diversity, enhance equal opportunities, and implement policies that support women’s participation and leadership in the energy sector.With this mission in mind, the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT II) alongside the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) will be celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 and spotlight women in ASEAN’s energy sector throughout March. With the theme of #ACEcelerateAction, this initiative seeks to amplify the voices of women, recognise women’s contribution, and advocate for gender-inclusivity in ASEAN’s energy sector. ACCEPT will conduct a series of activities to commemorate IWD 2025 and engage both internal staff and external stakeholders to enhance awareness and action on gender equality. These activities include:
- Social media campaign.
- Publications on “Gender Equality in the Energy Sector”.
- Sharing session on Women in Energy for internal ACE staff.
- ASEAN Energy Gender Forum
#ACEelerateAction
This year, ACCEPT’s IWD celebration theme is #ACEcelerateAction. Our campaign will emphasise the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality, calling for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systematic barrier and biases that women phase in the energy sector.
Perspectives of Women in ASEAN’s Energy Sector
2025 Edition
Check out interviews from the women of ACE. Their perspectives shed valuable light on the challenges, opportunities, and the path forward for a more gender-inclusive energy sector in ASEAN.
Irma Ramadan
CEE Department
Shania Esmeralda
PFS Department
Freya Murti Pramudita
CA Department
Rika Safrina
MPP Department
Lulu Safira
PIN Department
Veronica Ayu Pangestika
FOM Department
Syahira Syahputri
CAD Department
Dynta Trishana Munardy
APAEC Department
Internal Event
As part of the campaign, ACE and ACCEPT hosted an internal event for its staff titled “Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025: Inspiring Women Leaders in Energy” on 20 March 2025. This interactive discussion featured a sharing session from Dr Tharinya Supasa, Manager of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy (SRE) Department–ACE’s first female manager. ACE staff were encouraged to engage, share their insights, and discuss strategies for accelerating gender-inclusive energy transition in ASEAN.
Women Leadership in ASEAN’s Energy Sector: Exclusive Interview with Lao PDR’s Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leader
As part of our #ACEcelerateAction campaign to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, ACE through ACCEPT and supported by the World Bank, had the pleasant opportunity to travel to Vientiane, Lao PDR, to interview Dr Santisouk Phimphachanh, Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leader of Lao PDR and Director General at the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) of Lao PDR.
Dr Santisouk’s 22-year-long career as a woman in the energy sector has allowed her to witness the evolving energy landscape and the growing support for women in the sector. In this interview, she shares her experience working at MEM Lao PDR and reflect on Lao PDR’s efforts to enhance gender equality in the energy sector. The in-depth interview aims to encourage more women to participate in the energy sector, improve the leadership skill, and show the equal opportunities that existed in the workplace.
Publication
Gender Equality in ASEAN Energy Booklet – Volume II
The Gender Equality in ASEAN Energy Booklet Volume II provides fresh insights into gender mainstreaming within ASEAN’s energy sector, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges. In continuation of the first volume, this volume highlights several key areas related to gender equality in the energy sector:
- Women’s crucial roles as leaders and consumers within the energy sector, and the barriers limiting their participation.
- Global commitments to gender equality, such as CEDAW and the Paris Agreement.
- Regional initiatives promoting gender equality, including efforts by the EU and African Union.
- The status of ASEAN Member States in integrating gender policies nationally
- Challenges such as data gaps, societal norms, limited employment opportunities, and financial constraints.
- Recommendations to incorporate gender equality into the upcoming ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) to ensure a just and inclusive energy transition.
- Profiles of influential women leaders actively shaping ASEAN’s energy landscape.
Blogs
Amid regional uncertainties, ASEAN embraces creativity and innovation to drive progress, with women-led entrepreneurship playing a key role—especially in the energy sector—as a catalyst for inclusive and dynamic economic integration.
The Philippines is advancing gender equality through policies like the Magna Carta of Women and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Plan. Learn about gender mainstreaming efforts in the energy sector and how they are transforming inclusivity and leadership opportunities for women.
The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and ACCEPT celebrates the vital contributions of women in ASEAN’s energy sector. With firsthand experience, ACE recognises how gender diversity plays a crucial role in advancing regional energy cooperation and driving a just and sustainable energy transition.
Boosting rooftop solar adoption requires strategic marketing, targeted awareness campaigns, and accessible financing that engage women as key decision-makers. By addressing their specific needs and values, outreach efforts can empower women as proactive agents clean energy transition.
The Philippines is advancing gender equality through policies like the Magna Carta of Women and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Plan. Learn about gender mainstreaming efforts in the energy sector and how they are transforming inclusivity and leadership opportunities for women.
This blog offers a personal perspective on gender equality in the energy sector—an industry often perceived as male-dominated. Drawing from firsthand experience, it explores the realities of site work, structural challenges, and the importance of creating inclusive, supportive environments where both women and men can thrive.
This blog highlights the vital role of ASEAN women leaders in driving gender inclusivity within the energy sector. By sharing insights from influential figures and showcasing initiatives that empower women, it explores how inclusive leadership can shape a more equitable and sustainable energy future for the region.
The article elaborates three main points to consider a progressive action to pursue gender equality: institutionalism, advocacy, and political will. Hence, how have the Mekong Basin Area countries addressed this issue?
